Cape Town shopping – malls, markets & bargains
Posted on 20. Mar, 2010 by admin in Cape Town
Shopping in Cape Town is a very popular pastime and like any big city, there is plenty to spend your money on here. Whether it’s the bright lights of American-style malls or the dusty gems of ramshackled flea markets you’re after, Cape Town shops have something to suit all styles and budgets. From original artefacts to designer outlets, here is JF’s complete guide to shopping in Cape Town.
African Curios
Curios is the collective name for African handicrafts and curious objects of all shapes and sizes. Popular for souvenirs and presents, Cape Town Curios is probably the most sought after product for tourists to the city and there are many opportunities to stock up while in town.
The V&A Waterfront is one of the best spots for those looking for curios in Cape Town, although it is widely regarded as an area only fit for tourist tat. Items here are expensive and not always particularly authentic, but they can make good presents for your uneducated friends back home, provided that you’re prepared to haggle your heart out. Much of the Cape Town curios sold at the Waterfront can also be purchased in the multi-storey shops towards the bottom of Long Street.
If you are after the real-deal when it comes to authentic artefacts, head to Church Street where you will find a number of shops selling items complete with their provenance and ethnographic background. Again, be prepared to haggle as anyone with a foreign accent is, according to the shop keepers here, fair game for being ripped off.
Art
Contemporary South African art is widely accepted to be one of the most undervalued of all genres in the international art scene, but if you’re into real art as opposed to curios, there are several good art galleries in Cape Town.
Buying art in Cape Town is easy if you know where, but you do have to account for it in your holiday budget as it’s not always cheap. The Michael Stevenson Gallery is one of the best Cape Town art galleries, and AVA, Bell-Roberts and the Joao Ferreira galleries are also worth seeing.
Cheap art in Cape Town can be purchased from Rastafarians on the street, at the Red Shed at the V&A Waterfront, at Heartworks in Kloof Street or the Gardens Centre Mall. There is also a classy craft boutique at De Waterkant in the Cape Quarter.
South African Wine
If you’re a fan of South African wine, and let’s face it who isn’t, stock up while you’re in Cape Town. Like anywhere in the country, buying wine in Cape Town gets you much more grape for you money than you would get overseas. There are plenty of wineries in South Africa to work your way around, but there are also a number of good wine shops in Cape Town to choose from. More on South African wine.
Vaughan Johnson’s Wine Shop can be found in Dock Road at the V&A Waterfront. The shop boasts a good selection and the staff are very knowledgeable about their product.
Tel: +27 (0)21 419-2121
Email: vjohnson@mweb.co.za
Caroline’s Fine Wines have two shops, one at the V&A Waterfront and one in Long Street in the city centre. They have a much wider selection than most of the wine shops in Cape Town but are not cheap compared with some of the local supermarkets. If you want some expert advice while buying wine in Cape Town, however, this is probably your best bet.
Tel: +27 (0)21 419-8984
Email: (via website)
Website: www.carolineswines.com
Wine Concepts can be found in the Cardiff Castle Building on the corner of Kildare Road and Main Street. It also has another franchise in the Lifestyle Centre in Kloof Street and is probably one of the best wine shops in Cape Town outside of the City Bowl.
Tel: +27 (0)21 671-9030
Email: sales@wineconcepts.co.za
Website: www.wineconcepts.co.za
Ultra is a large liquor chain with various outlets across the city, but the Green Point Ultra is probably the most accessible for tourists. They have a huge selection of all price ranges here and offer mixed cases and case discounts. Great for those looking to get sloshed on a budget!
Tel: +27-21-4612437
Website: www.ultraclub.co.za
Flea markets
There are a number of great flea markets in Cape Town and different locations of varying haphazardness set up shop every day of the week. People are expected to haggle here and as a tourist you will probably be quoted double the price of what a local would pay. Never accept a first price and always shop around.
Green Market Square on Shortmarket Street is the largest of the Cape Town flea markets and started as a Farmers’ Market in 1710. Local arts, crafts and of course curios can be bought here from Monday to Saturday. The market is now mainly a tourist-trap, although the odd piece of well priced and highly collectable bric-a-brac can still be found if you’re willing to forage for it.
Milnerton Market, on West Coast Road, is a little better, with plenty of oddities, collectables and antiques to rummage through. Curios and t-shirt sellers are kept to a minimum here and the food stands selling traditional rusks, biltong and boerwors also give the market a more authentic feel than some. This Cape Town market starts at 7am on a Sunday, however, so be prepared to brace the hangover early if you want to snaffle the best deals. Cape Town collectables and Cape Town antiques are in abundance here.
Muizenbery Market, at Sunrise Circle, Sunrise Beach, runs every day from 8am to 4pm. It is one of the largest and busiest of all the Cape Town markets but falls short in the antique and bric-a-brac department. It is, however, one of the best places for cheap shopping in Cape Town, with toys, clothes, food and electronics all going for dirt-cheap prices.
Shopping Malls
There are various large shopping malls in Cape Town with the usual department and chain stores. Cape Town shopping centres can be found all over the city and most are easily reached by public transport or taxi. Most shopping centres in Cape Town also have food courts and boast countless fast-food restaurants.
Bayside Centre
Corner of Otto Du Plessis Drive and Blaauwberg Road at Tableview
Open 9am – 7pm Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm Saturday, 10am – 2pm Sunday.
Tel: +27 (0)21 557-4350
Email: info@baysidecentre.com
Website: www.baysidecentre.com
Blue Route Mall
Corner of Keyser River Road and Tokai Road
Open: 9am – 5pm Monday to Satuday, 10am – 2pm Sunday
Tel: +27 (0)21 713-2360
Email: broute@iafrica.com
Website: www.blueroute.co.za
Canal Walk
Century Boulevard in Century City
Open: 9am – 9pm daily
Tel: +27 (0)21 555-3600
Email: visitorinfo@canalwalk.co.za
Website: www.canalwalk.co.za
Cavendish Square
Vieneyard Road, Claremont
Open: 9am – 7pm Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm on Sunday.
Tel: 27 (0)21 657-5620
Email: information@cavendish.co.za
Website: www.cavendish.co.za/
Constantia Village
Corner of Spaanschemacht River Road and Constantia Main Road
Open: 9am – 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm Saturday, 9am – 1pm Sunday.
Tel: +27 (0)21 794-5065
Email: info@constantiavillage.com
Website: www.constantiavillage.co.za
Longbeach Mall
Corner of Sunnydale Road and Louw Drive, Noordhoek
Open: 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Thursday, 9am – 6pm Friday, 8.30am – 5pm Saturday, 9am – 2pm Sunday.
Tel: +27 (0)21 785-5955
Email: longbeach@marriott.co.za
Website: www.longbeachmall.co.za
N1 City
Louwtjie Rothman Drive, Goodwood
Open: 9am – 7pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday.
Tel: +27 (0)21 595-1170
Email: Bronwyn@word4word.co.za
Website: www.nicitymall.co.za
Tyger Valley
Corner of Willie Van Schoor Avenue and Bill Bezuidenhout Avenue, Bellville
Open: 9am – 7pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sundays.
Tel: + 27 (0)21 914-1822
Email: info@tygervalley.co.za
Website: www.tygervalley.co.za
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Breakwater Road
Open: 10am – 9pm daily.
Tel: +27 (0)21 408-7600
Email: (via website)
Website: www.waterfront.co.za
