This is literally a general shopping guide for future Fulbrighters/CDI visitors!
Food:
Casino or Carrefour: the typical Western-style supermarkets. Typically very pricey, but they do accept cards! I personally prefer to go to the big Carrefour in Playce Mall (Zone 4) once a month to stock up on meat, fish, and snacks. You can also get basic household items and alcohol here. Note that nonlocal produce is very expensive.
Local markets: these are a bit harder to find but significantly cheaper. You can get fresh fruits and veggies, just be sure to clean them extra well when you get home! You can also get fresh chicken, some kinds of fish, and meat as well. Most markets also have hair braiders, tailors, teas/local herbs, beauty supply stores, jewelry stores, small household wares, and small electronic stores. You always need cash and I would recommend having smaller bills. We love Cocody Market (near Pharmacie Cocody) or Anono Market near Le Gestone Hotel.
Street sellers: always a cheap, hot, and great meal. If you’ve never eaten meat outside of the US and Europe, I would slowly acclimate to any meat you get on the side of the road. Many people also sell fruits and veggies on the side of the road.
Bread, Cakes, and Ice Cream: Des Gateaux et Pain has the best bread and ice cream in town. If you’re looking for whole wheat, grainy, or other specialized bread come here. Zest Patisserie also has great mousse cakes and pastries.
Electronics:
There is a massive Samsung store in Prima Center (Z4). There is also technically an Apple-approved vendor there, but I have personally found them incredibly unhelpful. Unless you are buying a brand new product, I wouldn’t go there.
You can get phone repairs in a ton of places. (heads up, the Apple store often doesn’t have parts so they’ll make you wait a month to get things fixed)
You can get headphones, chargers, portable chargers, adaptors, and all that fun stuff in most electronic stores. I don’t have a strong preference for one.
Clothing:
Sportswear (and gym things!): Decathlon is the best place to go. There are two in Z4, one in the Playce Shopping Mall and another larger store deeper in Z4. I got a yoga mat, new gym gloves, sportswear, and all my swim gear from there. A bit pricey, but also takes cards.
Cap Sud/Nord: I’ve personally never been, but they allegedly have pricey clothes
Western brands in Abidjan: I’m pretty sure there’s a Mango and an Aldo somewhere
Playce Marcory: Large shopping mall with tons of clothing, jewelry, skincare, and shoe stores. Just like any typical mall
Small vendors on the side of the road/market for more local attire
Abidjan Mall: like any regular mall, it has a ton of stores
Tailors: Getting custom clothing here is far more affordable than in the states. If you find and befriend a tailor, they can take you to Adjamé market to go fabric shopping and then show them your design! To find a good tailor, ask your teachers for recommendations. I recommend making a clothing wish list and getting it all made in February/March so everything can be done and paid for before you start packing
Anything and Everything
China Mall: Think Costco and Target mixed into one. They have everything from air fryers to skincare. There is one in Z4 and one on the way to Grand Bassam. I think it's a great place to stock up when you first move into your house.
Orca: A larger, more organized, but far more expensive China Mall. It gives large department store vibes
Adjamé Market: Ajamé is a massive market in the northwest of Abidjan. They have everything and I think it truly represents how innovative Africans are. However, the market is a complex place - it’s very different from smaller local markets. I personally recommend going with an Ivorian who knows the market well - my most successful trip was going with my tailor to get fabrics. My roommate and I, two African women who have been to countless markets, got lost and muddy the first time. And we got maybe two things on our list. For many of the sellers in Ajamé, their stores are their only source of income, so people can be aggressive about selling you things. I have had people follow me over a pair of socks. If you are uncomfortable with people calling out to you and crowded spaces, I would not recommend going alone.
That being said, Ajamé truly has everything and the quality is incredible. You can get linen in all colors of the rainbow for three dollars a meter, Italian silks, purses, necklaces, watches, a whole new wardrobe, a TV set, local incense, and countless other things for unbeatable prices. I think it’s worth going to at least once. Just don’t speak English and be prepared to bargain.