When: October 18-19, 2025 (10am-6pm both days)
Where: Ngong Race Course & Golf Park
Entry: Paid
Our Rating: 7.5/10
Pop Up & Chill Market came back for another edition and brought the usual promise: local artisans, handmade goods, live music, and that “support local” energy Nairobi claims to love but doesn’t always show up for.
Spoiler: People actually showed up this time.
The Two-Day Setup
Here’s what made this edition different—they ran it across two full days with different vendors each day. Smart move or cash grab? Depends on your perspective.
Saturday had one set of vendors. Sunday brought completely new ones. If you wanted to see everything, you had to commit to both days or accept you’d miss half the market.
For serious shoppers and people starting Christmas gift hunting (yes, in October), it made sense. For casual browsers, pick one day and call it.
What Was Actually There
Jewelry & Accessories
Easily the most crowded stalls. Handmade earrings, necklaces, beaded pieces, leather accessories. Pricing ranged from “I’ll buy three” (KSh 300-800) to “this better last forever” (KSh 3,000-8,000).
Standouts: Vendors who mixed traditional Kenyan materials (beads, leather, kikois) with modern designs. That’s the sweet spot—culturally rooted but wearable daily.
Art & Home Décor
Paintings, prints, woven baskets, ceramic pieces, macramé wall hangings. The kind of stuff that makes your house look like you have taste instead of just IKEA furniture.
Pricing reality: Good art isn’t cheap. Budget KSh 2,000-10,000+ depending on size and artist. But these are pieces you’ll keep for years, not fast-fashion décor.
Kids’ Stuff
Toys, clothes, books, educational games. Parents came through heavy in the morning sessions—smart because kids get restless by afternoon.
What worked: Vendors who offered interactive stuff. Kids could try toys before parents committed to buying.
Food Vendors
This is where markets live or die. Pop Up & Chill had decent variety—local eats, coffee, fresh juices, snacks. Not restaurant quality but solid for keeping you fueled while you shop.
Honest take: Food was fine but not memorable. You came for the shopping, stayed for the vibes, tolerated the food.
Clothes & Fabric
Mix of ready-to-wear and custom order. Some vendors doing African print modern fashion, others selling basics with unique cuts.
The challenge: Trying stuff on at outdoor markets is always awkward. Some vendors had proper changing setups, others just had mirrors and hope.
The Experience
Organization: 8/10
Layout made sense. Vendors weren’t crammed together. You could actually move without bumping into everyone. Security was present but not overbearing.
Gates opened on time (shocking for Nairobi events). No crazy entry lines. Easy in, easy out.
Crowd Management: 7/10
Saturday afternoon got packed. Not “Blankets & Wine disaster” packed, but definitely “excuse me” every five steps packed.
Sunday was more chill. Serious shoppers came Saturday, Sunday drew the “let’s just see what’s here” crowd.
Kids’ Activities: 6/10
They had a designated kids’ area with activities. Good in theory. Execution was okay—kept kids busy enough that parents could shop, but nothing groundbreaking.
Live Music: 7/10
DJs and a few live acts kept energy up throughout the day. Not overpowering, just background vibes. You could still talk to vendors without shouting.
Music selection: Mix of Afrobeats, Kenyan hits, some reggae, bit of soul. Standard festival playlist but it worked.
Pricing Reality Check
Budget Tier (Under KSh 1,000):
- Small jewelry pieces
- Prints (not original art)
- Kids’ toys and books
- Accessories
Mid-Range (KSh 1,000-5,000):
- Statement jewelry
- Medium-sized art pieces
- Quality home décor
- Custom clothing items
Splurge (KSh 5,000+):
- Original artwork
- Custom furniture pieces
- Premium leather goods
- Large ceramic/woven items
Total if you came to actually shop: Budget KSh 3,000-8,000. You’ll leave with 3-5 quality items.
Saturday vs. Sunday: Which Day Was Better?
Saturday:
- Pros: More vendor variety, better energy, felt like the “main” day
- Cons: Crowded by afternoon, parking was a nightmare, some vendors sold out of popular items
Sunday:
- Pros: Less crowded, easier parking, vendors were more willing to negotiate on prices
- Cons: Some vendors looked tired, slightly lower energy, a few packed up early
Verdict: If you can only do one day, Saturday. But Sunday had its advantages if you hate crowds.
What Worked
✅ Vendor curation: Quality control was real. No random people selling generic stuff you can find anywhere.
✅ Two-day format: Doubled the vendor opportunities without making one day overwhelming.
✅ Accessibility: Pricing wasn’t exclusive. You could shop on a budget or splurge.
✅ Support local messaging: Actually backed it up with real local artisans, not imported goods pretending to be local.
✅ Atmosphere: Felt like a community event, not just a transaction space.
What Could Improve
❌ Parking: Saturday afternoon was chaos. Sunday was better but still tight.
❌ Food quality: Step it up. People are here for hours, give them better options.
❌ Vendor contact info: Some vendors didn’t have cards or Instagram handles readily available. Make it easy for people to find you later.
❌ Seating: More shaded seating areas needed. People want to rest between shopping rounds.
❌ Promotion: Event could’ve been marketed harder. Some people didn’t even know it was happening.
Comparison to Other Nairobi Markets
vs. Maasai Market:
- Pop Up & Chill: More curated, better for unique finds, slightly higher prices
- Maasai Market: Bigger selection, more negotiation, hit or miss quality
vs. Karura Art Market:
- Pop Up & Chill: Broader categories (not just art), more casual vibe
- Karura: Higher-end art focus, more serious collectors
vs. Village Market weekend vendors:
- Pop Up & Chill: Way better atmosphere, more variety, feels like an event
- Village Market: Convenient if you’re there anyway, but not destination-worthy
Christmas Shopping Strategy
Since we’re approaching the holiday season, Pop Up & Chill is actually smart for gift hunting:
What to buy here for gifts:
- Unique jewelry (not the mall stuff everyone has)
- Art pieces for people’s homes
- Kids’ educational toys
- Handmade accessories
- Custom items that show you put thought in
What NOT to buy here for gifts:
- Anything fragile if you’re traveling with it
- Items without clear pricing (awkward to return)
- Stuff you’re not sure about quality-wise
Start now, avoid December’s last-minute panic buying.
Final Verdict: 7.5/10
Pop Up & Chill Market delivered a solid weekend shopping experience. Not perfect—parking and food need work—but the vendor quality and atmosphere made it worth attending.
Go if you:
- Want unique items you won’t find at malls
- Actually support local artisans (not just say you do)
- Enjoy market vibes over sterile mall shopping
- Are hunting for Christmas gifts early
- Like discovering new local brands
Skip if you:
- Hate crowds (even the manageable ones)
- Only shop online
- Not willing to spend a few hours browsing
- Just want Instagram content (regular Maasai Market is fine for that)
Would we go again? Yes, especially if they improve parking and food. The vendors brought quality, and it’s one of the few markets where you actually feel good about supporting local.
When’s the next one? Markets like this usually run quarterly or for special occasions. Follow their socials for announcements.
Leave a Reply