When I first walked into here I was feeling a hippy, wordly vibe about the place. That being said it attracted my partner more than me. I was just along for the ride. There are a lot of nick nacky things in here. Some of them look tacky and cheap, and while others look OK, you have to wonder if they all came from the same sweatshop. It’s a horrible thing to think, but I’m only being honest. The bright colourful clothes drew the attention of my partner. She loves lots of bright colours and this place didn’t disappoint her in that regard. I don’t think she was disappointed in the clothes so much as she couldn’t see herself in them. I didn’t see much the piqued my own interest and left it mainly to her. She liked the place, but couldn’t see herself making a special trip to go back.
Jo B.
Place rating: 3 Melbourne, Australia
Xanadu is an interesting little shop with a strong Islander feel. It has a wide array of beach clothing, such as sarongs, fisherman’s pants, long flowing skirts and many One Size Fits All tops and dresses, all in tie-dyed and other colourful materials. There is a lot of cheap and rather generic jewelry here which I didn’t pay much attention to, as well as many small figures of Hindu gods and animals. The highlight of this place for me are the linen bags of all colours and designs. They come in several sizes and are very cheap, starting at $ 10. There is also a gorgeous range of handmade notepads, the type with heavy leather covers and thin leather strips holding the cover closed. I also love the fruit bowls with in-built fly screens that fold around, making a spherical container. What a great idea! And again, nice and colourful and cheap. It’s definitely worth a browse if you enjoy alternative clothing and gifts.
Rohan H.
Place rating: 3 South Australia, Australia
Xanadu A place where nobody dared to go The love that we came to know They call it Xanadu (It takes your breath and it’ll leave you blind). And now, open your eyes and see What we have made is real We are in Xanadu (A dream of it, we offer you) If you’re expecting Olivia Newton John to jump out from behind the counter, you’ll be highly disappointed. This place is stocked with carvings that made it through customs, a huge choice of incense, some crazy glass balls tied up with rope(do with it as you please), hibiscus shirts and sarongs. The only thing that is missing is a Bintang or a pack of Garahms, for the ultimate Indo, spiritual experience. Xanadu is a place I like to drop in if I’m looking for a gift for someone else.