I absolutely love markets. If there is a market anywhere
within a 100 km radius of me, at any given time, chances are I will find it!
One of the reasons I adore my city, is because of the many markets that keep
popping up all over the place, each offering something slightly different, with
their own unique feel! Holidaymakers, who choose the
self-catering option when
visiting the Mother City, will have the flexibility to really explore all of
her attractions, and markets are a great place to pick up delicious homemade
produce at affordable prices, as well as a selection of handmade clothes,
jewellery and other items.
Markets are also fantastic, because they encourage you to
visit all the different regions of Cape Town, from the city bowl itself, to
Muizenberg, and Stellenbosch- places that may be a little further to drive, but
the results are well worth the effort!
City Bowl Market:
Hope Street, every Saturday from 09h00 until 14h00.
This market is a foodie’s dream with a great variety of
homemade produce and tasty titbits, as well as a fashion section, with handmade
clothes on offer.
Fashion, food and design- this is a small market that is
always buzzing, which has a variety of second-hand and handmade clothes on
offer as well as jewellery and some food. Look out for Bow Peep’s beautiful
handmade jewellery, which incorporates fabric covered buttons and other
materials.
One of Cape Town’s most popular markets ideally located
close to trendy Long Street which hosts a number of quirky restaurants and
bars, as well as a variety of fashionable clothing stores. This market has a
huge variety of items for sale, from locally produced curios to exquisite
jewellery, clothing, second-hand goods and more!
Described on the website as a ‘Cosmopolitan, European
lifestyle market with an alfresco vibe’ this market is a wonderful way to spend
a Sunday, offering a specialty food selection, clothing, arts, décor,
photography, second hand books, a bar with a TV for sports fanatics and many
other attractions!
A fun day out, this market ranges from quality antiques to
bric a brac items such as tools, wooden frames, second hand books and various
other knick knacks. Spend some time talking to the salesmen and women, some of
them have fascinating stories, and have been coming to the market for most of
their lives. Last time I was here I got some beautiful doll’s house furniture
for my little cousin, a couple of wooden frames, an interesting silver teaspoon
and I ogled over an absolutely remarkable collection of old cameras, all of
which were in fantastic condition and still functioning!
One of the most popular markets in town, this market has
become world-renowned for its fantastic selection of locally grown produce and
delicious goodies, as well as its wonderful handmade clothing and jewellery
section, photography store and gallery, and other shops. There are so many
delicious treats on offer you will be spoilt for choice, but some of my
favourites are the pizzas, Honest Chocolate, the paella and the cupcakes of
course.
The perfect spot to pick up a scrumptious lunch! Choose from
a wonderful variety of healthy foods, homemade, fresh produce and vintage,
retro clothes. You can even have a picnic in the gardens on a sunny day!
This is a family oriented market, with an exciting range of
arts and crafts on offer, as well as delicious food and handmade clothing. You
can find beautiful pottery, amongst other exquisite crafts which are great
presents to take home to your friends, or to keep as a reminder of your trip.
This community-oriented market has lots of fun activities
for both the young and young at heart, and there are some wonderful stalls and
holistic workshops available and your experience will be enhanced by the live
music which adds to the market’s buzz.
The ideal opportunity to explore the stunning Botanic
Gardens which are next door, and to shop around for some uniquely South African
arts and crafts, and you can pick up some yummy food along the way!
This market is predominantly homemade goodies and fresh
produce, and sells the best brownies in town- I recommend the chocolate
cheesecake brownie; it will change your life! It’s a family oriented market and
a great spot to stop for lunch.
Bay Harbour Market:
In Hout Bay on Saturday and Sunday: 09h30 to 16h00, and on Friday from 17h00
until 21h00.
This upbeat, arty market has a festive atmosphere, and a
wonderful variety of delicious food, homemade produce, clothes, art and décor
items and local curios for sale! Its right next to the Hout Bay harbour and you
can buy your picnic and then eat it on the soft sands of the beach.
This is a lovely market, with
divine homemade food and produce, and special handmade clothes on offer. It has
a fantastic ambience, and is the perfect location for a relaxed night out with
friends.
If you’re looking for cheap clothes, electronics, toys and
other goods, then this is the perfect market for you. With stalls stretching as
far as the eye can see, you can wander through the bustling market, soaking in
the buzzing ambience, and bartering for any items which take your fancy.
The Stellenbosch market is committed to slow food- food that
is naturally, organically produced and environmentally sensitive. The food and
produce on offer is absolutely amazing, and you can rest assured that all the
artisan produce has been created ethically, using only the best ingredients. Enjoy
the rustic charm and serenity of Stellenbosch, and soak up the sunshine at this
quaint, enjoyable market.
So next time you choose the self-catering option, you will
know exactly which market to visit to find the best produce in town! Following
the markets is also a wonderful way to explore the different regions of Cape
Town, which each offer something special and unique.
Images by:
The top of
the Table is one of those sights you just have to add to your bucket list. The
ride up in the cable car is wonderful – you go at a gentle, steady pace and can
gaze out through the 360 degree glass window, watching as the city below you
gets smaller and smaller.
Cape Town’s Mayor, Patricia de
Lille, had this to say about the auspicious new title: “a great accolade
for a unique wonder of nature that belongs to all the people of Cape Town, South
Africa, Africa and the world.”
