Cape Town is a feast of markets. On any given weekend you’re so spoilt for choice that it’s a case of ‘which one’ rather than ‘is there one?’ when leaving your home with sights set on canvassing local talent and food. Rather than putting together another comprehensive list, we’ve earmarked a couple you may not know about, and those you cannot afford to miss.
Weekend markets in Cape Town you may not know about
Jollie Carp
Jollie Carp is a fairly new addition to the market run. If you’re after fresh organic vegetables, eggs, honey, rooibosch tea from Wuppertal in different flavours, plants, organic chocolate, like your traditional breyani or lamb curry, amongst other choices, crafts and art, and want to meet the producers of natural and medicinal products then head down to Retreat. The market team also grow their own vegetable and herb garden to stimulate interest in permaculture.
When: 10h00 to 15h00 on Saturdays
Where: 38 Sasmeer Road, Retreat
Gaia Food Market
Gaia’s plant based food market has been around for just over a year, but they’ve recently moved premises, which promises excitement. They’re now at Organic at Heart, the organic meeting place in the restaurant now called Spades & Spoons in Constantia Road, which should be an excellent marriage of good food and venue. Dedicated to speciality authentic plant-based cuisine you’ll find organic fruits and veg, raw food chefs and artisans who make and produce food, so expect to eat whilst you’re there.
When: 09h00 until well after lunch Sundays
Where: 23 Constantia Road with lots of parking in Bardia Road round the back
Rondebosch Village Organic Farm Produce
Run quietly from outside the Rondebosch library, you need to get there early if you want to stock up on your organic veg (locals are here as early as 6am!). It’s small, but offers a good range of organic and biodynamic fresh produce, jams, pickles, cheeses and other dairy products.
When: 07h30 to 12h00 on Saturdays
Where: Outside the Rondebosch library
The ones you can’t afford to miss (visit at least once)
NeighbourGoods Market (Woodstock)
NeighbourGoods was one of the very first food markets in the city. They’re responsible for setting the benchmark for food markets across Cape Town, and are still incredibly popular. We have them to thank for the rise in popularity (or the return to) local is lekker, home-produced, artisan food and drink. You’ll find it all here – organic veg, sustainably snared seafood, gourmet goodies, artisan breads, home-brewed organic ciders – the list is endless. But you’ll have to brave the crowds.
When: 09h00 to 14h00 on Saturdays
Where: Old Biscuit Mill, Albert Road, Woodstock
City Bowl Market (Hope Street)
An informal food market in a beautiful old building on Hope Street, this market is gaining in popularity by the week. It gives locals in the city bowl a choice other than the Neighbour Goods Market and some interesting stall options – veg and fruit, honey, coffee, dried fruits and nuts, artisan breads and meat, pesto, belgian waffles, incredible salads, vegan and real cheeses, and some crafts. Look out for their fashion markets, and for their Thursday evening markets.
When: 09h00 to 14h00 on Saturdays
Where: 14 Hope Street, Gardens
Porter Estate Market (Tokai)
It’s an outdoor market, so suffers during winter, but in summer this venue rocks. They’re famous for their breakfasts and provide a really great selection of fresh produce (much of it organic), artisan breads, honeys, free range lamb, jams, pickles and hand-crafted goodies. There’s plenty of parking and a real sense of being outdoors and out of the city.
When: 09h00 to 13h00 on Saturdays
Where: Chrysalis Academy Grounds, Tokai
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Gaia Food Market is absolutely fantastic. My wife and I went on a bicycle tour and stopped at a number of markets, including Gaia Food Market and Rondebosch Village Market.
We found some unbelievably interesting organic foods, which both intrigued and frightened me – who knew you could make juice with just about any vegetable!
Admittedly, I am more of a braai and McDonalds guy, but I would definitely visit these markets again and try out the organic living thing.