Shopping in Grenada runs from the everyday supermarket to the market stall piled with nutmeg, and the best of it is local. This is a guide for both jobs: the visitor after something real to take home and the resident after the weekly shop and the odd treat.
Grenada's shopping culture reflects the island itself: practical, relaxed, and rooted in what grows and is made here. You will find everything you need, often at prices that make you wonder where the deal comes from.
Spices, Chocolate, and Local Goods
Grenada is the Spice Isle, and the spices are the obvious souvenir. Nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cloves, and cocoa grow here and taste better because they are fresh. Buy them at the market rather than a tourist shop, and you save money and get better quality. A small bag of nutmeg costs a few EC dollars and fills a suitcase with genuine Grenada.
Grenada also makes its own chocolate. Local chocolate makers work small-batch from cacao grown on the island, and the chocolate tastes like it. It travels well, makes a good gift, and beats anything from a duty-free shelf.
Rum is the third big souvenir. River Antoine, Clarke's Court, and Westerhall are the local distilleries, and bottles are cheaper here than anywhere you will travel to next. Spiced rums and aged rums are good, and a bottle fits in a checked bag.
Local crafts (wooden bowls, hand-painted items, woven bags) are made by residents and sold at the market and small shops. The quality varies, but the best pieces have real character and skill. Ask the maker about their work if you can.
The Market: St. George's on Saturday Morning
The St. George's market square is the classic stop, busiest and best on a Saturday morning. It is a riot of colour and sound: mountains of spices in loose piles, produce stacked high, fish on ice, meat cut fresh, flowers, craft, clothing, and almost anything you did not know you needed. The market opens early (5 or 6 AM) and gets crowded by 8 or 9 AM.
Go early if you want the best pick of everything. Bring cash (small bills and EC dollars), a bag to carry things, and your senses ready. The market is loud, colourful, and chaotic in the best way. Ask a vendor where something is, and they will point you or walk you there. A little friendly haggling is fine, especially if you are buying a lot, and vendors expect it for certain items like craft and clothes. For produce and spice, prices are usually set.
The Carenage in St. George's also has a smaller daily market along the water, busier in the morning, quieter by afternoon. It is a good stop if you are in the capital during the week.
Supermarkets and Everyday Shopping
The island has full supermarkets in and around St. George's, Grand Anse, and the south, plus smaller groceries in the parish towns. These range from well-stocked international-style supermarkets with imported goods to small family shops stocking basics. Prices at supermarkets are higher than the market for fresh produce, but convenient if you are not on the island long.
For fresh fruit, vegetables, and local goods, small roadside stalls and farm stands dot the parishes. These often have better prices and fresher produce than supermarkets. Gouyave, Grenville, and Sauteurs in the north and east have their own markets, busiest early morning.
Clothing, Gifts, and Homeware
For clothes, gifts, and homeware, local boutiques scattered around the capital and Grand Anse carry more character than the chains. These small shops often carry local designers, handicrafts, and goods you will not find elsewhere. St. George's has the most options, concentrated around the Carenage and the main shopping streets. Grand Anse has smaller boutiques mixed with tourist shops, worth browsing but requiring a filter for quality.
Clothing sizes and styles lean toward what works in warm, casual island life. You will find good summer clothing, lightweight dresses, and casual wear easily. Formal or heavy clothing is rare and expensive, since nobody needs it.
Know Before You Go
Bring cash for the market. Many stalls do not take cards, and even those that do often have minimum purchases. EC dollars are standard at markets; some accept US dollars but at an unfavourable rate.
Buy spice loose from the market rather than pre-packed. It is fresher, cheaper, and you can smell it before you buy. A plastic bag of nutmeg from a stall costs a fraction of a tourist-marked jar.
Haggling at the market is expected for some items (craft, clothing, sometimes produce) but not for spice or at supermarkets. A friendly "is that your best price?" goes a long way.
Supermarkets and shops take cash or card. Hours vary, and many close for lunch or by 5 or 6 PM. Plan your shopping accordingly.
If you are visiting or newly arrived, ask at your hotel or workplace where residents shop. Locals know the good produce stalls, the best supermarket prices, and which boutiques carry quality craft.
The shops below cover the range: supermarkets, markets, boutiques, and speciality shops. Every one is on Island Link, so you can find the nearest, check the hours, and see what they carry before you make the trip.
This is part of our best of Grenada guide. Shopping in a particular part of the island? See our guide to Grenada by parish, or find more about local food and goods with our restaurant guide.