Shop till you drop at these Cape Town CBD destination retailers which offer a myriad delights for young and old.
GENERAL
THE HERITAGE SHOP
An initiative of the Cape Town Heritage Trust, this hidden gem in The Company’s Garden has a handpicked selection of high-end, ethically produced items inspired by the Cape’s natural and cultural heritage, including skincare products, soaps and essential oils.
The Company’s Garden, 19 Queen Victoria St | www.heritage.org.za
FRANK & MYRRH
This store is the perfect destination for exotic African oils and perfumes. Traditional essential oils, tinctures, skincare products, fragrances and herbal teas on offer include White Nile oud, African lavender, baobab oil and raw frankincense.
9 Church St | Instagram: @frankandmyrrhafrica
HEMELHUIJS
Chef Jacques Erasmus’s iconic inner-city café beautifully blends local heritage with global culinary influences. Also on offer is stylish homeware range De Nagmaal. Browse handcrafted Japanese raku pottery, linen napkins, glasses and ceramic candle holders.
71 Waterkant St | www.hemelhuijs.co.za
THE LONG STREET ANTIQUES ARCADE
A labyrinth of antique shops for serious collectors and casual browsers alike. Each of the individually owned antique stores boasts a unique offering. Expect to find anything and everything from African art, Asian maps and historical military gear to vintage clothing, silverware and fine crockery.
127 Long St | www.theantiquearcade.co.za
FASHION
ARCHIVE COLLECTIVE
Here you will find exclusive sneakers and premium streetwear such as sweatshirts, jackets, hoodies, T-shirts, sweatpants and accessories. Brands include New Balance, Nike, Vans, Puma, Adidas, Reebok and Asics.
107 Bree St | www.archivestore.co.za
CAPE COBRA LEATHERCRAFT
Those looking for ethically produced, upmarket leather goods should head to Cape Cobra Leathercraft, Africa’s largest exporter of luxury exotic leather goods. The emporium’s artisans blend traditional craftmanship and attention to detail with stylish contemporary design.
43 Bree St | www.capecobra.com
CHIMI
Swedish brand CHIMI specialises in handcrafted sunglasses designed in Stockholm. Two permanent collections offer either timeless silhouettes or artisan-made elegancy, while CHIMI’s limited seasonal selection is bold and creative. The brand has also branched out with CHIMI OPTICS, a line of frames for eyeglasses with a playful edge.
69 Shortmarket St | chimi-online.com/za
DUCK DUCK GOOSE
This is a multi-brand store offering cool, independent South African fashion and lifestyle brands, including Thebe Magugu, Droomer, Wanda Lephoto, Frances V.H Mohair, Good Good Good and Mi Thatha Studios.
120 Bree St | www.duckduckgoosestore.com
FLOAT APPAREL
Youthful brand Float Apparel offers trendy, non-mass-produced everyday wear for men and women designed and produced in the Mother City. The range is inspired by Cape Town’s sun and sea, travel, photography, music, culture and creativity.
137 Bree St | www.floatapparel.co.za
ALEXANDRA HÖJER AND METRO= HANDMADE
A beautifully converted historic building on Bree St is home to the clothing store and studio of husband-and-wife design team Barry Armitage and Alexandra Höjer, whose contemporary women’s and men’s ranges are proudly handmade in the Mother City.
156 Bree St | www.alexandrahojer.com | www.metrohandmade.co.za
FJÄLLRÄVEN
Swedish outdoor clothing and equipment company Fjällräven strives for harmony with nature, offering practical, timeless gear for adults and kids. Take your pick of products such as durable jackets, T-shirts, bags, hats, trousers, belts and travel wallets.
99 Harrington St | www.justlikepapa.com/pages/fjallraven
AFRAID OF MICE
A great selection of men’s and women’s clothing at fair prices is available at this vintage-clothing boutique. Look out for big brands. You might happen upon a Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Cavalli, Michael Kors, Chanel or Prada creation.
