Vacation in South Africa? Here’s Where To shop in Cape Town!

Whether you’re looking for gifts or special treats for yourself, shopping in Cape Town is splurge-worthy.

Luxury Africa Atelier
For jewellery that tells a powerful story, step into this intimate showroom for Legacy Collection’s unusual pieces. Designer Charmaine Taylor forges eye-catching necklaces, rings, and cufflinks out of the remnants of the fence that surrounded Robben Island, the notorious prison where Nelson Mandela served much of his sentence. Model and actress Lisa Ray is a fan—she left with the Free Will pendant and the Deliverance ring. Zambezi Grace’s crocodile leather handbags are also covetable. (Website)

Watershed

If you’re strapped for time, the Watershed complex at the lively V&A Waterfront makes for one-stop shopping bliss. Launched in 2014 as a stage for South African design at the heart of the city’s busiest commercial hub, Watershed is a collective of stalls showcasing everything from housewares to cutting-edge fashion, all produced locally. Some of our favourites: wooden clutches from Indalo, whimsical hats from JK Milliner, African-print children’s frocks from Patricia Nama and military trenches from Molo Mimi. (Website)

Merchants on Long
As the scion of one of South Africa’s wealthiest families, Hanneli Rupert is no stranger to luxury. She’s also passionate about pan-African design and at her concept shop, she showcases a curated collection of ethically produced, sustainable, high-end brands from around the continent. Alongside her own handbag range Okapi, Rupert stocks supermodel Liya Kebede’s Ethiopian line Lemlem, Kenyan brand Njema Helena’s vibrant prints, and Ghanaian label Christie Brown’s luxe womenswear, all from behind a historic storefront on bohemian Long Street. (Website)

Maison Mara

Hard-to-find international labels now have a home in Cape Town at Maison Mara, a swish concept shop that brings global design to this far-flung tip of the world. Proenza Schouler bags, Acne jeans and leather jackets, Malin + Goetz bath products, and Phaidon art books—they’re all under one sumptuous roof, thanks to careful sourcing by owner Kelly Withey. (Website)

Luvey ‘n Rose
Designed to resemble a rambling old manse, this rose-tinted Loop Street gallery and salon is a gathering place for art lovers. Luvey ‘n Rose is comprised of a maze of rooms heaving with masterpieces from both contemporary artists like Olaf Bisschoff and Zolani Siphungela, as well as South African masters like Walter Battiss. If you find yourself getting a little too comfortable in the antique couches and chairs in every room, you have the option of buying them too—everything from the art to the furniture is on sale. (Website)

South AfricanMARKET
You might walk right by SAM at first—it’s upstairs from La Parada, a popular tapas bar whose hip (and boisterous) clientele regularly spills out onto the street, occasionally blocking the doorway to the ramp that takes you up to this airy space. Once you do find it, however, it’ll beckon you to stay awhile, thanks to its range of stylish housewares, fashion and accessories. If you’re in town early in the month, don’t miss the city’s popular First Thursdays event, when Bree Street transforms into an outdoor party and shops stay open till late—SAM’s balcony is the perfect perch for taking in the action down below. (Website)

Imiso Ceramics

The Old Biscuit Mill is a historic factory now converted into a bastion of boutiques and restaurants (even the city’s best known weekend market, Neighbourgoods). Tucked away in one corner of the complex is Imiso, a ceramics brand created by Zizipho Poswa and Andile Dyalvane. Their odes to clay have diverse and intriguing origins—some collections were inspired by African traditions while others by indigenous flora and one, called Africasso, is inspired by Picasso. (Website)