Thrifting in Cape Town, mapped

District Six · City Bowl

Harrington Street consignment shop for pre-loved designer labels, with Gucci, Fendi and Louis Vuitton among them. Playful space, serious inventory.

Rondebosch · Southern Suburbs

Antiques and collectables market at St Joseph's Marist College hall, off Belmont Road, Rondebosch. Runs on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month only.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Vintage jackets, retro pieces and brand names at thrift prices. Open every day of the week, which is unusual for the strip.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Alternative and festival-leaning vintage on Lower Main Road. Bold looks, y2k and 90s pieces, plus the regular Bang Bang vintage market.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Y2K mesh and rhinestone pieces on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Trades Monday to Saturday.

Claremont · Southern Suburbs

Church-run thrift shop at Bethany Fellowship, Claremont. Hours come from a third-party guide only; call before driving.

Simon’s Town · South Peninsula

Cosy Simon’s Town thrift shop with carefully chosen pre-loved clothing and vintage pieces. A good reason to walk the historical mile.

Wynberg · Southern Suburbs

Second-hand and vintage furniture on Main Road, Wynberg. Public holidays 10:00-14:00, subject to change.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Statement pieces and costumes on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Trades Monday to Saturday.

Grassy Park · Cape Flats

CAFDA charity shop selling donated goods at low prices in Grassy Park. Clothing unsold after three months is distributed to surrounding camps.

Bellville · Northern Suburbs

Voortrekker Road branch, one of several Cash Crusaders stores serving the northern suburbs.

Grassy Park · Cape Flats

Cash Crusaders branch in Grassy Park buying and selling second-hand and new goods.

Khayelitsha · Cape Flats

Cash Crusaders branch inside Khayelitsha Mall, selling new and second-hand goods.

Mitchells Plain · Cape Flats

Second-hand chain trading in electronics, tools, musical instruments and appliances. Also buys and pawns, so stock moves quickly.

Goodwood · Northern Suburbs

Branch inside the N1 City Value Centre. New and second-hand goods, plus the usual buy-back and pawn counters.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Menswear-leaning vintage on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Hours not published.

Wynberg · Southern Suburbs

The original Chic Mamas shop on Constantia Main Road. Quality pre-loved clothing sold to fund education projects, plus regular swap days.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Thrift and local designers, moved across the road to 25 Lower Main Road, Observatory.

Woodstock · Woodstock & Salt River

Antiques, collectables and vintage on Albert Road, Woodstock. Viewing by appointment; check before driving.

Gardens · City Bowl

Vintage clothing and accessories in a Gardens side street, a short walk from the city centre. Instagram lists Wednesday to Saturday trading.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Vintage clothing boutique on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Address listed as both 23 and 69 Lower Main Road by different sources; check before driving.

Cape Town CBD · City Bowl

Vintage boutique tucked inside the Antiques Arcade on Long Street. Carefully curated pieces at the premium end of the Cape Town vintage market.

Cape Town City Centre · City Bowl

Vintage boutique on Long Street in the city centre. Hours not published; check before driving.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Romantic and floral vintage on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Hours not published.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Retro vintage clothing and locally crafted goods, leaning hard into 70s styling. One of the more styled shops on the Lower Main Road run.

Claremont · Southern Suburbs

Goedgedacht Trust charity shop selling pre-loved clothing and goods; profits fund rural children's education.

Kirstenhof · Southern Suburbs

Second-hand bookshop run by the Goedgedacht Trust, just south of Tokai on Main Road.

Mowbray · Observatory & Mowbray

Second Help the Rural Child branch, on Victoria Road opposite the Mowbray shops. Strong on books and bric-a-brac.

Retreat · Southern Suburbs

Goedgedacht Trust charity shop in Retreat Mall selling pre-loved clothing. A separate furniture shop trades at the same address.

Retreat · Southern Suburbs

Dedicated furniture shop run by the Goedgedacht Trust, in the same Retreat Mall unit as the clothing shop.

Sea Point · Atlantic Seaboard

Long-running Sea Point charity shop on Main Road. Two floors of clothing, books and furniture funding rural education.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Upcycled and rebuilt streetwear in Observatory, a few doors from the thrift strip. Hours not published.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Glam and party pieces on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Instagram states open from 10:00, days not stated.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Vintage slips, flannel and rugby jerseys on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Hours not published.

