Haiti Shopping and nightlife

Shopping in Haiti

Visitors generally head for the historic Iron Market, which has tonnes of tat as well as some excellent local handicrafts. These include paintings in the naïf style for which Haiti is famous, straw hats and metalwork.

Sales tactics in the Iron Market can be overly aggressive and some prefer the more genteel environs of the Comite Artisanal Haitien, 29 Rue 3, Pacot (www.cahaiti.com), a cooperative which represents more than 200 artisans and groups across the country. Prices are fixed, unlike at the Iron Market, and consumers can leave knowing their purchases have provided fair wages for local artisans.

If it's local art you're after, head to Kay Atizan 3 Rue Magny, Petionville (tel: +509 3456 6989), an art gallery that sells handicrafts at reasonable prices.

Shopping Note

Opening hours can vary. Some shops in Petionville open 0900 to 1800. Some stay open half-day Sunday.

Shopping hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1600, Sat 0800-1200.

Nightlife in Haiti

Haitians love nothing more than jigging to live music and visitors will be spoilt for choice when it comes to a night out. Especially at the weekend when bars, restaurants and hotels crank up the volume and host live bands, which play away until the carefree hours of the morning.

One of the hottest tickets in town is a table at the Oloffson Hotel, Avenue Christophe 60, Port au Prince (tel: +509 2223 4000; www.hoteloloffson.com), which plays host to vodou-inspired band RAM every Thursday night.