4 Best Places to Shop in Cape Town, South Africa

Background Illustration for Shopping

When it comes to shopping, Cape Town has something for everyone—from sophisticated malls to trendy markets. Although African art and curios are obvious choices (and you will find some gems), South Africans have woken up to their own sense of style and creativity, and the results are fantastic and as diverse as the people who make up this rainbow nation. So in a morning you could bag some sophisticated tableware from Carrol Boyes, a funky wire-art object from a street vendor, and a beautifully designed handbag made by HIV-positive women working as part of a community development program.

Cape Town has great malls selling well-known international brands. The V&A Waterfront is an excellent place to start by virtue of its location at the harbor. Cavendish Square in Claremont and Canal Walk at Century City are also vast, the latter on the N1 heading out of town toward Paarl. But you could be anywhere in the world. Gardens Centre in the suburb of Gardens is small and manageable, offering a good selection of stores (Germans love it for the German deli). It's beyond the malls that you can get a richer shopping experience, one that will give you greater insight into the soul of the city and its people.

Shopping malls usually have extended shopping hours beyond the normal 9–5 on weekdays and 9–1 on Saturday. Most shops outside of malls (except for small grocery stores) are closed on Sunday.

Artisan House

Bo-Kaap Fodor's Choice

This spot houses two distinctively African brands under one roof. Chill Cape Town is a range of luxurious, utterly organic, all-natural, sustainable skincare conceptualized in the Mother City and made with African botanicals. Milles Collines is a clothing, accessories, apparel, and homeware brand born out of a partnership between a Rwandan seamstress and a Spanish design student who shared a dream of creating a luxurious line steeped in age-old craft traditions and exacting quality. Think gorgeous gold-and-black Halisi shawls, beautiful Kichana wraps, and shoulder-to-ankle Imara scarves.

Mami Wata

Cape Town Central Fodor's Choice

A surf brand named for an African water deity, this lovely boutique showcases distinctively African surfwear, boards, casual clothing, and beach gear. Even if you don't surf, plan a visit to look into the creative mind of artist-designer Peet Pienaar who creates illustrated graphics, imaging, and patterns for this world-class fashion label. You will also find them at the Oranjezicht City Farm Market. The company is also linked to an amazing charity called Waves for Change which teaches children to surf in places like Liberia.

Maxhosa Africa

V&A Waterfront Fodor's Choice

There are scores of high-end international labels represented by showy, extravagant boutiques within the V&A's main mall, but make the effort to seek out this shop created by South African fashion hero Laduma Ngxokolo, whose world-class luxury clothing mixes a bold love of history with a deep understanding of contemporary aesthetics. The brilliant entrepreneurial Eastern Cape textile designer learned about knitwear from his mother who sold second-hand clothes door-to-door to make ends meet. Now, having channeled his mother's courage and developed the skills of pattern making, textile design (ever inspired by Xhosa beadwork's intricate patterns, colors, and symbolism), and imaginative tailoring, his clothing line is at the very pinnacle of high-end African fashion. Even if you step inside only to get a peek at the result of his relentless hard work, this shop represents so much more than just a label that's captured the fashion world's imagination—Laduma is an exalted inspiration to countless young designers across the country.

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Merchants on Long

Cape Town Central Fodor's Choice

Behind its original Victorian facade you’ll discover one of Cape Town's most appealing collection of garments by African designers—labels to look for include Maxhosa Africa, Rich Mnisi, Sindiso Khumalo, Lukhanyo Mdingi, and MmusoMaxwell. Besides clothing, there are scene-stealing displays of top-end accessories, housewares, fragrances, ceramics, artworks, and books. The store's founder, designer Hanneli Rupert, conceived it as a concept store dedicated to sophisticated African design—she fashioned a dreamy, pared-down interior that’s as appealing as the goods on display.