Bo-Kaap · City Bowl

Bo-Kaap thrift shop with a strong eye for colour. Bold shirts, denim and jackets at prices that still feel like thrifting rather than vintage retail.

Kalk Bay · South Peninsula

Cluster of antique, vintage and collectables dealers along Kalk Bay’s Main Road. Better for ceramics, glass and small furniture than for clothing.

Kenilworth · Southern Suburbs

Hospice charity shop on the Kenilworth Main Road strip. Furniture and homeware as well as clothing, and a steady turnover of donations.

Mowbray · Observatory & Mowbray

Lifeline charity shop on Main Road, Mowbray, selling donated clothing and household goods. Collections can be arranged.

Vredehoek · City Bowl

Runs out of Nazareth House in Vredehoek. One of the cheapest charity shops in the city, and a genuine community fixture.

Cape Town City Centre · City Bowl

Arcade of about seventeen individually owned antique and vintage dealers, including Glitterati Vintage. Stock ranges from jewellery to furniture and clothing.

Cape Town CBD · City Bowl

Small, densely packed charity shop in the middle of the Long Street strip. Best for rummaging rather than browsing.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Tailored vintage with an in-store tailor on Lower Main Road, Observatory.

Milnerton · Northern Suburbs

Long-running weekend flea market on the Marine Drive side of Milnerton. Tools, bric-a-brac, books and second-hand everything, with parking on site.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Antique furniture on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Trades from early morning.

Athlone · Cape Flats

NOAH elder-run shop selling pre-loved clothing and household goods in Athlone.

Khayelitsha · Cape Flats

NOAH elder-run shop selling pre-loved clothing and household goods in Harare, Khayelitsha.

Khayelitsha · Cape Flats

NOAH elder-run shop selling pre-loved clothing and household goods in Khayelitsha Site B.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Second-hand shop on Lower Main Road, Observatory, listed in the What's On in Cape Town Observatory thrifting guide. Hours not published.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Observatory institution since 2014. Dense racks of retro clothing, band tees, hats and festival wear. New stock daily and older stock marked down.

Elsies River · Cape Flats

Oasis protective workshop and bric-a-brac shop in Elsies River. Proceeds support people with intellectual disabilities.

Claremont · Southern Suburbs

Claremont branch of the Oasis Association. Broad stock (clothing, books, décor and kitchenware) and a strong volunteer community behind it.

Fish Hoek · South Peninsula

Oasis branch in Fish Hoek, and a local favourite. Clothing, shoes, books, décor and kitchenware with stock that changes every week.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Second-hand bookshop on Lower Main Road. Worth a stop between clothing shops if you are doing the Observatory strip properly.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Neighbourhood second-hand shop in Observatory. Mixed stock: clothing, household goods and the occasional piece of furniture.

Fish Hoek · South Peninsula

Fish Hoek second-hand clothing boutique run by Anthea. Relaxed, well-kept stock and a strong local following.

Gardens · City Bowl

Vintage clothing behind the Gardens Centre. Hours not published; the shop trades by appointment and on social media.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Vintage-inspired threads on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Hours not published.

Gardens · City Bowl

Trendy retro and vintage wear on Kloof Street, near the Gardens Centre. Hours from a Cape Town thrift guide.

Kommetjie · South Peninsula

Kommetjie pre-loved shop on the main road through the village. Open seven days, which makes it a useful stop on a peninsula drive.

Grassy Park · Cape Flats

Charity shop attached to the SPCA Grassy Park operation. Proceeds fund the animal welfare work; stock is a broad household mix.

Athlone · Cape Flats

Shop-soiled and insurance salvage goods in Athlone Industria. Not a charity shop. Sunday hours not published.

Mowbray · Observatory & Mowbray

Salvation Army thrift shop on Main Road, Mowbray, selling donated clothing and goods. Saturday mornings only.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Vintage clothing and collectables on Lower Main Road, Observatory.

Claremont · Southern Suburbs

Claremont vintage shop trading since 1971. Clothing, accessories and jewellery with a curated, characterful feel rather than pure bargain hunting.

