Top Rated Shopping in Barbados

Mall 34 is located on Broad Street, the center of duty-free shopping in Bridgetown, and the main artery for traffic through the city. The mall is relatively small in size, but offers a range of merchandise for the discerning shopper: from ladies and gents fashions to jewellery, local souvenirs and confectionery. Health-related products and services are also provided at Natural Medicinals Inc., located at the back of the mall. Moreover, photography services and an internet cafe are located within the mall. A small restaurant provides quick meals for those who wish to have a respite from their shopping. Like most malls in Bridgetown, there are no parking facilities adjacent to the mall itself, but there is plenty of parking available at several centralized locations in the city. - Marsilyn Browne

Take your shopping experience to another level with a visit to this premier designer shopping location. Cartier, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Tag Heuer and Miche Bag are just some of the brands at the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre. The mall is the centre point of the lifestyle center, which includes 56 residences comprising apartments, townhouses and penthouses. All of these places are located on ten acres of superb property on the luxurious west coast of Barbados, right in the heart of Holetown. The newly-completed mall includes cafes, gourmet restaurants, an art gallery, a cinema, a spa and beauty salon. The center's fantastic architecture also has provided a fitting backdrop for social events, including the after-party for the Rihanna Loud Show, and the swimwear segment of the Miss Barbados World contest. - Marsilyn Browne

A branch of the Super Center supermarket chain is the anchor store for this mall, located in the growing commercial and residential area of Warrens in St. Michael. The supermarket offers a gamut of products and produce to meet the needs of a wide cross-section of the populace. The complex boasts a great one-stop shopping experience. A bookstore, pharmacy, travel agency and optician's office have their entrance within the supermarket. Additional stores with their own entrances and opening hours include boutiques, a shoe store, a computer store, video shop, dry-cleaner, plant shop and full banking facilities. The food court offers tempting fare, from Chinese and pizza, to local cuisine. Parking is excellent and other shopping and eating opportunities are available within walking distance. - Marsilyn Browne

City Centre is a multi-story parking facility on the western side of Bridgetown. It is just opposite the historic St. Mary's Anglican Church. Once you have parked, take the elevator or the stairs to the ground floor, and there you will find a variety of shops. Clothing boutiques for men and women, from casual to formal wear, are located within the mall. A nutrition centre, a supermarket, an electronics store, an accessories shop for bouquets and ornaments, and a confectionery are some of the stores located in the mall. For a quick cup of coffee and other light refreshments, a café is at your service. Moreover, for a more substantial meal, there is a restaurant to assuage those hunger pangs. - Marsilyn Browne

Fresh vegetables and meat for your table are on sale at Cheapside Market, located next to the Post Office Complex on the outskirts of Bridgetown. On weekends, especially, the market is lively with farmers bringing their fresh produce to sell. If you enjoy interacting with the vendors, instead of the anonymity of the supermarket, here is a superb place to meet people, haggle for your preferred price, and get plenty of bargains on local fruits, vegetables and spices. In the air-conditioned meat facility, you will meet local butchers, and have the opportunity to choose your cut of pork, mutton, lamb and other meat products. On the upper level of the facility are located several stalls for clothing and accessories are sold. - Marsilyn Browne

See the artist at work and batik come alive at H. P. Batik Studio, in the central parish of St. Thomas, just twenty minutes from Bridgetown. A self-taught artist, owner Henderson Reece has been working in batik for over twenty-six years. His interest in art started from his school days, and he has worked in watercolors, oils, and acrylics. However, it is batik that captured his imagination - the technique of building layer on layer of wax and colour culminates in an end result which you can not always predict, and adds an exciting finish to hours of careful work. At the studio you may purchase portraits, landscapes, scarves, beach wraps, and clothing, all in batik and depicting the vibrant colors and flavors of the Caribbean. - Marsilyn Browne