The best shopping in Cape Town
Cape Town has come a long way since “buying local” meant picking up some beadwork and carvings. Cape Town’s sophisticated blend of Afro-Euro has been finding its way into international design-savvy shops in London, New York, Paris. Naturally you’ll find far greater variety, and friendlier pricing, if you do your own foraging.
You’ll find the city's best shopping areas in pockets and certain streets – personal favourite is browsing the antique, clothing, bric-a-brac and galleries that line Kalk Bay’s high street, within sight of the sea, and interspersed with plenty of places to stop for breather (Olympia Café is an institution).
The mall in the V&A Waterfront is popular but the offering is pretty generic (though Cape Union Mart is worthwhile if you’re shopping for safari or camping gear). If you’re looking specifically for locally produced wares, stroll from the mall over to the Watershed, great for a one-stop gift shopping experience, with over 150 stalls in a large warehouse flogging only items made on the continent.
Fashionistas should earmark visits to MaXhosa Africa, Stefania Morland, KLûK CGDT, Kat van Duinen, Wanda Lephoto, Viviers Studio and Mantsho.
For further Cape Town inspiration, see our guide to the city and its best hotels, restaurants, nightlife and things to do. For further inspiration, read our expert's ultimate two-week holiday in South Africa.
Find places to shop by area
Green Point
Out of this world
If you’re short on time and looking for a curated collection of high-end African craft, Sue and Peter Vith have an excellent eye, and have long-standing relationships with traders and suppliers across the continent. There's some gorgeous furniture, but for the most part the collection focuses on accent items – many of them originally utility pieces – that will inject a hint of the exotic into an elegant room. You’ll pay accordingly but it saves searching through sprawling, market-style offerings.
Contact: outofthisworld.co.za
Prices: £££
Waterfront
Watershed
To forage for the largest array of gifts, mementos or local fashion, be sure to schedule at least a couple of hours for the Watershed, located between the Two Oceans Aquarium and the new Time Out Market. With over 150 stalls in a large open-plan warehouse, Watershed offers by far the most varied selection of locally produced clothing in the city as well as jewellery, textiles, toys, homeware, ceramics, shoes, and more. It’s a great place to browse for real quality mingled with some tourist tat – in fact one of the long term effects of lockdown is an improved offering, with interesting stand-alone boutique stores like Mungo and Jemima and Africa Nova now down-sized to stalls at Watershed.
Contact: waterfront.co.za
Prices: ££
City centre
Mungo
Heirloom quality organic cotton towels, bed and table linen, throws and kikois in textured whites or the most wonderful colour combinations that really stand the test of time. Mungo has come a long way since master weaver Stuart Holding started weaving limited runs of his beautiful homeware textiles on two restored antique looms in 1998 – the company is the first Global Organic Textile Standard-certified mill in Africa, and the range, exported to Europe and the US, really is outstanding in every way. (Tip: If local textiles are your interest, it’s worth earmarking time for African Jacquard’s tiny showroom in Woodstock, or just browse the website africanjacquard.com for gorgeous, sumptuous “where did you get that” scarves, bed throws, cushion covers and towels, made in the traditional French Jacquard way but with texture and pattern inspired by African geometric designs.)
Contact: mungo.co.za
Prices: £
The Olive Branch Deli
This tiny deli, tucked away down a narrow corridor in a corner of the Lifestyle Centre, is like a 19th-century apothecary or Victorian grocer, with wooden cabinets and floor-to-ceiling shelves jam-packed with visually arresting produce, large hessian sacks of wares, racks of bread (including the best gluten-free loaves) and a 1920s jazz soundtrack. Conceived as a community grocer by its hands-on owner-managers, brother and sister Ommy and Hélène Demetriou showcase the very best in local produce, with as well as top quality international brands for Cape Town foodies, and always on hand to advise. Tip: If you want to see Cape Town foodies in action, don’t miss the Oranjezicht Farmers Market at Granger Bay every Saturday and Sunday (see activities).
Contact: olivebranchdeli.com
Prices: £££
Woodstock & Paarden Island
Imiso Ceramics / Mervyn Gers Ceramics
Cape Town has many excellent ceramicists, but for hand-crafted one-off pieces Andile Dyalvane and Zizipho Poswa really stand out. Their work bears some European influences, like the Picasso-inspired Africasso range, but for the most part it's rooted in Africa, with delicate renderings of traditional objects like isiXhosa milk pails and Ngumi storage vessels. The beautifully textured Scarified Collection has been inspired by tribal body scarification,. Zizipho Poswa specialises in delicate pinch pots, and her functional ceramics are simply wonderful.