99 Harrington St | Instagram: @afraidofmicect
KLûK CGDT
World famous for luxury contemporary African fashion, award-winning brand KLûK CGDT has earned widespread recognition for its sophisticated design, exceptional quality and bold use of colour and fabrics. You can choose from three ready-to-wear collections a year or order a personalised design.
43 Bree St | www.klukcgdt.com
MERCHANTS ON LONG
This home of rich and varied African design feels like a haven amid the bustle of Long St. Choose from fashion, jewellery, beauty and lifestyle products, all curated and sourced from our continent.
34 Long St | www.merchantsonlong.co.za
SHELFLIFE
If you’re seeking authentic street style, Shelflife’s flagship store is the place for you. Featuring premium sneakers in a space adorned by graffiti and street art, you’ll also find cool apparel, trendy accessories and homeware – along with high-quality imported spray paints, inks, nozzles and more.
The Barracks, 50 Bree St | www.shelflife.co.za
VINTAGE WITH LOVE
Buying “gently worn”, pre-loved designer garments at Vintage with Love is a fun way to make a difference – the profits support a large network of literacy and education charities across the country.
46A Canterbury St | Instagram: @vintagewithlovesa
WOODHEADS
This iconic store has been Cape Town’s premium supplier and trader of leather, materials, leatherwork tools and more since 1867. Why not surprise that special someone with a top-quality belt, hat or slippers?
29 Caledon St | www.woodheads.co.za
SWEST KICKS
Exclusive sneakers, luxury imported streetwear (think Damien Hirst soccer shorts and jerseys), headwear and cool accessories from brands such as Goyard are the order of the day here. Swest also houses a sneaker laundry.
111 Loop St | www.swestkicks.co.za
LEATHER & SUEDE
Since opening in 1994, this specialist leathergoods store creates handmade bespoke pieces and sells a collection of bags, belts, wallets, purses and jackets. At work are master leather craftsman who have been plying their trade for decades.
73 Loop St | www.leatherandsuede.co.za
JEWELLERY
ANNA ROSHOLT JEWELLERY
Handmade in her intimate studio showroom, jewellery designer Anna Rosholt’s miniature works of art celebrate our continent, its people, stories and animals. Choose a timeless gift from collections including My Darling, The Divine Feminine and Tropical Safari.
74 Long St | www.annarosholt.com
BLACK BETTY DESIGN
Kristin Weixelbaumer’s jewellery and piercing studio offers edgy, high-quality jewellery. The brand has an ethos of purpose-driven pieces that uplift and empower women. The store also sells a beaded bracelets range handmade by survivors of gender-based violence.
77 Hout St | www.blackbettydesign.com
DEAR RAE JEWELLERY
Dear Rae creates handcrafted contemporary heirlooms in natural lines and features solid metals only. Whether you’re looking for a ring, necklace, bracelet, earrings or wedding band, you’ll find something unique here.
164 Bree St | www.dearrae.co.za
PRINS & PRINS DIAMONDS
Based in the restored early Cape townhouse Huguenot House, luxury brand Prins & Prins has been around for more than 40 years and is the go-to store for high-end diamond and other jewellery.
66 Loop St | www.prinsandprins.com
THE DIAMOND WORKS
Specialising in quality Southern African diamonds and tanzanite gemstones, The Diamond Works’s varied selection includes the handmade I Am African collection, which is inspired by 10 of the continent’s iconic animals.
10 Christiaan Barnard St | www.thediamondworks.co.za
PICHULIK
This well-known CBD jewellery store offers striking handcrafted pieces such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings that have been proudly created in Cape Town and incorporate locally produced, repurposed rope.
8 Watson St | www.pichulik.com
OLIVE GREEN CAT
This showroom and on-site design studio houses striking pieces by celebrated jewellery designers Ida Elsje and Philippa Green, giving you a variety of options to choose from.
76 Church St | www.philippagreen.com | www.idaelsje.com
THE JEWEL TREE
This antique jewellery shop is the perfect place to discover hidden treasures. Here’ll you find anything from Victorian bracelets to sparkling marcasite earrings and diamond rings.
