Shopping in Cape Town
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Rondebosch Potters Market
If you’re interested in local ceramics, the date to mark in your diary is the twice yearly Rondebosch Potters Market held on the second-last Saturday of March and November.
reviewed
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Book Lounge
Mervyn Sloman has been practically canonised by local booklovers for creating this heavenly bookshop that has become the hub of Cape Town’s literary scene, thanks to its great selection of titles, comfy chairs, simple café and program of events. There are up to three talks or book launches a week, generally with free drinks and nibbles, and readings for kids at the weekend.
reviewed
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Ultra Liquors
‘Pile ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap’ is the deal at this liquor warehouse chain – don’t expect much in the way of expert advice, but the range is wide and the prices can seldom be beaten – even at the cellar door.
reviewed
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Hip Hop
Hip Hop is one of Cape Town's fashion success story. The women’s clothes look good on all shapes and sizes and are suitable for a range of occasions. Drop by the factory outlet in the East City Corridor for bargains.
reviewed
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Kirstenbosch Craft Market
Proceeds from this craft market go to the development fund for Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Mr Mather’s handmade wooden toys are worth looking out for.
reviewed
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Clarke’s Books
Clarke’s stocks the best range of books on South Africa and the continent, and has a great secondhand section. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, it’s unlikely to be at the many other bookshops along Long St (although there’s no harm in browsing).
reviewed
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Old Biscuit Mill
Even if you don’t make it to Saturday’s Neighbourgoods market there are plenty of other good reasons for putting the Old Biscuit Mill towards the top of your to-do list. The converted biscuit factory is home to a fantastic collection of arts, craft, fashion and design shops. Apart from the pottery stores Clementina Ceramics and Imiso Ceramics, particular favourites include Love Africa, for colourful locally designed jewellery and fashion; a branch of the craft store Heartworks; ArtLab, where you can get new prints from the Tretchikoff collection; the rustic emporium Karoo Moon Country Store; Julestones for hand-crafted resin products; and the fantastic Mü & Me, the…
reviewed
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Monkeybiz
You won’t miss this yellow building painted with red monkeys! Equally colourful beadwork products are found inside, all made by township women. The shop also stocks funky jewellery and gifts by other quirky Capetonian designers. Profits from the beadwork support the Monkeybiz Wellness Clinic for HIV/AIDS-affected women, held upstairs the same day women artists pack the street outside the head office to sell their beadwork – it’s a very lively scene. You’ll also find Monkeybiz products for sale at Carrol Boyes at the Waterfront.
reviewed
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Montebello
This development project has helped several great craftspeople and designers along the way. In the leafy compound, check out the colourful bags made from recycled materials, the fashions of Mielie, and Thando Papers, started by Joseph Diliza who had the idea of turning invasive reeds from urban rivers into exclusive paper products. On weekdays you can visit several artists’ studios. There’s also a good café, the Gardener’s Cottage, and you can get your car washed.
reviewed
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Canal Walk
With over 400 shops, 50-odd restaurants, 18 cinema screens and parking for 6500 cars, you’d be a fool to argue with its claim of being the largest mall in Africa. The food court is so big that acrobatics shows are often held over the diners. Also in the mall you’ll find the MTN Sciencentre and Intaka Island, a wetland reserve that’s a haven for birdwatchers. Drive here along the N1, or check the website for details of a shuttle bus service (R35) from the city.
reviewed
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Monkeybiz Wellness Clinic
You won't miss this yellow building painted with red monkeys! Equally colourful beadwork products are found inside, all made by township women. The shop also stocks funky jewellery and gifts by other quirky Capetonian designers. Profits from the beadwork support the Monkeybiz Wellness Clinic for HIV/AIDS-affected women, held upstairs the same day women artists pack the street outside the head office to sell their beadwork – it's a very lively scene.
reviewed
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Streetwires
The motto is ‘anything you can dream up in wire we will build’. And if you visit this social project designed to uplift young blacks and coloureds to see the wire sculptors at work, you’ll see what that means! It stocks an amazing range, including working radios and chandeliers as well as artier products such as the Nguni Cow range, which you’ll also find sold at upmarket craft shops such as Africa Nova.
reviewed
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Olive Green Cat
At the studio of Philippa Green and Ida-Elsje, you’ll find the work of two talented young jewellery designers, both of whom are catching international attention. Green’s signature pieces are her chunky Perspex cuffs, hand-stitched with patterns and graphic text, while Elsje specialises in delicate earrings and necklaces. They also collaborate on the striking Situ range of diamond jewellery.