If you prefer functional ceramicware, view the wonderful range of handmade crockery in the working studio of award-winning ceramicist Mervyn Gers. His plates make meals by many of the country’s top restaurant and lodge chefs look even more appetising. In addition to being an authentic studio experience, his ‘seconds’ (all with very minor flaws) are a total bargain. Or create a bespoke dinner set, choosing from a wide array of colours and designs. Shipping is arranged by the team.
Contact: imisoceramics.co.za
Prices: ££
The South Africa Print Gallery
For quality local art that’s easy to carry home, pop into the SA Print Gallery (SAPG). Established by master printmaker Gabriel Clark-Brown in 2009, it’s the only exclusive fine art print dealership in the city, and the best place to browse for SA limited edition prints. Aside from selecting works by some of the big local names in printmaking (like William Kentridge), the owners seeks out lesser known artists who display strong technical qualities and embrace unusual subject matters.
Contact: printgallery.co.za
Prices: ££
Kalk Bay
Kalk Bay Modern
An unassuming entrance and a flight of stairs leads to this Kalk Bay classic, rammed with a cornucopia of excellent art and crafts. It possesses one of the most comprehensive collections of ceramic artists in the city, but the walls are also well adorned with works by William Kentridge, Nicolaas Maritz, Cecil Skotnes, and there's some great jewellery on display. Gallery director Cheryl Rumbak has collaborated on San community projects and the gallery is thus home to one of the largest collections of contemporary San prints, paintings and textiles. This also marks the start of one of the most charming shopping precincts in the city – keep heading north all the way to Anpa.
Contact: kalkbaymodern.co.za
Prices: £££
Soul Design
This delightful little shop specialises in handmade African jewellery – from chic brass cuffs to Maasai-inspired necklaces, cowrie rings to Marrakesh earrings, this is the kind of understated jewellery you wear often, and affection grows alongside memories of where it’s been and seen. Choose from a gorgeous display of ready mades, or pick out a pendant that speaks to you, decide on length and choice of beads, and Lee will create a bespoke item while you wait. Or make one yourself from scratch – with sparkling harbour views, and a table laden with beads, brass charms, feathers, tassels and letters, the workshop studio is a great place to while away a happy hour manifesting your creativity.
Contact: souldesign.co.za
Prices: £
Merchants on Long
Showcasing the best of both emerging and established local designers, this city centre store – with a smaller outlet in the V&A Waterfront – is where you tap into Africa’s trendsetters. Top brands worth looking out for include the award-winning MaXhosa Africa (a personal favourite; well worth browsing designer Laduma Ngxokolo’s standalone store in Waterfront) as well as Sindiso Khumalo, Lukhanyo Mdingi, Rich Mnisi and MmusoMaxwell. (Tip: For the most delightful introduction to the excellent fashion being produced on this continent, time your trip for November, when the Mount Nelson hosts their annual salon-style fashion show, serving up a sumptuous high tea and marvellous contemporary fashions created by the continent’s brightest stars.)
Contact: merchantsonlong.co.za
Prices: ££
Okapi
The first stand-alone shop showcasing luxurious leather bags, purses, wallets and even keyrings has opened (by appointment only) in the historic Manor House of the Anthonij Rupert wine farm in Franschhoek (incidentally also one of the best tasting experiences; worth making an appointment for both!). These are limited edition accessories, 100% locally produced, made by hand from sustainably-sourced leather (look out for the springbok and ostrich bags). You can choose the leather, colour, trim, or pick up from the pret-a-porter range, available to view online. Limited collections of homeware and jewellery also available.
Contact: za.okapi.com
Prices: ££
Coast and Khoi
Have a thing for gorgeous statement shoes? Make an appointment to view what Caryn Wilensky currently has in store. Her pumps are not only eye-catching but comfortable, and each pair – exported to boutiques across the world – is unique. Aside from her signature pumps Wilensky makes one-off sandals, espadrilles, boots and brogues in a range of materials (even vegan), all beautifully embellished.
Contact: coastandkoi.com
Prices: £
