Cape Town’s unique presents

Give locally made gifts this year

Support local businesses and stock up on presents from these great suppliers. We’ve put together some of our favourite places to buy gifts and you might as well treat yourself to something nice while you’re there too. From one of a kind bags and vintage clothing to artisan chocolates and teas you’ll find something for everyone.

Afraid of Mice
This light, romantic vintage store stocks ‘the clothes you wish your mother had kept for you’. Sisters Bianca and Simone Brandi have handpicked the designer vintage clothing. Expect one-of-a-kind pieces by well-known designers such as Diane von Furstenberg, Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren. Pick up a silk scarf or a vintage Chanel bag for the chic women in your life.  
Opening Times: Monday – Friday: 10am – 4pm, Saturday: 9:30am – 12:30pm.
88 Long Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 423 7353

Chapel Bags
This is just the place get a present for the designer in your life – buy them a backpack that will fit their 15-inch MacBook and everything else they need for the day. The bags are made locally from sourced canvas and leather suppliers in Woodstock, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes and great colours. Look out for them at The Neighbourhood Goods Market at the Biscuit Mill in Woodstock and at Me Me Me in Cape Town.
Contact Caleb Pedersen to find out more +27 (0)83 289 8326  

Dark Horse
From bags to furniture these cleverly designed pieces will make a statement. “We support environmentally conscious design, using locally produced materials and manufacturers including recycled tyres, natural hemp for our handbags and steel from a local manufacturer,” says owner and designer, Lise du Plesis. Their furniture is functional and comes in bright colours that will add an element of smart design to your home. 
Opening Times: Monday - Friday: 10am - 6pm, Saturdays: 10am - 3pm.
83 Kloofnek Road | Tamboerskloof | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 423 8149

David West/Doktor and Misses
This store is a collaboration between these two cutting-edge designers. Doktor and Misses is run by Adriaan Hugo and Katy Taplin, who design and produce a selection of furniture, lighting, and objects. And, David West designs simple, beautiful clothing.
Opening Times: Monday – Friday: 9:30am – 6pm, Saturday: 10am – 2pm.
113 Long Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 801 4722

DV Artisan Chocolate
Cornell and Peter De Villiers produce a chocolate range with five origins, beautifully packaged in slick black boxes imprinted with the wavy lines of Hermanus’s Voelklip Mountain. There are only about seven or eight other factories in the world that make micro-batch chocolate from bean to bar as they do so this is a delicious, special treat to give as presents.  
You can find their chocolate at The Foodbarn Deli (+27 (0)21 789 1966), The Cape Quarter Spar (+27 (0)21 418 0360), Chef's Warehouse (+27 (0)21 422 0128), Giovanni's Deli (+27 (0)21 434 6893), Melissa's (+27 (0)21 424 5540).

Huguenot Fine Chocolates
This sweet little store in Franschhoek makes traditional Belgium chocolates with a South African twist. Owners Danver Windvogel and Denver Adonis studied the fine art of chocolate making in Belgium and have brought these techniques back and added local ingredients like rooibos and Amarula. Choose and assortment of truffles for your friends and families or take them with for a chocolate tasting (it’s only R35) and let them choose their favourites.
Opening Times: Monday - Friday: 8am - 5:30pm, Saturday - Sunday: 9am - 5pm.
62 Huguenot Rd | Franschhoek | +27(0)21 876 4096      

Jorgenson’s Gin
“Usually, gin’s made up of three main ingredients; coriander, citrus and juniper berries. Instead of orange, I used organic naartjies, and Cape lemon in place of Spanish lemon,” says Roger Jorgensen of Jorgenson’s Gin. ASouth African gin that will change how you see this traditionally British tipple. It’s the perfect gift for that relative who won’t drink anything other than G&Ts.
Opening Times: Tastings by appointment.
Versailles Farm | Regent Street | Wellington | +27 (0)21 864 1777

Missibaba
Chloe Townsend’s luxury bags and jewellery handcrafted from leather are sure to be on a lot of Christmas wish-lists this year. Treat the woman in your life to one of these stunning creations. The handbags range from quirky and inventive to the more subtle, classic ones but all of them have beautiful design in common. 
Opening Times: Monday – Thursday: 8:30am – 4:30pm, Friday: 8am – 2:30pm.
Unit 3 | Selwyn Street Studios | The Palms Centre | Capricorn Park | 145 Sir Lowry Road | Woodstock | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 461 1083

Nigiro Tea Merchants
Origin is known for its top-quality coffee, but at the back of the coffee shop it’s all about tea. Buy your tea-loving friends one of their loose tea varieties (they have over 200) or treat them to a High Mountain Tea ceremony, a calming experience that uses the traditional Chinese and Taiwanese tea making methods.
Opening Times:  Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday: 9am – 2pm.
28 Hudson Street | De Waterkant | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 421 1000

Ora Natural Skincare
With a background in aromatherapy and physical therapy, owner Louann Lambert, progressed to making her own natural skincare products—by hand. Her range includes, luxurious body butters scented with essential oils from ylang ylang to jasmine, refreshing shower gels and facewash. As well as all kinds of body scrubs and detoxifying bath salts. Her secret ingredient is an alchemist’s knowledge of essential oils and plant compounds that she weaves into intoxicating and healing products, which leave you looking beautiful, and feeling it too.
What to try: The rose oil and rooibos face moisturiser as well as the fabled Healing Body Cream, which banishes blemishes and helps to heal topical injuries.
Where to find it: They make deliveries.
Blouberg | Cape Town | luorasa@gmail.com | +27 (0)21 557 5341 / +27 (0)72 3722 485

Red Espresso
‘Who would have thought a tea could play by coffee’s rules?’ This isn’t the rooibos tea you grew up with, it’s pure rooibos tea  that’s been ground to be used in an espresso machine, which brings out its natural oils and creates a caffeine free, healthy brew with a smooth, full-bodied taste. Give this to both tea and coffee lovers – the unique concept is something in between the two and is really good for you, with five times more antioxidants than green tea.
You can find Red Espresso at a number of stores, including Pick ‘n Pay (+27 (0)800 11 22 88) and Spar (+27 (0)860 313 141).

The African Music Store
This colourful shop on Long Street covers the whole spectrum of African music including pop, gospel, reggae, jazz, traditional music, soul, R&B, kwaito, hip hop, lounge, rock and even African lullabies for children. If you’re looking for obscure African music this is the best place to start your search, or go and browse their extensive collection and ask the staff for their favourites. Sick of your little cousin’s love of Justin Bieber? Give them some real music to help point them in the right direction.
Opening Times: Monday – Friday: 9am – 6pm, Saturdays: 9am – 2pm.
134 Long Street | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 426 0857

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