The Ultimate Festive Season Gift Guide

Whether it's your company’s end-of-year function gift exchange, a December birthday, Christmas presents for the family, a Hanukkah gift or a thank-you present for your favourite personal trainer, there’s always someone to be finding a present for over the festive season!

Our vast neighbourhood is your one-stop destination.

0ne-stop destination for all the gift shops, clothing boutiques, major retailers, independent artists and well-known brands you need to get the very best gifts this year.

And once you’ve found the perfect present, there’s no need to stress about how you’re going to get it wrapped (especially if it’s an awkward shape). Simply visit one of our many gift-wrapping stations and our festive helpers will do the work for you! Gift-wrapping services will be available from [dates], between [times], with prices dependent on gift size.

Let’s get gifting!

The V&A Waterfront is a uniquely South African precinct, which means we are home to a slew of uniquely local stores, brands, and arts and crafts shops. AAFRICA in The Alfred is your one-stop shop for curated contemporary African design, while Merchants on Long stocks fashion from both emerging and established local brands like Maxhosa Africa, Sindiso Khumalo, Lukhanyo Mdingi and Rich Mnisi.

The Watershed is a treasure trove of local shops – every store in the vibrant yellow shed showcases the best of local craft and design. Here, you can find Ubuntu Traditional Balms, which stocks health and beauty products inspired by traditional South African remedies, Master Wires and Bead Craft’s impressive beaded creations, Patricia Nama’s handmade clothing and accessories, Bongolomba’s quirky wooden figurines, and much, much more!

If you can’t bring your foodie friends to explore our neighbourhood’s culinary treasures – such as the Time Out Market, plenty of oceanfront restaurants and Makers Landing – then why not take a slice of the V&A Waterfront to them? We have a variety of  stores that cater to specific tastes: Yuppiechef for unique kitchen gadgets, Cellar Club for wine lovers, En Masse Tea Merchants and Nespresso for tea and coffee connoisseurs, AFRIKOA Chocolate for those with a sweet tooth, Kitchen Samurai for the finest handmade Japanese knives, and Joubert & Monty for biltong of every type.

In between shopping for the latest summer fashion trends, pop in to one of our hundreds of clothing and accessories stores across the neighbourhood. Some standout take-homes are eccentric African-inspired handbags from Dr Pachanga, bohemian dresses from Jane Valken, Freedom of Movement’s popular yet practical clothing, shoes and accessories, quirky dungarees from Sama Sama and essential streetwear from Superdry.

For those looking to make a statement with their festive gifts, the V&A Waterfront features a selection of famous luxury boutiques, including Emporio Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Luminance.

What’s better than a thoughtful gift? A thoughtful gift that’s also useful! Shop for practical presents for the home, such as furniture, appliances, decor, stationery and storage, at shops such as My Basket Store, Scotch and Sofa, Smeg, Mr Price Home, Threads That Bind Us, Typo and more.

And if you’re uncertain about what will suit someone’s home, go for flowers. Flowers are an iconic present for a reason – everyone appreciates their beauty and scent (and they’re often more affordable than other gifts). Head to one of the best flower shops in Cape Town, Caroline’s Fine Flowers, for a stunning bespoke bouquet.

Gifting an experience rather than a product can mean giving your loved one the present of a special memory. Luckily, the V&A Waterfront neighbourhood is not only Cape Town’s best shopping centre, it is also the place to go for new and exciting things to do in summer!

Book a trip on the Cape Wheel, experience the thrill of a lifetime with HintHunt’s escape room, book a cooking class at Makers Landing, marvel at marine life at the Two Oceans Aquarium, explore our art galleries, watch one of the movies currently showing at SterKinekor or give someone a historical Robben Island Tour.

And if you simply can’t choose between all these wonderful options, you can always leave it up to your loved ones’ imaginations with a voucher to the V&A Waterfront!