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Karachi: a shoppers paradise

A travel journal to Karachi by chanif

As my inlaws live in Karachi, I have the opportunity to get an insider's look at the best places to visit, eat, and shop.

  • 7 reviews

Karachi: a shoppers paradiseBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Karachi is not the 'hotspot' on most traveler's lists of places to visit, but it does have some interesting places if one would like to take a couple of days. First of all is shopping. Saddar is the area downtown that has most of the best handicraft as well as other shopping. Zainab market (located in Saddar area) has embroidery with mirrors, small silver boxes and work, handmade quilts, and little hats. Paradise market, at least on the outer edges, looks like a tailors paradise, not a handicraft shoppers paradise, but if you go into the inner areas of this market there one finds Kashmiri furniture and wooden carvings (including small decorative boxes) and intricate brass work. Tariq road also has good shopping and is the place to head if you would like a local outfit for yourself.

Quick Tips:

There are some interesting 'shrines' and monuments around the city, but nothing like Lahore. The beach is kind of dirty but if you want a picture of yourself astride a decked out camel, head to the beach.

Karachi is a bit dangerous and it is best to travel in early afternoon. The rickshaws are quite dangerous so try to work out a taxi for the day with whereever you are staying.

The best food: well Burns Road has incredible food, but I can't speak for the sanitation. Copper Kettle has good food, a bit more pricy and is where the younger upper crust crowd goes to hang out.

Best Way To Get Around:

Burns Road Street VendorsBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Burns Road"

Eating at Burns Road is definitely an experience. Pakistani families often drive up, park on the street and eat in their cars, like a drive in. There are some benches around to sit on if you lack transportation. It is tasty, spicy, and not sanitary in the least. Possibly the best Pakistani food in Karachi.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by chanif on March 6, 2001

Burns Road Street Vendors
Throughout Burns Road Karachi, Pakistan

Copper KettleBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The Copper Kettle is where the young wealthier Pakistan crowd goes to eat and be seen. The food here is safe to eat, with the water boiled, and easier on the spices. The area is also a nice one if you would like to check out the pakistani fashion designers shops. Slightly more expensive, this restaraunt has a very nice comfortable atmosphere and a 'western' look to it.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by chanif on March 6, 2001

Copper Kettle
Clifton Karachi, Pakistan

Sheraton Pakistani CuisineBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The Sheraton restaraunt had the nicest atmosphere and incredible pakistani cuisine. To start with you may choose to sit on the floor cushions or in chairs. The waiters then bring rose water in which to wash your hands. The food is incredible. Definitely worth the splurge in price! One feels quite like a moghul lord after this experience.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by chanif on March 6, 2001

Sheraton Pakistani Cuisine
Sheraton Hotel Karachi, Pakistan

China Town RestarauntBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

I was taken here for a business lunch recently. It is within a couple of blocks of Clifton Beach and I was amazed at the quality of the food. This place has an extensive menu with very descriptive names (in English!). As there were five of us dining, I was able to try many dishes including the sweet and sour chicken, the chicken with garlic sauce, a dry beef dish, the fried rice, and the butterflied prawns. Every single dish was excellent. And the hot and sour soup was very spicy and incredibly flavorful. For the Chinese food lover in Karachi . . . this is the place to go!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by chanif on March 22, 2001

China Town Restaraunt
Clifton Karachi, Pakistan

Zainab MarketBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

One can buy carpets at this market, but it is best for the embroidery. This can be purchased on pillow covers, bed spreads, hats, vests, or wall hangings. The Sindhi style incorporates mirror work into the intricate embroidery, and often they use silk thread. You will see many foreigners walking through the stalls with you, so I generally quote about 50% of the price they tell me, as a starting point to haggling.

Also you can purchase beautifully colorful handmade quilts and fancy silver boxes.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by chanif on March 6, 2001

Zainab Market
Saddar District Karachi, Pakistan

Paradise MarketBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Paradise market looks like a bunch of cloth sellers in the outer stalls, but pushing one's way back, you find beautiful kashmiri furniture as well as easier to tote wood carved jewelry boxes and knick knacks. Also here they have the beautiful brass work. I think everyone needs a couple of their delicate brass vases or pitchers for their mantle.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by chanif on March 6, 2001

Paradise Market
Saddar District Karachi, Pakistan

About the Writer

chanif
chanif
Washington, District of Columbia

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