Oshiwara Antique Market ☆ Jogeshwari

Oshiwara Antique Market in Jogeshwari is an antique market in the north similar to Chor Bazaar in the South. While Chor Bazaar is much better known and massive, Oshiwara is much smaller in scale. My Finish friend found some cool items from Oshiwara Antique Market for her home in the past. She pointed out that it felt easier to shop in Oshiwara compared to Chor Bazaar because Oshiwara is smaller in scale, just one street and a car can pull up in front of a shop so that you don’t have to drag your small purchases everywhere. While Chor Bazaar has become a big tourist attraction, Oshiwara Antique Market in Jogeshwari seems to stay as an attraction for locals. I wanted to learn about Oshiwara through someone who has experienced shopping there before, so I asked her to take me there.

As for me, I was really excited about the trip to Oshiwara which would give me many photo opportunities. Since I’m not much of an antique shopper, I was not sure if I would find anything. (I did find one thing I really liked, though.) I also need a long time to think when it comes to furniture or home decor shopping. However, as a photography lover, I was thrilled to go to Oshiwara to take photos. It sounded like a photogenic location with lots of fun and interesting subjects to shoot. It is also exciting to go to a place where it is not covered by tour guides.

Antique Shopping

If you are into antique furniture and items, there are several different places I can think of to recommend.

If you would like to buy antique furniture that are already refurbished, you might want to visit The Raj Company.

If you are looking for one of a kind antique piece for home decor, you might like Moorthy’s. Moorthy’s also have furniture.

If you want to see a lot of different kinds of antique items, especially random items, from an old camera to old Bollywood posters to industrial furniture to ship equipment, then Chor Bazaar is a place to go.

Additional Similar Shop Suggestions

If you are looking for rustic antique looking furniture or industrial design furniture, Magnolia has lovely furniture and decor. Another place that has unique rustic classic as well as industrial design furniture is Sanctum. Sanctum also has pretty home decor items. I’m sure there are many other shops in town that have other rustic and industrial design furniture, but these are the ones that I know that I can recommend to you.

My friend whose home I featured on my blog in 2014 bought a bar cart from Oshiwara shown in the photo below. You can see her home in the post Tiffany Blue & Indian Design.

Jogeshwari is quaint and chill. Each shop had unique items. Oshiwara Antique Market may not have a wide variety of selections like they do in Chor Bazaar, if you spend much time to go through items that are hidden, you might come to find something that you find interesting to buy. Most of the items are covered in dust. It’s unavoidable for shops that are exposed to outside air in India.

I know that this one below is not antique, but when you see it among other items at an antique store in Oshiwara, it kind of looks like an antique piece, doesn’t it?

We walked into a small ally from the main street to find piles after piles of furniture and doors. I thought to myself how exciting would it be for someone who loves DIY to come here and find pieces of furniture to fix?

I come from a country where it’s not a common practice to buy used furniture and refurbish. People throw away things even if they are in a good condition and most likely you have to pay to throw away big pieces. At least in the city where my parents live, we have to pay for a big piece to be picked up. It’s nice to see that furniture pieces are appreciated more and may find new owners who would take care of them.

If you were to go to Oshiwara, I suggest you go there with a few friends, preferably with one of your local friends. Your local friend would be able to negotiate better. If you have to go without someone who speaks Hindi or Marathi, then here are a few tips.

How To Bargain In Jogeshwari

1. Determine how much you want.
2. Go for a half (50%) of the price you were told. Try to stick with it.
3. If you raise your offer, but the shop keeper does not want to agree, walk away if you don’t want to settle with the shop keeper’s offer.
4. Spend time to think about it more while check out other shops, and go back if you really want it.

I went to Jogeshwari with my Finish friend, Eveliina, and her friend, Rachel, who is from Mumbai. Rachel bought a teak bookshelf in the photo below. She was told the price would be 15,000 Rs. (USD250) She offered 7,500 Rs., but the shop owner refused, so she walked away. Then he came after her to say he would accept 8,000, so that was the deal. It’s a solid wood which normally cost high if you buy new.

I hope this is helpful!

Oshiwara Antique Market

S.V. Road, Jogeshwari