Salt River · Woodstock & Salt River

Second-hand goods retailer on Albert Road, Salt River. Hours not published.

Athlone · Cape Flats

Hospice charity shop inside Vangate Mall, Athlone.

Grassy Park · Cape Flats

Hospice charity shop next to Debonairs Pizza in Victoria Mall, Grassy Park.

Mitchells Plain · Cape Flats

Hospice charity shop inside Lentegeur Hospital grounds, Mitchells Plain. Hours not published; call before driving.

Tokai · Southern Suburbs

Hospice charity shop near the Cattle Baron and CTM Tile Factory, Tokai. Friday runs an hour later; closed on public holidays.

Wynberg · Southern Suburbs

Hospice charity shop and bookshop on Main Road, Wynberg. Closed on public holidays.

Cape Town CBD · City Bowl

Bree Street pre-loved clothing and accessories. Part of the CBD’s cluster of vintage and consignment shops within walking distance of each other.

Simon’s Town · South Peninsula

Consignment and curated second-hand in Simon’s Town. Small, selective, and stronger on quality than on volume.

Fish Hoek · South Peninsula

Corner shop in Fish Hoek raising money for TEARS Animal Rescue. Clothing, books and homeware, with the animal-rescue crowd behind the till.

Retreat · Southern Suburbs

Animal-welfare thrift shop selling clothing, decor, books, furniture and appliances. Proceeds fund TEARS animal rescue.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Clothing donations sold to support mental-health awareness, inside Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital grounds, Observatory.

Woodstock · Woodstock & Salt River

Weekend market with a rotating set of vintage, second-hand and handmade stalls alongside the food. More curated than a flea market, and busier.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Recurring Observatory thrift market pulling together independent sellers, vintage rails and handmade stalls. Dates are announced on Instagram rather than fixed.

Mitchells Plain · Cape Flats

U-turn thrift shop at Liberty Promenade, Mitchells Plain. Proceeds fund U-turn homeless rehabilitation.

Woodstock · Woodstock & Salt River

U-turn thrift shop inside the Old Biscuit Mill precinct, Woodstock. Proceeds fund U-turn homeless rehabilitation.

Kenilworth · Southern Suburbs

U-turn thrift shop with U-Coffee inside the Access Park mall, Kenilworth. Shop hours unconfirmed; the mall trades Monday to Friday 09:00-17:30, Saturday 09:00-17:00, Sunday 09:00-14:00.

Cape Town CBD · City Bowl

Central branch of the U-turn chain. Racks of affordable clothing and homeware, sorted by category and restocked constantly because donations come in daily.

Claremont · Southern Suburbs

Lansdowne Road branch of U-turn. Standard charity-shop mix, well organised, with proceeds funding the organisation’s rehabilitation programme.

Gardens · City Bowl

U-turn thrift shop on Roeland Street in the City Bowl. U-turn no longer lists a Burg Street branch; this is the current branch for the area. Proceeds fund U-turn homeless rehabilitation programmes.

Bellville · Northern Suburbs

U-turn’s bulk warehouse in Boulevard Park. Bigger and rougher than the suburban branches, so this is where to go for furniture and volume.

Durbanville · Northern Suburbs

Thrift Market at Hillcrest Wine Estate, Durbanville, on the last weekend of the month. Artisanal Market on the first weekend. Hours vary, usually 10:00-15:00.

Woodstock · Woodstock & Salt River

Vintage clothing shop on Albert Road, Woodstock. Trades weekends only.

Cape Town City Centre · City Bowl

Vintage clothing shop on Long Street. Hours not published; check before driving.

District Six · City Bowl

Curated retro dresses, jackets and accessories on Canterbury Street. Funds go to South African literacy programmes.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Vinyl records and vintage clothing on Lower Main Road, Observatory. Trades every day.

District Six · City Bowl

Consignment store for men and women, plus homeware. A verified seller in the vintage clothing collective and a long-standing CBD stop.

Woodstock · Woodstock & Salt River

Market of makers, designers and artisans on Albert Road, Woodstock. Hours not confirmed.

Observatory · Observatory & Mowbray

Vintage and fashion collective towards the Salt River end of Lower Main Road. Tuesday to Saturday only.