The commercial heart of Mbabane runs along Allister Miller Street and around the Swazi Plaza shopping mall. The plaza is the main enclosed shopping centre in the country, with supermarkets, a post office, banks, and a string of chain shops. It is functional rather than interesting, but everything in the capital is walkable from here.
The street itself gives a clear picture of what Mbabane is: a small African capital with an orderly, unhurried town centre, some decent cafes, a few government buildings, and a general air of civil service efficiency. The Saturday market near the bus rank draws sellers from across the country with fresh produce, traditional foods, and crafts.