The central market in Malabo is the best place to observe the texture of everyday life in the capital. Stalls sell fresh produce from the mainland — plantains, cassava, cocoyams, fresh fish — alongside imported goods that reflect the city's oil-boom purchasing power. The market is busiest in the early morning and draws a mix of Bioko islanders, mainland Fang traders, Nigerian and Cameroonian migrant workers, and the occasional oil-industry expatriate.
Prices for produce are negotiable; for everything else, expect to pay more than you would in neighbouring countries. The surrounding streets have a few informal restaurants serving fried fish and fufu, the cheapest and most reliable eating in the city.