Last Updated on August 2, 2024 by Hannah Stephenson
There are plenty of malls in Cape Town, so if you’re in the mood to do some shopping, then the Mother City has you covered.
You can find plenty of international stores here, from H&M and Zara to Chanel and Burberry, as well as local favourites like Mr Price (or Monsieur Pricé, as locals jokingly call it).
There are a couple of great malls that are very central, as well as good options in both the northern and southern suburbs.
I’ll cut the chit chat short and dive right into the best malls in Cape Town so that you can spend less time reading and more time shopping!
1. Victoria Wharf Mall, V&A Waterfront
The Victoria Wharf Mall is the huge mall at the V&A Waterfront. And in my opinion, it’s the best one in Cape Town!
Not only is its waterfront location super convenient, it’s also home to over 200 shops and restaurants! I’m not kidding when I say you can find literally everything here.
There’s an upstairs section with posh shops and designer boutiques that I’m way too poor to shop in, as well as tons of high street favourites. There’s Zara, CottonOn, H&M, Lush, MAC, and even a Hamley’s.
There’s also a big Woolworths department store which sells luxury makeup, home goods and clothing as well as its signature posh food, and a Pick ‘n’ Pay if you’re after some cheaper groceries.
The Victoria Wharf Mall is also just a nice mall in general. There’s lots of natural light, it’s right next to the ocean, and (most importantly for me) the toilets are clean.
There are also lots of great places to eat and some of the best affordable restaurants at the Waterfront are actually inside the Victoria Wharf Mall. There’s also the ever-popular Willoughby and Co!
Address: 19 Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Open times: 9 am – 9 pm
2. Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village
The Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village in De Waterkant is far from the biggest mall in Cape Town, but it’s a really nice place to hang out and go shopping for the finer things in live.
I wouldn’t come here to buy clothes but they’ve got a ton of upscale offerings. So if you’re looking for posh pet treats, a liquid IV clinic, or a Tibetan sound bowl, you can find it here.
There’s also a huge Spar with amazing hot food counters and sushi!
Essentially, as the name suggests, you come to the Cape Quarter to do lifestyle shopping rather than clothes shopping. It’s a nice place to hang out and I spent a ton of time here when I lived just down the road!
Address: 27 Somerset Road, Green Point, Cape Town
Open times: 9 am – 6 pm (but different retail establishments do vary)
3. Canal Walk, Century City
Canal Walk is the biggest mall in Cape Town and one of the biggest in the whole of Africa! There are over 400 shops here so it’s basically retail therapy paradise.
A bit like the Waterfront, Century City is a big mixed-use district with a ton of apartments and entertainment venues.
Aside from its size, the Canal Walk Mall is also noted for its Venetian-inspired architecture. It feels a bit theme-park-ish to me!
From homeware, sporting goods, and pet essentials to bridal stores and specialty biltong, you can find pretty much everything at Canal Walk. There’s even a Build-a-Bear here!
It’s really a toss up between the Victoria Wharf and Canal Walk for the title of the most popular mall in Cape Town. I’d say the Waterfront is definitely more popular with tourists, but a lot of locals love to shop in Canal Walk. There’s a bigger range of affordable choices here, too.
Address: 490 Century Blvd, Century City
Open times: 9 am – 9 pm
4. Bayside Mall, Table View
Bayside Mall is in Table View , which is about 30 minutes north of Cape Town city centre. It’s also within easy reach of Bloubergstrand Beach, so you could always hit the beach when you’ve finished shopping!
This shopping centre has plenty of affordable clothing stores, mostly fast food restaurants, and a big Checkers supermarket.
There’s also a big cinema on site and a big Game store, so this is a good place for a family day out.
Address: 33 Blaauwberg Road, Table View
Open times: 9 am – 9 pm (closes 5 pm on Sundays and public holidays)
5. Tyger Valley Centre
Tyger Valley Centre is a great place to shop if you’re located in the northern suburbs. It has around 275 retail outlets including Cotton On, Ripcurl, Lovisa, and Pick ‘n’ Pay clothing. It’s the second biggest mall in Cape Town, so you can do some serious shopping here.
There are also plenty of entertainment options here, such as an escape room, a cinema, a bowling alley, and a games arcade. This is another great Cape Town mall for families to visit.
Address: Corner of Bill Bezuidenhout Ave, Willie Van Schoor Dr, Bellville Park
Open times: 9 am – 7 pm (5 pm on Sundays)
6. Cavendish Square, Claremont
Cavendish Square is the main mall in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. It doesn’t rival the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf in terms of variety, but it has a pretty good list of international stores like Levi’s, H&M, and Superdry.
I don’t think it’s the absolute best mall in Cape Town but it is pretty big. In fact, there are almost 180 stores here, so if you’re in the southern suburbs and don’t want to drive to the Waterfront, it is a good alternative.
If you want to eat here you’ve got quite a few fast-casual options, including Nando’s, Ocean Basket, and Spur. There are also plenty of coffee shops and Krispy Kreme, in case you fancy something sweet.
Address: 1 Dreyer Street, Claremont
Open times: 9 am – 7 pm (5 pm on Sundays)