48 Long St | Instagram: @thejewel_tree
LIFESTYLE
HOUTLANDER
Award-winning furniture manufacturer Houtlander prides itself on merging “modern technology with age-old crafting techniques and timeless design”. This South African brand uses sustainably harvested American oak to craft its furniture.
First floor, 108 Shortmarket St | www.houtlander.co.za
DOKTER AND MISSES
This Joburg-based furniture brand shares a showroom space with Houtlander in the Heritage House historic building. Dokter and Misses focuses on experimentation and takes inspiration from geometry and African manufacturing.
First floor, 108 Shortmarket St | www.dokterandmisses.com
HEMPORIUM
If you prefer gifting with a conscience, seek out Hemporium, which offers everything from ethically produced clothing and textiles to locally manufactured skincare products and shampoos. Many of the items are handmade in the Mother City and contribute to empowerment initiatives.
84 Harrington St | www.hemporium.co.za
INOVA CONTRACTS
This market-leading furniture and lighting consultancy provides luxury furniture, lighting and modern, edgy accessories from prestigious global brands such as HAY, Pedrali, Arper, Bene, Infiniti and Walter Knoll.
76 Harrington St | www.inovacontracts.co.za
AFRICAN JACQUARD
Combining French technique, innovative design and the best quality with African inspiration and culture is at the heart of this luxury local textile brand, earning it international acclaim. Choose from throws, cushion covers and towels, as well as table and kitchen linen.
53 Church St | www.africanjacquard.com
MUNGO
This proudly South African brand is known for its heirloom-quality woven goods. Mungo manufactures its own fabric at its Global Organic Textile Standard-certified weaving mill, the first in South Africa. The shop’s distinctive range includes natural-fibre blankets, ultra-absorbent towels, distinctive kitchen cloths and scarves, as well as table, kitchen and bed linen.
78 Hout St | www.mungo.co.za
PEZULA INTERIORS
Among the beautiful products you will find here are ceramic pots and vases in various sizes and colours, rush mats and grass bags, natural sofas and armchairs. Pezula Interiors also sells prints, books, personal-care products and more.
17 Buiten St | www.pezulainteriors.co.za
PLANTIFY
In this delightful little shop, you’ll find everything from easy-care tabletop and low-light hanging foliage to floor-standing and extra-large indoor plants for the home, office or bathroom. Plantify is sure to feel like paradise to anyone with green fingers. Planters, accessories and homeware complete the picture.
59 Harrington St | plantify.co.za
SAD STORE
This design-concept store featuring South and Southern African brands offers a wide array of clothing, accessories and décor items. Here quality, craftsmanship and originality are the order of the day. Everything is ethically and sustainably sourced and produced, from quirky necklaces by Dor + Kie to handmade vases by Ash Ceramics.
65A Shortmarket St | Instagram: @sadstore_sa
SKINNY LAMINX
The brainchild of self-taught illustrator Heather Moore, Skinny laMinx’s distinctively patterned textiles and homewares make it a Cape Town staple. The brand’s quirky, colourful range includes tea towels and tableware, cushion covers, upholstery fabrics and made-to-order lampshades.
16a Buiten St | www.skinnylaminx.com
WAZA JAPAN STORE
Inspired by the owners’ travels to the Land of the Rising Sun, this specialist retailer and wholesaler of premium Japanese goods is the ideal place to shop for rare gifts. Choose from home-, kitchen- and tableware, garden tools and teas.
201 Bree St | www.wazashop.co.za
TRIBAL COLLECTIONS
This art-décor store boasts one of the most extensive and diverse collections of African art pieces in the world. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of the continent as you peruse the carefully curated selection, ranging from traditional masks and sculptures to contemporary art pieces.
80 Long St | www.tribal-collections.com
TRIBAL TRENDS
This beautifully decorated store is a treasure trove and sister store to Tribal Collections. Here you will find a comprehensive Ardmore collection amongst a variety of other African arts and crafts.
