Unusually for Keralan cities, Kochi offers a wide choice for eating out, from the delicious fresh-cooked fish by the Chinese fishing nets at Fort Cochin to the sophistication of the Brunton Boatyard. Between the two extremes, various popular and modestly priced places in Ernakulam include authentic Keralan dishes on their menus. If you're eating out across the water from your hotel, make sure you are familiar with the ferry timings.

The items are of immense beauty for the simple reason that Keralities are gifted artisans. Among Kochi's best buy are metal-ware, camel-bone carvings, wood carvings, articles made of coconut shell, bamboo, cane, embroidered screwpine mats; grass mats; and several other types of handicrafts. Kochi also has several antique dealers, jewellery stores, readymade garments and ethnic hand-woven textiles worth adding to your shopping basket. The major shopping centres are on M.G. Road which cuts across the heart of the city, and the Marine Drive including Broadway.

The Kerala State Handicrafts Development Corporation's showroom Kairali and State Handicrsfts Society's emporium Saurabhi, are situated opposite each other at Palimukku, M.G Road. Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, a showroom of Khadi village industries, is also situated here. The showroom of the Bombay Handloom House is located at the north end of M.G. Road and the showrooms of the various states are located opposite Maharaja's College Ground, M.G. Road.

BOOK SHOPS: 

1. D.C.Books, Kurian Towers, Banerji Road, Ernakulam. Kochi - 682 018 Tel.
2. Current Books, Press club Road, Kochi - 682 011
3. Higginbothems, Iyyattil Jn. Chittor Road