Retail therapy in namma Bengaluru
Editor’s note: In this delightful shopping guide to Bengaluru, Malini Malik takes us on a tour of a very different side of this lively city, away from the startup madness, nightlife bustle, and traffic jams. Elegant restored homes housing classic Indian handlooms, cherished rug collections, local fromageries, stationery knickknacks, off-beat vinyl stores—this thoughtfully curated list takes care of all your shopping needs.
(For more shopping recommendations, check out Souk, our sister site.)
Written by: Malini Malik
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Textiles
Started by Sanjay Garg in 2008, Raw Mango is my go-to brand for traditional Indian clothing. They’ve played a pivotal role in putting Indian handloom saris on the global map. What I love most about their aesthetic is how it stays deeply rooted in traditional craft, yet feels entirely contemporary—thanks to their thoughtful use of colour and motifs.
Beyond their exquisite clothing, I’m equally drawn to the Raw Mango store experience. Each location—usually a restored old home—is carefully chosen, bringing heritage spaces back to life. The ambience feels intimate and nostalgic. From the music playing in the background, to the signature fragrance in the air, to the way the textiles are displayed—every detail is designed to evoke a sense of discovering one’s roots.
For anyone visiting India, I recommend stepping into a Raw Mango store in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, or Chennai. It’s a beautiful way to experience Indian textiles in a setting that feels as meaningful as the garments themselves.
Saris start from Rs 8,000.
Naushad Ali at Cinnamon (map)
I first discovered Naushad Ali’s store in Puducherry, where the brand is based, and was instantly drawn to its quiet confidence and attention to detail. I love the way the label combines heritage fabrics with minimal, modern tailoring, and how each piece is made in small batches with a clear respect for craftsmanship. There’s an ease and elegance to his clothes that makes them feel both considered and effortless. His Bengaluru store captures the same spirit—calm, grounded, and rooted in the slower rhythms of life in Puducherry. Every time I wear one of his pieces, I feel like I’m on holiday: unhurried, sun-drenched, and completely at ease.
In fact, I recently treated myself to a cotton summer dress by Ali, who remains one of my favourite Indian designers. The dress is 100% handwoven, made from Bengal mulmul (a fine, soft cotton), and features the traditional jamdani weave—a centuries-old technique from West Bengal, known for its intricate, handwoven patterns. It’s easy, relaxed, and perfect for tropical summers. I love wearing it both on my travels and to work.
Shirts start from Rs 5,000, and dresses start from Rs 10,000 and go up to Rs 15,000.
For all things hand-block printed, I swear by Anokhi. Located at Raintree, a charming colonial bungalow, Anokhi is one of India's first brands to revive the art of hand-block printing at a time when it was slowly dying as a craft form. Known for their prints, use of high-quality cotton fabrics, revival of traditional textile skills, and fair business practices, it's one of those brands that has become synonymous with India, with block print items ranging from home textiles to clothing for women, men, and kids.
Accessories start at Rs 500 and go up to Rs 5,000 for clothing and home-textiles.
Plantation House in JP Nagar (map)
Plantation House is a minimalist shopper's dream, with clothes that focus only on cloth, colour, and form. Crafted from natural-fibre fabrics and hand-dyed only in solid colours, the silhouettes are contemporary yet timeless.
Clothing starts at Rs 5,000 and goes up to Rs 10,000.
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Decorative & Functional Objects
Balaji Antiques & Collectibles, Chickpet (map)
Tucked away in the heart of Chickpet—one of Bengaluru’s oldest and most vibrant markets known for its second-hand bookshops, wholesale textiles, jewellery, and pawnbrokers—Balaji Antiques & Collectibles is easy to miss from the outside. Founded in 1924 by DG Balaji, this unassuming shop reveals a treasure trove once you step through its doors. Inside, you’ll find an eclectic mix of vintage curios, art deco- and colonial-era furniture, South Indian lithographs, old maps of India, bronze artefacts, and other rare gems. What I love most is the shop’s striking visual merchandising, often arranged by colour, and the range of price points—with unique pieces available from as little as Rs. 1,000.
