By tinavisc
Americans in Cape Town have a knack for finding neighborhood markets. While a good portion of foreigners do infest the myriad craft/clothing/food markets scattered around Cape Town, a large population of Cape Townians themselves integrate market living into their weekly lives. I thought I’d share some of my favorite markets and why they’re so special.
The City Bowl Market is the smallest one I’ve been to, but has the most loveliness to offer. Situated in the trendy Gardens neighborhood of Cape Town, City Bowl is organized in a small community center and attended by 20-somethings and families alike. Various vendors selling Indian street food, gluten-free baked goods, jewelry, wine, and veggies ensure that everyone can take something of value away from the market. The broody solo guitarist may get you down on occasion, but the wine tastings remind you that market-chilling is the way to build some great community spirit.
The Old Biscuit Mill, which did in fact manufacture biscuits once-upon-a-time, has turned into the place to be on Saturday mornings. Hundreds of people swarm the market to wander around a vast array of prepared foods, quality which is ever elusive everywhere outside of the market itself. This past Saturday, a ‘gypsy jazz’ band local to Cape Town, Manouche, serenaded market goers with a bluesy singer, accordion, bass, guitar, and fiddle. My personal favorite moment of the morning was enjoying my freshly squeezed spinach and kale juice while listening to the band jam out to Summertime.
The Cape Town Crafts Market, located right off the V & A Waterfront, offers the best choices for those looking to bring back gifts from abroad. While this market, yes, does cater mostly to tourists, the products sold are ones of quality and charm. My favorite vendor sells jewelry all made by him, cut from colored clay. A couple of my friends even splurged on an African drum to add some spice to our American bubble lives back in student housing.
Visiting neighborhood markets has been the most fun and interesting way to integrate Cape Town culture into our student lives. I highly suggest checking out the local markets wherever one might decide to travel, in the very least you’ll get a great souvenir for home; best case scenario: you learn more than you’d ever imagine about the daily lives of locals.