The Mother City is a shopper’s paradise. With hundreds of shopping centres and boutique stores scattered all around the city, you’ll find anything from designer clothes and accessories to handcrafted jewellery, household items and furniture.
If you’re visiting Cape Town and looking to by gifts and curios to take home with you, head to one of Cape Town’s many popular shopping malls and luxury boutiques. Check out the top 10 best places to go shopping in Cape Town.
If you’re looking for a market shopping experience, then you’re spoilt for choice! Check out a list of the best markets in Cape Town.
The Top 10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Cape Town
In no particular order, some of our favourite shopping destinations in Cape Town are:
1. V&A Waterfront
Boasting incredible views of Table Mountain, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a hustling and bustling meeting space where crowds gather to eat, drink, admire the views and shop!
With over 450 retail outlets, the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre offers plenty of opportunities for you to purchase gifts, souvenirs and curios to take home with you. The V&A Waterfront is one of the most popular spots for tourists, offering an abundance of shopping and entertainment options, including sunset cruises along the Atlantic ocean, the Cape Wheel and over 80 of the most incredible restaurants.
2. The Old Biscuit Mill
The Old Biscuit Mill is a vibrant and innovative shopping centre located in one of the bustling streets of Woodstock. The Mill is a space where talented and creative individuals come together to showcase their unique design and artwork.
Home to a popular farmer’s markets, fine dining restaurants, a delicious chocolate factory, art galleries and more, guests to the Old Biscuit Mill can expect plenty of shopping experiences, as well as live music performances and musical events from time to time. A popular destination for locals and travellers alike, the Old Biscuit Mill is the place to interact with some of Cape Town’s most innovative and talented designers, artists and chefs.
3. Greenmarket Square
Built in the late 1600s, Greenmarket Square is a historical square that now hosts a number of quirky stalls offering some of the best South African curios and traditional African gifts and souvenirs.
Walk through the colourful rows that offer an abundance of handcrafted ornaments, musical instruments, handmade beaded jewellery, traditional African clothing and beautiful landscape paintings of Africa. Walk away with some of the most exquisite pieces of African arts and crafts at great prices.
4. Kalk Bay
This warm, colourful and quirky seaside village located on the coast of False Bay is home to some of the most eclectic stores, theatres, art galleries and restaurants in the Mother City.
Named the world’s coolest neighbourhood, cobbled streets of Kalk Bay are lined with incredible hidden gems, including vintage bookstores, antique shops, quaint cafes with ocean views, musical theatres, bohemian trinket stores, vintage clothing markets and charming restaurants. Spend the day exploring the side streets of Kalk Bay and enjoy shopping for rare and unique gifts in this creative little neighbourhood.
5. Cape Quarter
Situated in De Waterkant, the Cape Quarter is a lifestyle centre that offers a rare and unique shopping experience with over 100 boutique stores. With carefully selected stores that pride themselves on craftsmanship and design, here you will find traditional African souvenirs, handmade jewellery, leather handbags, locally designed clothing and trendy workout gear, as well as plenty of restaurants and bars for when you need refreshments.
The Cape Quarter is an all-rounder, whether you’re looking to pick up a few groceries, pamper yourself at the salon, enjoy a scrumptious brunch, or pick up a designer purse, Cape Quarter is the place to be.
6. The Watershed
Not your average African market, The Watershed, located next to the V&A Waterfront, is a space that offers arts and crafts from some of the very best high-end designers in Cape Town.
With over 100 traders who represent over 365 brands, the indoor warehouse is filled with high-quality brands that have a focus on ceramics, textiles, furniture, home decor, leather goods, arts, crafts, fashion and jewellery. Visit the Watershed’s Jubilee Exhibition Hall too, which hosts live entertainment, art exhibitions and workshops.
7. The Woodstock Exchange
The Woodstock Exchange is a space for young creatives to come together and share their original design and artwork. Located in the busy and colourful streets of Woodstock, The Woodstock Exchange is home to unique boutiques mixing fashion and accessories with interior home decoration, as well as a restaurant offering delicious snacks and beverages.
The industrial space has a focus on innovation and creativity with sculptures and murals placed around the building. This is a wonderful place to start your day, pick up a few gifts and spoils for yourself, and get your creative juices flowing.
8. Long Street
Although Long Street is famous for its nightlife, during the day, Long Street is home to trendy clothing stores, bookshops, quaint restaurants, coffee shops and plenty of stores selling traditional African clothing and jewellery.
A buzzing street in the city centre, boasting an eclectic mix of bars, restaurants, lounges and nightclubs, Long Street is a popular destination for tourists visiting Cape Town.
9. Gardens Shopping Centre
Located in the city centre just minutes away from Cape Town’s many famous sightseeing attractions, Gardens Shopping Centre is a cosmopolitan space attracting locals and visitors to its vibrant atmosphere.
Offering an alternative to busy malls, this centre is an ideal place to find everything you need, from special boutiques and hair salons to pharmacies and groceries stores to pick up your essentials. The community space offers an exciting mix of clothing stores to delicious restaurants.
10. Canal Walk
The biggest shopping mall in Cape Town, Canal Walk is home to over 400 clothing stores, restaurants, major retailers, luxury boutiques, electronic and interior decorating stores, entertainment areas and more.
The third largest shopping mall on the African continent, you can expect to find everything you’re looking for. The high season for shopping runs from November to January when a number of stores have premium discounts on selected items.
There you have it, some of the best shopping malls and boutique stores to go shopping in Cape Town. If you’re a fan of markets, read through our list of the best markets in Cape Town.