Bamboopecker, St. Marks Road (map)
This has to be my favourite shop in the city. Set in a traditional Indian bungalow with red oxide flooring, it creates the perfect ambience for all things bamboo. Inside, you'll find everything from baskets, trays, and chattais (woven mats) to furniture and lighting, all crafted from bamboo and rattan. What sets Bamboopecker apart is its commitment to reviving traditional Indian bamboo craft practices without letting the products feel dated.
Prices start from Rs 500.
Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium, MG Road (map)
Drop by the Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium on MG Road to buy some traditional souvenirs like the famous Mysore Sandal Soap and a few incense sticks for a couple hundred rupees more. Mysore Sandal Soap has a fascinating history: During World War I, due to a surplus of sandalwood caused by halted exports, the then Maharaja of Mysore decided to use the excess to make soap. It remains the only soap in the world made with 100% pure sandalwood oil. It also holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag granted by the Government of India, which means this soap is unique to Karnataka.
Danny Mehra for Tribal Rugs (by appointment only)
One of my favourite apartment-studios in the city is a space that houses an extraordinary collection of historic tribal rugs, gathered over four decades by collector Danny Mehra, who lovingly refers to them as true works of art. You could easily spend hours here, exploring his remarkable collection—which, as he likes to say, could cover ten football fields—and listening to him speak about each piece with genuine passion and deep knowledge. He may well be the only rug collector in the country with a collection this impressive.
Prices on request.
(Danny Mehra can be contacted on WhatsApp at +91 9880752554.)
General Items, Gangadhara Chetty Road (map)
Set in a leafy neighbourhood in Ulsoor, General Items (where I am a co-founder) takes its name from the space this once was—a school provisions store selling notebooks and 'other general items'. When we first saw the original signage, we knew it had to be called General Items, and the rest, as they say, is history.
We curate everyday, utilitarian objects, pantry staples, basic clothing, books and stationery, things that bring joy and utility. We also do monthly events such as Meet the Maker and Weekend at General Items—for people to discover crafts, meet the makers, or just to have a chat with us.
Prices start at Rs 100 and go up to Rs 20,000.
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Pantry Staples
Nari and Kāge, Koramangala (map)
A charming little fromagerie founded by Kathrina and Daksha, along with Benjamin, who came to India from France on an exchange programme and never left. What started as a lockdown hobby—making homemade feta and camembert—soon grew into a full-fledged business. Noticing the lack of quality local cheese in India, they created a space where people could explore, learn, and connect with artisanal cheeses.
Besides picking up my cheese supplies, I often treat myself to their Sunday specials. Their sandwiches have become my go-to almost every weekend! They also curate a selection of high-quality jams, relishes, honey, and other products from small Indian producers. In addition to crafting exceptional cheeses, their mission is to help small-scale producers bring their incredible products to the city.
Cheeses start from Rs 200.
The Fresh Factory in Indranagar (map)
I love the pantry section at The Fresh Factory. It's stocked with small-batch, India-made ingredients and condiments, alongside fresh produce from local farmers.
From local cheeses to chocolates, kombucha, and tea and coffee sourced from different regions, this has become my go-to Sunday spot to restock my pantry staples.
Prices start from Rs 100.
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Music
On the Jungle Floor, Indranagar (map)
The coolest new kid on the block is a vinyl record store that also doubles as a listening room—On The Jungle Floor. It was founded by Akhil Hemdev as an online store in 2019; he’s been instrumental in shaping Bangalore’s vinyl culture through pop-ups, intimate listening sessions, and now, his very own brick-and-mortar space.
Hemdev is the kind of person who lives and breathes music, and his love for the form remains contagious: spend five minutes with him, and you’ll walk away with a list of things you want to listen to. The collection at the store includes music from all over the world, but what really stands out is the selection of hidden gems by Indian artists—the kind of records you probably won’t find elsewhere.
From the curation to the ambiance and conversations, everything about the store feels warm, inviting, and personal.
Vinyls are priced at Rs 5,000 and go up to Rs 7,000.
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Malini Malik is the co-founder of General Items, a shop for well-designed, utilitarian objects in Bangalore. She also runs Come Away, a design-led travel consultancy curating immersive journeys across the Indian subcontinent.
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