10 Best Places to Go Shopping in British Virgin Islands

Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park is the premier shopping destination in the British Virgin Islands. Largely catering for cruise ship guests, this mixed-use site houses a clutch of retailers alongside restaurants, wellness providers and tourism services such as car rental and tour agencies.

Purchase phone accessories and portable speakers at Klass Electronics, or a special occasion piece of jewellery at Diamonds International or Little Switzerland. There are also clothing and footwear stores where you might shell out a few dollars for a pair of Crocs or a new pair of sunglasses.

The popular BVI Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Market sets up each Saturday morning at Sir Olva George’s Plaza in Road Town. The folks from Good Moon Farm and Pleasant Valley Farm anchor the market. Local growers selling produce from nearby farms and smallholdings accompany them.

The emphasis at the farmers’ market is on sustainability and, where possible, the use of organic techniques. That makes this the ideal place to stock up on some fresh mangos, bananas, papayas, pumpkin or cut cane – whatever’s in season.

Aragorn’s Studio is a local arts centre and shoreside store in Trellis Bay. Close to the beach, it’s supplemented by direct sales from the boat that artist/owner Aragorn himself loads up each morning to trade in the waters of Trellis Bay from.

The studio acts as a distributor for traditional Carib works of art but is best known for its hand-printed T-shirts. These use an etching technique transferred to silkscreen to achieve a clean design. Don’t leave without admiring the fire sculptures – spheres of steel carved with intricate designs. Each full moon, Aragorn fills them with firewood and sets them alight on the beach.

Bamboushay Pottery is a successful pottery store in the British Virgin Islands that opened in 2001. Much of the pottery and artwork is made in Bamboushay’s workshop on the island of Tortola. The rest takes shape on Nevis, where the owner’s family originally came from.

Ceramics in the store’s signature shades of blue and green evoke the Caribbean landscape. Wrapped carefully, your purchase of mugs, plates, jugs, vases and wall sconces will make excellent souvenirs to take home. Alternatively, you can ask for your items to be shipped.

Nook is a bookstore in Road Town that opened in December 2020 but quickly made a name for itself as a favourite among visitors and islanders. That’s in part because of its role in supporting British Virgin Island authors, stocking a wide selection of written material with local roots.

Another popular feature of this bookstore is the attached café. Pick up your reading material and, if you can’t wait to get started on what you’ve bought, simply pull up a chair and hang out for a while.

Nutmeg & Co is a locally owned store in Road Town specialising in unique gifts, home furnishings and accessories. This eco-friendly business is known for its Annie Macphail branded bags made from recycled sailcloth in an assortment of designs.

The store also sells a wide range of other items including souvenir tea towels, scented candles, jewellery, chocolate and Sunny Caribbee spices and sauces. Artwork hangs off every inch of wall space. A resident artist who runs a successful framing and gallery business shares the retail space.

Pusser’s Co. Store and Pub sells nautical and tropical-themed clothing, plates, mugs, and luggage alongside the rum and cake served at its bar. The name Pusser’s derives from purser; a corruption stemming from the way naval seamen referred to the person who oversaw their supplies.

Today, that naval connection is also evident in the sale of Pusser’s rum – sailors would be given a daily grog ration containing rum – and Pusser’s Rum Cake. The curiously named Painkiller Cake takes things a step further as it is based on a rum cocktail called the Painkiller.

Soper's Hole Wharf and Marina on Tortola contains a cluster of retailers selling everything from provisions to clothing. Alongside well-established brands such as Pusser’s and Arawak, you’ll find Amanda Baker at the Allamanda Gallery. This talented photographer sells framed prints, coasters, magnets and greetings cards featuring images she’s captured from around the islands.

Pick up dive maps and sun-safe clothing at nearby Island Surf and Sail. Kit yourself out for yoga or paddleboarding at Breeze Activewear; they also stock nifty non-tippable Toadfish wine tumblers for when you’re ready to chill.

Arawak is a homeware and furniture store that has been a fixture on the British Virgin Islands since 1995. Owner Roy never intended to run a shop; in fact, he came to the BVIs after responding to a job advert for a windsurfing instructor. But sometimes life leads us down an unexpected path. His new friends and neighbours learnt he had a keen eye for decor and bought pieces they’d asked him to source. The idea of Arawak was conceived and the business has gone from strength to strength since.

At Arawak, you can buy teak furniture made in Bali and Java or beautiful home accents including lighting, art, and soft furnishings. 

Foxy’s is a boutique store and bar that’s been a fixture on Jost Van Dyke, the smallest of the BVI’s 4 main islands, since 1968. That was when Philicianno “Foxy” Callwood opened a bar for visiting sailors. A warm welcome, live music and plenty of good food and drink cemented Foxy’s reputation among the yachtie crowd.

Foxy’s wife Tessa oversees the Foxhole Boutique. It sells hats, T-shirts, stickers and other themed merchandise. Choose from the classic foxtail design or a popular skull and crossbones motif.