The one-of-a-kind Bay Harbour Market is a bustling affair housed in an old fish factory in an authentic part of the Hout Bay harbour. Set at the end of a brightly coloured road with a view of the magnificent mountain range, your Saturday or Sunday could not be better spent. The roads are often lined with happy shoppers showing off their wares, kids with melting ice creams in hand, families munching fish and chips, and funkily clad entertainers promising to grab you for a twirl. All of the excitement will ensure you’re escorted ceremoniously into the market. With over 100 stalls on offer, including tented alleys, courtyards, and food courts, this atmospheric market is not to be missed.

Step inside the undercover market space to be swamped with a variety of exciting stalls waiting to be explored. You will first enter a tented area where African-themed arts and crafts abound, with everything from whitewashed photo frames and trinkets, to locally designed t-shirts. The market then continues to the left where you enter the main part of the factory to find ceiling beams swaddled with colourful lights, chandeliers, and odds and ends. Here, you will find a patchwork of colour with stalls offering everything from bright décor and clothing, to sparkly jewellery and furniture.

Your nose will guide to the food section a little further along, where numerous stalls provide mouth-watering arrays of bunny chow, cappuccinos, organic foods and drinks, seafood, freshly baked goods, and more. If all the browsing has made you a little thirsty, you can pick from a range of delicious coffees, slush puppies, homemade lemonades, alcoholic drinks, and smoothies – I personally recommend the mango and ginger smoothie!

Many people who have shopped at the Bay Harbour Market have been overwhelmed by the friendly nature of the traders who go out of their way to help. What’s more, since the market is open all weekend, you won’t have to constantly battle your way through the throngs of people who are hoping to get in on the action.

Allow yourselves a good couple hours to browse the stalls, and be sure to drink in the atmosphere characterised by live bands and the laughter and chatter of shoppers. Don’t forget to take some time out from shopping to sit down in the food court and try a chickpea curry roti at Tunisian Delights, organic coffee at ZA Café, or delicious cupcakes at Lady Lucy’s Kitchen. Forming part of the Hangberg Social Upliftment Project, your shopping spree will be for a good cause.

TravelGround Tip: Take advantage of the “Pizza Friday” special, where all pizzas are less R10 from 5:30-6:30pm!

More information:

• The market is open on Fridays from 5pm to 9pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30am to 4pm.
• There are over 300 parking bays in the immediate vicinity, watched over by dedicated Bay Harbour parking guards.
• Entry is free (tipping your car guard is recommended).
• For more information, visit the website at www.bayharbour.co.za, call 082 570 5997, email [email protected], or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

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