Clarke's Bookshop
Open since 1957, Clarke's specializes in African literature and non-fiction works, with a specific focus on Southern Africa. There are new and second books to browse including contemporary current affairs and historical rare finds.
16 Best Places to Shop in Cape Town, South Africa
When it comes to shopping, Cape Town has something for everyone—from sophisticated malls to trendy markets. Although African art and curios are obvious choices (and you will find some gems), South Africans have woken up to their own sense of style and creativity, and the results are fantastic and as diverse as the people who make up this rainbow nation. So in a morning you could bag some sophisticated tableware from Carrol Boyes, a funky wire-art object from a street vendor, and a beautifully designed handbag made by HIV-positive women working as part of a community development program.
Cape Town has great malls selling well-known international brands. The V&A Waterfront is an excellent place to start by virtue of its location at the harbor. Cavendish Square in Claremont and Canal Walk at Century City are also vast, the latter on the N1 heading out of town toward Paarl. But you could be anywhere in the world. Gardens Centre in the suburb of Gardens is small and manageable, offering a good selection of stores (Germans love it for the German deli). It's beyond the malls that you can get a richer shopping experience, one that will give you greater insight into the soul of the city and its people.
Shopping malls usually have extended shopping hours beyond the normal 9–5 on weekdays and 9–1 on Saturday. Most shops outside of malls (except for small grocery stores) are closed on Sunday.
Africa Nova
If you aren't crazy about traditional African artifacts à la Greenmarket Square, you might want to visit this store, which stocks contemporary and elegant African art and jewelry.
Atlas Trading Company
Located in Cape Town's Bo-Kaap neighborhood, Atlas Trading is famed for its array of spices, as well as rice and hard-to-find international products. Established in 1946, the family-run business ships anywhere in the world, and can assist guests with items to bring home.
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The Book Lounge
Cape Town's best independent bookstore has a fantastic selection of titles, with many classics and contemporary must-haves on all things African. It also frequently hosts readings and book launches and has a nice café downstairs where you can enjoy a cappuccino while browsing.
Greenmarket Square
Visit this historic square to find a plethora of African jewelry, art, crafts, and fabrics, as well as good buys on clothing (especially T-shirts), and locally made leather shoes and sandals. It's one of the best places in town to purchase souvenirs and gifts, but it's lively and fun whether or not you buy anything. More than half the stalls are owned by people from other parts of Africa, and if you stop to chat, you'll find political and economic refugees from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo trying to eke out a living. Bargain, but do so with a conscience.
The Long Street Antique Arcade
At this row of antique stores in the heart of Long Street, you'll find all sorts of collectibles, artifacts, furniture, and jewelry. It's a treasure trove with friendly owners who are knowledgeable and always up for a chat.
Maker's Landing
A new market on the cruise terminal, Maker's hosts numerous vendors showcasing some of the most delicious food businesses in Cape Town. With its incubator program, Maker's Landing gives neighborhood favorites a place to launch their business successfully and aims to promote pride in African foods. Here you'll find intriguing bites, drinks, and views of docks.
Mojo Market
This fantastic seven-day-a-week food-and-lifestyle market in Sea Point boasts 45 designer retail stalls selling everything from fashion to home decor to funky local souvenirs, as well as 25 food vendors representing some of Cape Town's favorite city restaurants and craft wine and beer makers. Large tables enjoying views of the Sea Point promenade and free weekend events like live music encourage hanging out as much as shopping.
The Neighbourgoods Market
Known as the Biscuit Mill, this market is partially responsible for putting ever-gentrifying Woodstock on the map with Cape Town's hip, organic types who scoot in on their Vespas looking for artisan breads, pesto, home-cured olives, and fancy cheeses. It gets frantically busy by 10 am, but if you want to rub shoulders with trendy design types and eat fabulous artisanal everything, this is the place to be. The prepared foods are wonderful, and many of Cape Town's most beloved eateries got their start here and most still maintain a presence. When you're done browsing the food market, check out the crafts section with its lovely handmade leather goods, designer clothing, and jewelry, or carry on to the great stores in the same complex. Get there before 9:30 (or after 1:30) or be crushed by the crowds. Music events are not uncommon, and craft beer and boutique wines are also for sale.
Oranjezicht City Farm Market
Held every Saturday from 9 till 2 at the Granger Bay part of the V&A Waterfront, the OZCF Market Day is a community farmers'-style market for independent local farmers and artisanal food producers where you can buy everything from fresh organic veggies to unique artisanal products (meats, cheeses, chocolates, etc.). The prepared foods are also fabulous (everything from shakshuka to eggs Benedict on a rosti to Korean fried chicken) and can be enjoyed at the big tables set up with sea views. Some lovely crafts and fashion vendors also trade here. Great for the whole family.
Pan-African Market
You'll see some glorious cultural contradictions here. The lobby boasts lovely if dusty Victorian tiling, while the first and second floors are a beehive of traders in new and old folk art, with representatives from most locales in West, sub-Saharan, and southern Africa. Order a custom-tailored garment, choose a mask from among the many thousands, and don't be afraid to bargain.
The V&A Waterfront Watershed
This market brings together the best of local arts and crafts with 150 vendors selling more than 365 brands of jewelry, fashion, and accessories, pottery and home decor, and artwork, all of which are made in South Africa and the majority of which is of extremely high quality. The market is open every day until 6 pm.
African Music Store
The people who work here are passionate about African music and eager to pass on their love to anybody who lends them half an ear. You could easily spend a couple of hours listening to any and everything in the store. With a listening booth to sample any CD in the shop, you're bound to find something here that captures the heart of the country for you.
Mnandi Textiles
Here you'll find a range of African fabrics, including traditional West African prints and Dutch wax prints. The store sells ready-made African clothing for adults and children, and you can also have garments made to order.
Oranjezicht City Farm
This has to be the most beautiful setting in the world for a fresh produce and food market—on the slopes of Table Mountain in the gorgeous suburb of Oranjezicht, with the harbor and city down below. Some of the veggies are grown just next door, on an old bowling green dug up and replanted in 2012. There's also a children's playground, a 300-year-old slave bell, and an old barn on the same site, which is also known as Homestead Park. The Oranjezicht City Farm market is a not-for-profit project celebrating local food, culture, and community through urban farming in Cape Town.
Vaughan Johnson Wine & Cigar Shop
This wine shop has a terrific selection and staff members who know their stuff. It has specially designed boxes to take a few cases home with you. And who could blame you?
