Popularly referred to as Crawford market, named after Arthur Crawford - the first Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai, this market sports Flemish and Norman architectural styles that depicts the fascinating old-charm of this city; much like many other buildings situated in Mumbai. Other than the striking architecture, you can expect to be welcomed in this market by many vendors selling things like scarves, and table mats. You’ll also find that lanes in this market are segregated with each of them dedicated to different varieties of items such as party items, home decor, stationery, perfume, fruits and vegetables, and spices.
But much like any other place, there are a few pointers that you should learn about before venturing there which we have tried to cover up in this blog.
Timings: 11 AM - 9 PM (Mon - Sat)
Location: CST Building, Dhobi Talao, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area, Fort, Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra
What to Buy at Crawford Market
Among the plethora of products available for sale at the Crawford Market, the following are some of the few ones that are bought widely by the visitors:1. Fruits and Vegetables

2. Spices

One will also find a variety of other spices such as turmeric and ground peppers being sold here along with the chillies. Typically, noon is the time when this place experiences rush hour with many housewives coming to stock up on spices. One of the highlights of shopping here is that you get them with assured quality and at affordable prices; which is why it has become one of the most popular spice markets in the city.
3. Stationery Items

Royal Sales Corporation (for beautiful folders), Al- Nawaz Stickers (for pretty stickers), Supernova (for gift packing materials like intricately-detailed boxes and baskets) are some of the most famous shops here. One thing you need to keep in mind when shopping here is that you can bargain and get a great deal here; especially if you are buying in bulk so be prepared to put your negotiating skills to use.
4. Clothes, Handbags and Other Knick Knacks

5. Funky Jewellery Items

6. Imported Candies and Chocolates

7. Stunning Home Decor Items

8. Other Things at Crawford Market
Apart from these products, there are a lot more small shops in this market that provide a lot of services to its customers including a watch repair shop and other stalls where you can buy cheap footwears and mobile accessories like back covers, screen cards, and earphone covers. The market also houses some branded stores like Metro Shoes and more than 10 pet shops that includes one where songbirds are displayed and sold to customers. Antique crockery is another thing that is widely sold here; with unique coloured classes for the city's famous Cutting Chai being a popular demand.Moreover, this market features a completely different vibe when certain festivals such as Diwali and Christmas roll around. For instance, many huge Christmas trees, colourful lights, beautiful decor items, and a number of people strolling the streets with baskets on their heads (so that they can help people carry Christmas trees to their vehicles) is what is generally witnessed during the time of Christmas.
Famous Food Joints at Crawford Market
In this market, you’ll see a lot of small food stalls scattered throughout the streets selling a large variety of food items including different kinds of juice and shakes and delicious quick bites. Apart from these stalls, there are also many famous food joints either in or situated at a short distance from the market. We’ve enlisted some of them so that you know where to go when your stomach aches for some yummy food in the middle of your shopping spree.1. Baadshah

Opening Timings: 7 AM - 12:30 AM (Mon-Sun)
Average Cost for Two People (approx.): INR 600
2. Gulshan-E-Iran

Opening Timings: 7:30 AM - 1:30 AM (Mon-Sun)
Average Cost for Two People (approx.): INR 500
3. Ustaadi

Opening Timings: 12 PM - 4 PM, 7 PM - 4 AM (Mon-Sun)
Average Cost for Two People (approx.): INR 1500
4. B Bhagat Tarachand

Opening Timings: 11 AM - 12 AM (midnight) (Tue-Sun); Closed on Mondays
Average Cost for Two People (approx.): INR 550
5. Shree Thaker Bhojanalay

Opening Timings: 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Mon); 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM, 7 PM - 10:30 PM (Tue - Sun)
Average Cost for Two People (approx.): INR 1200
Reasons Why You Should Visit Crawford Market
- Spend Less and Buy More:
- Variety Shopping At One Place:
- Enjoy the Aesthetics Of this Place While Shopping:
Tips to Shop Smartly at Crawford Market
- One of the most essential things that you need to keep in mind when shopping at Crawford Market is that you must negotiate the prices before purchasing anything. It is common for sellers here to quote high prices (especially, if they know that you are a tourist) so don’t hesitate to put your foot down and bargain to make your purchase at a much cheaper price.
- When you are going to Crawford market, make sure you make more than enough time to look around. This market is huge and filled with so many fascinating things available at cheap prices that it will most likely take you more than a couple of hours. And having too many things lined up following the shopping spree might keep you from taking full advantage of this wonderful place.
- Since Crawford market hosts a lot of small side shops who do not give a shopping bag along with the purchase so it is a good idea to carry a large shopping bag along with you.
How to Reach Crawford Market
Mumbai is especially famous for the number of transportation options that it offers for its locals and tourists so you will definitely have many conveyance alternatives to reach Crawford Market such as taxis (kaali peeli, as they are commonly referred to as in this city), buses, and trains.By Taxi
In addition to these, you can simply put in ‘Crawford Market’ as the drop location on any of the ride-hailing apps such as Ola or Uber to reach your destination conveniently. Though, your ride cost can amount to quite a lot when you are in a farther area in the city and let’s not forget about the terrible Mumbai traffic, which is why most locals prefer using public transport.By Train
There are three train lines that people use to commute around the city namely Central, Harbour and Western. Fortunately, the market is located quite close to Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Station (CST) which connects Central as well as Harbour lines; so much that it doesn’t take more than 10 minutes to reach from station to market upon walking. The Marine Lines station that falls in the western line is also located at a walking distance of about 20 minutes from the Crawford Market. If one is not in the mood to walk, they can hail a regular taxi or even a sharing taxi from the station to get to the market faster.By Bus
The transit line that has a route near Crawford market is Bus number 51 so one can check and travel by bus if their location falls in the route.In a nutshell, Crawford Market is one of the best places to shop cheap good items in Mumbai. You will not only have so many options to choose from but will be able to get them at much lower prices than you may have anticipated. So, save up some money, set a date, and venture out to visit this place with no list but excitement and enthusiasm to haul some great things!