6 Best Places to Shop in Cape Town, South Africa

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.