reviewed
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Cape Union Mart Adventure Centre
This impressive outdoors shop offers practically everything you’d need for anything from a hike up Table Mountain to a Cape-to-Cairo safari. The shop includes a café, climbing wall, hiking-boot testing station and cold-weather chamber (to assess those thermals!). There’s also a smaller branch in Victoria Wharf, at the Gardens Centre and at Cavendish Square.
reviewed
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Waterfront Craft Market
Also known as the Blue Shed, this eclectic arts and crafts market, between Two Oceans Aquarium and Musica Megastore, harbours some great buys. Search out the colourful textile products of Ikamva Labantu; and Township Guitars, which makes and sells the all-electric township ‘blik’ guitars made from oil cans, wood and fishing wire (from R2900).
reviewed
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Cape Union Mart Adventure Centre Cavendish Square
This impressive outdoors shop offers practically everything you’d need for anything from a hike up Table Mountain to a Cape-to-Cairo safari. The shop includes a café, climbing wall, hiking-boot testing station and cold-weather chamber (to assess those thermals!). There’s also a smaller branch in Victoria Wharf, at the Gardens Centre and at Cavendish Square.
reviewed
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Cape Union Mart Adventure Centre
This impressive outdoors shop offers practically everything you’d need for anything from a hike up Table Mountain to a Cape-to-Cairo safari. The shop includes a café, climbing wall, hiking-boot testing station and cold-weather chamber (to assess those thermals!). There’s also a smaller branch in Victoria Wharf, at the Gardens Centre and at Cavendish Square.
reviewed
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Imiso Ceramics
At the Old Biscuit Mill you’ll find the studio of Imiso Ceramics. Imiso, which means tomorrow in Xhosa, is an upmarket brand of ceramic art developed by award-winning ceramicist Andile Dyalvane and three partners. His work represents traditional objects such as Xhosa (isiXhosa) milk pails and Ngumi storage vessels, with surface treatment inspired by tribal body scarification.
reviewed
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Bead Centre of Africa
Beads of every shape and shade are sold here. Peruse the excellent selection of how-to books and their gallery of jewellery and arty piece, including wirework baskets and ostrich-egg adornments made by the San in Namibia and Botswana. Check the website for details of the regular beading classes. They also have the large Bead Boys at the Old Biscuit Mill.
reviewed
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Clementina Ceramics
The super-colourful ceramics of Clementina van der Walt take their inspiration from the geometric patterns of Zulu and Ndebele beadwork, and traditional African basketry, pottery and textiles. One of her ranges is used as tableware at the Africa Café where you can buy pieces at the gift shop. Her main showroom is Clementina Ceramics.
reviewed
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Monkeybiz Head Office
Profits from Monkeybiz beadwork support the Monkeybiz Wellness Clinic for HIV/AIDS-affected women, held upstairs the same day women artists pack the street outside the head office to sell their beadwork – it’s a very lively scene. You’ll also find Monkeybiz products for sale at Carrol Boyes at the Waterfront.
reviewed
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Capestorm
Gear up for your outdoor adventures, from rock climbing to long-distance bicycling, at this outdoor leisurewear shop specialising in garments made from technical fabrics and fleece. The products are all locally designed and made. You’ll also find another Waterfront outlet in the Clock Tower and a branch on Kloof St.
reviewed
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YDE
Standing for Young Designers Emporium, it’s all a bit of a jumble, but you’ll most likely find something groovy and disposable to suit among the street clothes and accessories for both sexes by South African streetwear designers. There are also branches at the Victoria Wharf in the Waterfront and Canal Walk.
reviewed
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A is for Apple
Visit Cape Town’s best children’s bookshop to buy locally focused children’s literature such as When Hippo Was Hairy and Rudyard Kipling’s charming Just So stories. It also has a cute café with outdoor deck and a play area. You’ll also find a branch at the Old Biscuit Mill.
reviewed
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Beinkinstadt
On the border of the old District Six, this marvellous emporium of Judaica is run by Michael and Fay Padowich, the third generation of original owners. Inside and out, hardly anything seems to have changed since it first opened in 1903. Good souvenirs include CDs of Jewish music from South Africa, and locally made challah covers and yarmulkes.
reviewed