72-74 Long St | @TribalTrends
WINE
DORRANCE WINES
The home of finely crafted wines in the French tradition, Dorrance Wines also boasts a charming urban wine cellar and tasting room inside Heritage Square.
95 Hout St | www.dorrancewines.com
LIQUOR CITY
You’re spoilt for choice at this conveniently located bottle store, which offers all the basics as well as a range of upmarket wines and refined, well-aged spirits that make great gifts.
The Decks, 67 Long St | www.liquorcity.co.za
OPENWINE
With more than 200 South African wines on offer, this Cape Town enoteca (wine bar/wine collection) is a great venue where customers can enjoy wines by the glass (or bottle) before choosing their favourite to purchase and take home.
72 Wale St | Instagram: @openwine_za
THE WINE SHOP
Stocking exceptional wines, this boutique wine shop also offers curated monthly cases to introduce oenophiles to high-quality varietals from lesser-known cellars. The venue also hosts wine tastings, pairings and events.
199 Loop St | www.rsthewineshop.com
10 ON LOOP
You can buy exclusive wine and a selection of spirits to take away or enjoy in situ at this chic wine bar and bottle store. Accompanying nibbles and meals are also on offer.
10 Loop St | Instagram: @10_onloop_
BOOKS
BOOK LOUNGE
An institution in Cape Town’s East City, this friendly independent bookstore offers a wide range of reads for all ages across multiple genres. Visitors are welcome to sip a coffee downstairs while perusing the shelves.
71 Roeland St | www.booklounge.co.za
CLARKE’S BOOKSHOP
Established in 1957, this CBD institution specialises in tomes on Africa – and particularly Southern Africa – and offers a vast selection of second-hand books on every topic under the sun, as well as old maps and prints.
199 Long St | www.clarkesbooks.co.za
SPORT & ADVENTURE
JUST LIKE PAPA
Here you will find a great choice of gifts for the avid outdoor lover in your life – from braai accessories and floodlights to artisan knives and apparel.
73 Harrington St | www.justlikepapa.com
RUN
Stop by RUN for all the latest road- and trail-running shoes, gear and accessories for both beginners and professionals. Experts can even analyse your running gait and advise you on the best footwear.
7 Bree St | www.runstore.co.za
EAST CITY CYCLES
This trendy bike shop in the heart of the CBD sells a huge selection of mountain, gravel, road and electric bikes, as well as components and accessories. Here you will also find a fully equipped service centre.
50 Harrington St | www.eastcitycycles.com
ROOK CYCLES
At Rook Cycles you can pick up a cool bicycle and advice on which ride is right for you. Options include the Rook Shift, a reliable commuter bike, and Rook Scout, great on tar and excellent on dirt.
129 Bree St | www.rookcycles.com
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
99 LOOP GALLERY
This gallery displays contemporary art by emerging and established South African artists. With a focus on paintings, the space hosts an ongoing exhibition programme to spark discussion and engagement.
99 Loop St | www.99loop.co.za
GALLERY F
Managed by father and son Gavin and Sean Furlonger, this gallery specialising in fine-art photography is an extension of the Photographic Archival & Preservation Association of South Africa, which aims to preserve SA’s photographic heritage. Gallery F was created to showcase this work to a wider audience. The collection spans over eight decades.
78 Shortmarket St | www.galleryf.co.za
WHATIFTHEWORLD
Founded in 2012, WHATIFTHEWORLD’s art is focused on South Africa, the African continent and the African diaspora, with contemporary pieces and multi-disciplinary installations by significant African artists.
First floor, 16 Buiten St | www.whatiftheworld.com
STATEOFTHEART
Art lovers are in for a treat at StateoftheART independent gallery, which showcases modern and contemporary art from South Africa. Explore art in a variety of mediums, including ink drawings, woodcut and collage.
50 Buitenkant St | www.stateoftheart-gallery.com
THE ARTISTS GALLERY
Stimulate the senses with vibrant, contemporary art from up-and-coming and established artists at this gallery in buzzy Bree St. The Artists Gallery is colourful hub that prides itself in “taking South African art to the world and inviting the world to South Africa”.
