Shopping Malls, Cape Town

I had to come here not only to get my shopping fix but to while away the hours while my husband, daughter and her partner went Shark Cage diving for the morning! I got a taxi to the waterfront so I could do my last minute shop and on my own.......bliss! No disruptions from anyone telling me to hurry up.
I was a bit worried about venturing out on my own in South Africa but my worries came to an end when I knew all was going to be ok. I stayed in the mall and it's got security everywhere, so felt quite safe. I got the hotel to order my taxi to the waterfront, and when it was time to get back to the hotel my daughter ordered it for me and told the driver to call out my name, which he did. Best to be safe than sorry.
The Mall had lots of lovely gift shops, and clothes too. Also loved the little places where you could get a coffee and a bite to eat.
The shops were pretty much the same as back in the UK so felt quite at home. Would recommend to do your gift buying here too, so many shops such little time!

The V&A Shopping centre offers air conditioned comfort! It houses a number of brands and chain stores that I know we have back in the UK.

There is lots of parking outside in a big car park, the mall is clean and if aftet travelling through Africa for a while you want to buy some creature comforts this is the place you want!

When we were here it was Christmas and there were beautiful displays, it was very busy and it was open late.

2 more images

The Shopping MAll at the V&A waterfront combines the opportunity to clothes shop at designer and SA based stores. Also there is the red shed indoor market and another market which house various crafts and curios. This is the perfect place to shop for a present, unique to SA, for a loved one. Do be aware though that prices may be on the higher side then you may find elsewhere as the rentals are high but definetly a time saver.

Also in the Waterfront there is a host of restaurants, bars and coffee houses just perfect for the hungry shopper or the bored husband

What to buy: Beaded crafts, leather, handpainted fabrics etc

4 more images

I believe this is the most famous place after Table Mountain for the tourists. You can find all the SA brand shops here like Woolworths, Edgard's,@Home and may more.
You can buy lots of souveniers here and after the tiring shopping, to have a drink or lunch in one of the many restaurants looking at the ocean or the Table Mountain.

What to buy: I bought many clothes from SA, and all of them with a quite nice quality, so if you like it - buy it !!!

What to pay: .

Cape Town's Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a conglomeration of MANY shops of a high standard, formed around Cape Town harbour. You can buy anything you can think of here!

My uncle has an export business here at the docks. He retired in 2005 and my clever (hehe) cousin has takenover. He and his wife are visiting us in London in July 2060 and we look forward to seeing them! Woohoo! Okay, off that little nit of a family tangent now haha

Many people do not like the Waterfront. Yes, it is commercialised, yes it is pricey. But there is so much to see and do here, from the imax to craft markets, from sailing or helicopter rides, to buying books and viewing sharks at the excellent Aquarium, it is all here. Plenty of evening entertainment and great food too.

What to buy: Arts and crafts, everything non-arty and carafty too! There really is something for everyone here.

What to pay: Here's the catch. Even though there is everything you could possibly hope to buy here, it is expensive and priced for tourists. Locals are not able to buy at the majority of the shops. You can buy the same thing at a local mall for alot less. Here you pay a shopping premium.

Shopping in Cape Town
The retail industry in Cape Town, and elsewhere in South Africa, has followed the US pattern very closely, with town and city centres emptying out in favour of out-of-town malls. Most shopping areas remaining in the centre of cities are open only during the week and on Saturday mornings, whereas the malls have the usual long opening hours, including Sundays.
On the Cape Peninsula, the Long Beach Mall at the southern foot of Ou Kaapseweg in Sun Valley, is a good mall with the usual variety of department stores, a few chain restaurants and ?one or two of everything else?.
Closer to town is the huge Cavendish Mall in Claremont, completely indoors and compltely sterile, but it does have everything. However, at the weekends, it can take a while to find a parking space in the attached multi-storey car-park.

It is a great place. All the shops you can think of under one roof!!! And there's always something happening. I go there at least twice a weekend...

What to buy: Anything you can get you hands on. They cater for everyone.

What to pay: There are cheap and very expencive shops. So it all depends on you...

Well, everything is under one roof. You can go shopping then have lunch outside overlooking the habour or the mountain. It is defnitly a must when you ever come to Cape Town! At night all the lights light up the place and it looks magical!!!

What to buy: Arts and crafts. Brand name clothing, CD's and DVD's are also prob, a lot cheaper here. Lots of tourists also buy dimonds. Well, you can buy what ever you wish for!!!

What to pay: Cape Town is very cheap for all you guys earning dollars and pounds,believe me...