Cape Town Shopping Guide

Arts and Craft Shopping and Gift shopping in the Mother City

Here you will find your ultimate Cape Town Shopping Guide to the best little arts and crafts shops in the Mother City. There are numerous local traders and souvenir shops near the major Cape Town attractions and you will encounter craft stalls and craft markets in various parts of Cape Town, such as at the Watershed at the V & A Waterfront. The craft markets all will offer different arts and crafts and different goods for travelers and tourists to bring home as a gift. Weekly markets in and around Cape Town are great for gift shopping or to buy beautiful local arts and crafts to decorate your new home. Read more.

Our Cape Town Shopping guide will provide tips where to source great locally made gifts and South African memorabilia.

Art, Crafts and Souvenir Shopping in Cape Town

Available at many markets. Or visit Streetwires in Bo Kaap. Make sure to go on a tour around their artists' studio. 

Location: 77, Shortmarket Street, Bo Kaap, Cape Town

Red Hot Glass offer custom made designs and exhibits also at Cape Quarter Gallery and in their Studio in the Cape Winelands. 

Location: Spice Route Farm, Suid-Agter Rood, Paarl

Beads Jewellery and African bead crafts can be sourced at many markets. Mokeybiz supports local community initiatives. 

Location: 65 Rose Street, Bo Kaap, Cape Town

Woven baskets come in all colours and shapes, above are Zulu baskets you will find at many markets.

Location: Greenmarket Square, Cape Town CBD and markets

Metal Decorations by TinTown are available at various shops around town. Tin cars & wire radios at the Pan African Market

Location: 76 Long Street, Cape Town

Leather goods such as belts and bags can be found at many markets. Visit Jinger Jack in Woodstock.

Location: 7 Ravenscraig/ Woodlands Road, Woodstock

Source your spices for traditional curry and breyani or typical masala at Atlas Trading in Bo Kaap.

Location: 104 Wale Street, Bo Kaap, Cape Town

Porcupine Ceramics at the V&A Waterfront's Watershed is only one of the fabulous ceramic studios. 

Location: Watershed, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town

Find delicate wood carvings at Pan African Market, at Greenmarket Square or at the streetmarket near Llandudno.

Location: between Camps Bay and Hout Bay

Carrol Boyes Shops in major shopping centres for cutlery  and designer stainless steel gifts.

Locations: various gift shops in Cape Town

Ostrich Eggs can be found in most Curio Shops, for best prices at ostrich farms around Cape Town.

Location: West Coast Ostrich Farm or Cape Point Ostrich Farm

For Christmas gifts read our guide to the best Christmas markets in and around Cape Town here.

Location: Cape Town and Cape Winelands


image credits on page Cape Town Shopping Guide: shutterstock and own images

Additional Cape Town Shopping Guide Info

Make sure to visit our Cape Town Shopping Guide - Overview with Expat Shopping Tips, General Opening Times and other FAQs on our introduction to Shopping in Cape Town here.


Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free!

Living in South Africa - Expat Guide Book by Regina Graeff and Derryn Campbell