Dar Free Market Mall — Local services in Dar es-Salaam

During my recent trip to Dar es Salaam, I decided to explore Dar Free Market Mall, one of the city’s most popular and centrally located shopping destinations. Nestled along Msasani Peninsula near the Sea Cliff area, the mall struck me with its clean, modern look and convenient accessibility—especially for both locals and expats living around Masaki and Oysterbay.

First Impressions

As I walked into the mall, I immediately noticed how well-organized and compact it was. It’s not a huge mall like Mlimani City, but its size actually makes it feel more intimate and easy to navigate. The atmosphere was calm, clean, and air-conditioned, which offered a welcome break from the city’s heat.

Shopping Experience

The mall has a good selection of shops catering mostly to middle and upper-class clientele. There were stores selling designer clothes, electronics, cosmetics, and jewelry. I stopped by a small electronics shop where I checked out some decent-priced Bluetooth speakers and phone accessories. I also passed by several boutiques offering imported clothes and perfumes—many of which seemed to attract expats or tourists.

One of the highlights for me was Game Store, a large retail outlet inside the mall. It had everything from home appliances and electronics to furniture and groceries. I browsed through a section of kitchenware and was impressed by both the variety and prices.

Food & Cafes

After walking around, I got hungry and headed to the food court area. Though small, it offered a cozy space to sit and eat. There were a couple of nice cafés like Bake House and Rhapsody’s, where I ordered a cappuccino and a chicken wrap. The food was fresh, tasty, and reasonably priced.

Services & Convenience

There are also ATMs, a pharmacy, a small clinic, and several beauty salons in the mall. I noticed many expats getting their hair and nails done at one of the salons. The mall also has a good parking area with tight but manageable security.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Dar Free Market Mall felt like a hidden gem especially for someone looking for a quieter shopping experience compared to the bustling Kariakoo or the busier Mlimani City Mall. It’s particularly suited for quick shopping, grabbing a coffee, or meeting up for a business chat. Though it’s not huge, it makes up for it with quality and...

I only walked in briefly to pick up something from one of the stores so I didn't get a chance to tour the entire Mall. However, first impressions are that there are a number of high-end stores available and there is a variety to choose from. Anything from shoes, clothes to even a movie theater can be found here. It seems rather compact in there so if you are used to wide corridors and walking spaces inside a mall, you may be in for a shock.

Parking may be a bit of a challenge on busy days. I say that because I only observed available parking in the front of the building. There are also a number of nice eateries just outside the building and there is at least a bakery inside. The mall is very easily accessible right off the South-Bound lanes of Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road on the way to the city center and is close to a number of...

It's a nice place to go shopping cause there's a lot of different shops selling almost everything you might need. There are saloons too for doing hair, make up, etc. But the prices are generally a bit high. I bought these very nice sneakers at a reasonable price though (after bargaining). The movie theatre is kinda old and looks like it hasn't been repaired in a long time so i was kinda a disappointment for me cause i used to go there a couple years ago and it was among my favourite movie theatres. But it's my favourite place to go for ice cream at Taste me official dessert hub. There's also a pizza place and burger place and restaurants. A good place to go as a family or with kids. But they don't have a wheelchair accessible paths in the mall, and there's no lift. So it'll be difficult to go around for someone on...