34 Bree St | www.artistsgallery.co.za
YOUNGBLOOD AFRICA
The Youngblood Foundation helps support up-and-coming young artists from all genres by providing a platform for them to showcase their works, which are displayed throughout this three-storey venue.
70-74 Bree St | www.youngblood-africa.com
THOMARTS GALLERY
This contemporary art gallery offers a carefully curated collection, showcasing a diverse range of artworks. A portion of sales supports the co-owners' rural art projects to empower disabled creatives and promote inclusivity.
35 Lower Long St | www.thomartsgallery.com
ECLECTICA CONTEMPORARY
Celebrate the diversity of African art at this gallery, which aims to push boundaries and explore uncharted territories with technique and theory. Expect a mix of solo shows by gallery artists as well as curated group exhibitions.
56 Long St | www.eclecticacontemporary.co.za
AVA GALLERY
Visit the oldest nonprofit gallery in Cape Town with the mission to advance contemporary art and artists. The Association for Visual Arts exhibits a range of work from emerging and independent talent.
35 Church St | www.ava.co.za
SIGNATURE ART GALLERY
Here you will discover works by internationally acclaimed artists as well as reputable local and emerging ones. This is a working gallery that opens its doors for art lovers to watch artists create their masterpieces.
14 Long St | www.signatureart.co.za
SMAC GALLERY
Representing established and emerging South African as well as international artists, SMAC boasts a dual programme of museum-quality exhibitions and contemporary focus that promotes Cape Town’s rise as a global hub for African art.
25 Long St | www.smacgallery.com
EBONY/CURATED
This leading gallery was founded in 2007 and is a serene space that’s well worth a visit. Contemporary emerging artists are represented with work that highlights African painting, sculpture and pottery. There is a well-established exhibition programme.
67 Loop St | www.ebonycurated.com
NAMMU CERAMICS
Natural, irregular textures and ancient pottery forms define the ceramic artistry of this studio. Owner Jade creates exclusive table, décor and “ritualware” for private clients and restaurants. Clay Atelier also uses this space to host clay workshops for beginners and experienced ceramicists.
58 Loop St | www.nammuceramics.com
WORLDART
This contemporary gallery focuses on urban and pop art. Established in 2004, WORLDART often hosts exhibitions and competitions to promote up-and-coming artists, describing itself “as a pioneer in its consistent programming of significant emerging and established local artists”.
68 Long St | www.worldart.co.za
ULTRAVIOLET GALLERY
This new gallery in Shortmarket St is “a space for bold voices in contemporary art photography”. Ultraviolet also offers in-house framing services as well as monthly exhibitions showcasing the work of renowned and emerging South African artists.
70 Shortmarket St | www.ultraviolet.art
SPAS
MANGWANANI SPA
Operating under a service ethos that highlights the need for guests to restore their best inner selves, Mangwanani Spa’s team of top-class therapists offer professionally honed massage techniques. Their signature package, Royal African Spa Night, merges three 60-minute therapies and makes a great gift.
Southern Sun The Cullinan, 1 Cullinan St | www.mangwanani.co.za/the-cullinan
HEAVENLY SPA BY WESTIN
Nestled on the 19th floor of The Westin hotel, Heavenly Spa’s tranquil environment is a sanctuary, allowing visitors to embrace the stillness as they prepare for their chosen treatment. Treat a loved one to the ultimate pampering experience with the Heavenly Indulgence package, which consists of six treatments.
The Westin Cape Town, Convention Square, Lower Long St | www.heavenlyspa.co.za
CAYENNE SPA
Cayenne Spa on the eighth floor of the Pepperclub Hotel has panoramic views and is shielded from the inner-city buzz via soundproof glazing. The Cayenne Half Day Package includes four treatments as well as a light yet nutritious lunch at the Pepperclub’s COPA restaurant.
Pepperclub Hotel, 167 Loop St | www.pepperclub.co.za/cayenne-spa