It’s December and we need to try new things right? Holidays are a time to dot hings you wouldnt usually do, but it’s all the more better if they aren’t irresponsible because like they say on the movie ‘The Hangover’; “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas… except herpes, that will come back with you.”

Without digressing, those of you hitting the coast trying to chill a bit after a long year of work might find yourselves in Cape Town. If so, you might want to try this out:

Markets are the hottest new hangout. No longer the sole domain of trendies, artistic types and cool kids in Cape Town they are now rather mixed. This isn’t your grandmother’s market though. While the concept initially started as a rebellion against fast food and toxic city living this quickly evolved into a lifestyle event.

Proof of this is the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. Every Saturday hundreds of people gather there to shop for organic vegetables, cooked food, hand made cheese as well as jewellery and bespoke clothing.

 Its great way to while away the better part of a day snacking from the different stalls and drinking strawberry mojitos in the morning. For some reason there is always some arty type earnestly squinting into a huge camera and snapping away at the oblivious crowd.

The problem is that it word gets around very quickly and before you can say overexposed there are busloads of tourists being shuttled to the gates. So the new market du jour is called You, Me and Everyone We Know.

 Having only been around since October it still has the edgy factor. Aiming to showcase vintage clothes,art and Djs this market is open every Saturday (weather permitting) from 10 am 4pm at the Labia Theatre in Orange street. As someone who has fully embraced the concepy of shopping with a glass in hand I am happy to report that they also serve bubbly.

Photo by Roxzy Lok

My personal favourite has to be the Stellenbosch Fresh Goods market at  Oude Libertas  every Saturday from 9am to 2pm. Well worth the drive, its set in a leafy green courtyard with so much space that you never feel crowded.

The langiud sounds of french jazz pipe through the speakers as you walk around and your nostrils are assailed by the smells of various delicacies. I recommend arriving hungry and trying something small from each of the food stalls.

In addition there is a decent selection of wines with the winemakers or owners standing at the stalls explaining their wines to you. The best thing about the location is there are plenty more wine farms and restaurants to stop off at on you way back home.

source: http://www.jucyafrica.com/?cat=4