Marché Kermel is a small covered market in a charming round 19th-century iron-and-glass pavilion in the heart of the Plateau, rebuilt to its original design after a fire in 1993. It is calmer, cleaner and more navigable than Sandaga, which makes it a good first stop for new arrivals — flowers, fruit, fish and a perimeter of stalls selling silver, baskets, masks and the kind of souvenirs visitors actually buy.
Bargaining is expected. Prices start optimistic and converge somewhere reasonable with a little patience and a smile. The streets around the market have several cafes if you need a coffee break, and the cathedral is a five-minute walk away.