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As you turn onto the Main Road, which was the old wagon road between the Castle in Cape Town and Muizenberg, you’ll see one of the original carved milestones on your right, showing it’s 13 miles to the Town Hall. Ancient Days Antiques, on the left shortly after you join the Main Road, is also worth a stop for interesting furniture, especially yellowwood farm pieces. If you were able to resist the temptation to stop at the various estates along the Constantia Wine Route, Kalk Bay delivers a main street full of quirky shops and eateries, all filled with the sound of screeching seagulls and breaking waves. |
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A lingering exploration of all of them is highly recommended, with a break for tea in the middle if your credit card is smoking. (But if you’ve seen enough antiques to last a lifetime, browse the various art galleries or watch the waves over a glass of wine at the Brass Bell restaurant on Kalk Bay station.) Better still, have a meal at Cape to Cuba above Kalk Bay Harbour and shop from your table. Meet Cape Town’s very own Che Guevara reincarnated as an antique shop owner in a restaurant packed with Madonna statues, astonishingly lavish chandeliers and ornate metal furniture, all with a price tag attached so you can add what you like to your bill. |
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A magpie meander turned up these temptations in Kalk Bay: Spices in brown bags for sale amid the collectables in Shor Bazaar, named after the ‘thieves market’ in Bombay. A set of Thomas Baines prints at Graciously Ancient. A weird mix of antique furniture, peppered with African artefacts, at two shops in one building – Belle Ombre Antiques and African Art. Ballot papers from South Africa’s first democratic election in 1994, juke boxes and old Cape furniture at The Railway House. A very bad place for bulls, amid thousands of plates and more at The What Not and China Town. |
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Tram benches, a brass ship’s foghorn, old toys and official red post boxes in the Kalk Bay Trading Post at the old post office. Vintage wine and jewellery at the Kalk Bay Antiques Centre.Magnificent clocks and fancy leather top hat boxes at Tim Curtis Antiques. Cries of London prints on the wall at Cries of London. Art, books, Africana and very old bones at Quagga Trading. Africana, a beautiful roll-top desk and suitably ancient African masks in the dim interior of the Treasure Trove. If time permits, head for historic Simon’s Town for some maritime memorabilia or even a boat trip – simply remain on the Main Road for another nine kilometres, keeping the sea to your left all the way.
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Kalk Bay to Waterfront – 40minTurn into Boyes Drive, M75 Clairvaux Road at the traffic lights near the entrance to the harbour. This scenic 7km route takes you back to the Main Road opposite the Westlake Wetlands. At the T-junction turn left onto Main Road, M4 Retreat, then left into Steenberg Road, M42 Westlake, M3 Cape Town. Turn onto highway at the first lights and follow M3 Cape Town signs to the Waterfront. Siyabona Africa Travel recommends accommodation in Cape Town near the Waterfront |
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Church Street African Image Cnr Church & Burg Streets, 021 423 8385
Church Street Antiques Market 021 438 8566, Mon–Sat 8:30–14:00
(But They Pack Up Earlier On Saturdays)
Long Street Antique Arcade 021 423 3585, Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00,
Sat 9:00–14:00
Long Street
These Shops Generally Follow Business Hours Of 9:00–17:00 Weekdays,
Closing At Lunch Time On Saturdays, While The Restaurants And Clubs Go On Way Into The Night.
Atkinson’s Antiques 021 424 3726
Bristol Antiques 021 424 2647
Bruce Tait Kitsch And Collectables Kloof Street, 021 422 1567
Clarke’s Bookshop 021 423 5739
Second Time Around 021 423 1674 |
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Kalk Bay Main Road
These Shops Are Generally Open Daily 9:00–17:00.
Some Open At 10:00 On Sundays.
Belle Ombre Antiques & African Art 021 788 9802
Cape To Cuba 021 788 1566, Daily 11:30–16:00, 18:00–Approx 23:00
Cries Of London 021 788 3256
Graciously Ancient 021 788 5577
Kalk Bay Antiques Centre 021 788 8882
Kalk Bay Trading Post 021 788 9571
Quagga Trading 021 788 2752
Shor Bazaar 021 788 7113
The Railway House 021 788 4761
The What Not And China Town 021 788 1823
Tim Curtis Antiques 021 788 8701
Treasure Trove 021 788 4802 |
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Groot Constantia
Cellar Tours Hourly From 10:00–16:00 (In Winter At 10, 11 And 15:00),
Tasting And Sales Daily 9:00–17:00
Groot Constantia Antique And Collectables Market 021 689 3908, 083 324 9264, Sun 10:00–16:30
Groot Constantia Estate 021 794 5128 Or 794 5067
Jonkershuis Restaurant Groot Constantia, 021 794 6255,
Tues–Sat 9:00–22:30, Sun–Mon 9:00–16:30
Manor House And Museum Daily 10:00–17:00
Simon’s Groot Constantia, 021 794 1143, Daily 11:00–22:30
All The Rest
Ancient Days Antiques Main Road, Retreat, 021 788 6450, Closed Sat
Café Mozart Church Street, 021 424 3774, Mon–Fri 7:00–3:15,
Sat 8:00–13:00 |
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