The Perfect Cape Town Souvenir For Everyone (Even Your Dog)

They’re easy to pack, totally unique, and distinctly Cape Town

Cape Town is a creative and cultural melting pot that leaves such a strong imprint on your heart, you’ll want to share it with people back home. But how do you find perfect souvenirs? Unique, one-of-a-kind gifts that even locals are proud to own; easy-to-pack authentic “curios” made here, not in a factory somewhere far away; gifts that you, your kids, partner, parents, friends – or even your dog – will be excited to unwrap? 

The Table Mountain Ring from Shimansky was just that kind of souvenir, and we’ve partnered with them to bring you the ultimate list of Cape Town’s most precious souvenirs, so you can take a piece of Cape Town with you when you go. 

TAKE TABLE MOUNTAIN HOME WITH YOU

While Table Mountain won’t fit in your suitcase, Shimansky’s Table Mountain ring offers the perfect way to take a piece of Cape Town with you. I comes in silver, 14 carat yellow, white or rose gold. There’s even a lifesize monument of it at the V&A Waterfront.

See more on the Shimansky website 

TAKE “CAPE TOWN’S BEST COFFEE” HOME

You can’t talk about Cape Town’s coffee culture without mentioning mischu. It’s been voted Best Coffee in Cape Town three years in a row, thanks to the Isabella blend. Named after the founder’s daughter and wrapped in packaging that nods to Table Mountain, it’s a flavourful way to take a piece of Cape Town home with you from mischu in Sea Point. 

Check it out on the mischu website 

RAISE A GLASS TO THE MOTHER CITY

Impress your wine-loving friends and family with a bottle of wine that tells a story. Charles Dickens tells of “the support embodied in a glass of Constantia and a home-made biscuit”. And it is rumoured that the deadly poison slipped to Napoleon during his exile in St Helena was in a glass of "Constantia wijn". We’re talking about the iconic Vin de Constance made by Klein Constantia: A smooth, sweet wine as old as the Cape Town wine route itself. 

Check it out on Klein Constantia website

TASTE THE CAPE TOWN SUMMER

Inverroche was started by Lorna Scott in her family home in Still Bay using fynbos. At Still Bay, the water runs through the limestone, nourishing the fynbos species that go into Inverroche’s three distinctive gins. The smooth, flavoursome gins can be enjoyed neat. As for Lorna’s perfect G&T? One part gin, three parts tonic, lots of ice, and never a slice of lemon – only zest.

See more on the Inverroche website

YOU NEED TO TAKE HOME ROOIBOS

We can’t talk about fynbos without mentioning Cape Town’s most famous endemic herb: rooibos. It only grows wild in one place on earth: the hills just outside of Cape Town. Farmers have tried to grow the plant all over the globe but failed. Rooibos is as local as it gets, and - like you - it is resistant to leaving. You can, however, take home the organic tea bags made by BOS. 

See more on the BOS website

GLOW UP, CAPE TOWN STYLE

When it comes to local skincare brands, Hey Gorgeous is a firm favourite. It makes an amazing gift, with its trendy, colourful branding. The Vitamin C Serum rebuilds collagen density, helps to reverse sun damage and increases elasticity - but when anyone asks why you’re glowing, just tell them it’s the Cape Town sea air. 

See more on the Hey Gorgeous website 

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE KIDS 

Peta Becker started Projekt to provide employment for women from her home community, Hout Bay. She works with 25 women to create quirky, whimsical designs, including the Gentle Monkey (a wonderful gift for kids) and her popular crocheted cacti. “These beautifully hand-made toys reflect what we think of as Cape Town values: sustainability, creativity and local talent,” says Peta.

See more on Projekt’s Instagram

SOMETHING FOR FUR BABIES

Chommies’ story is like something straight out of a rom-com: at a farmer’s market in Cape Town, two dogs - Hiker and Ringo - met, and hit it off. Their humans, Nathalie Klijn and Zac Rusagara, also locked eyes, and today, the two are entwined both as romantic partners and the brains behind Chommies. Their leads and collars are totally unique and eye-catching. Who knows, they might even catch the eye of someone from your local farmer’s market?

See more on the Chommies website

BE COOL, HYDRATE

Carrol Boyes started her career as a teacher, back in the 80s. In 1989, at age 35, she quit her job to pursue her dream of becoming an artist and started making jewellery from clay and cuttlefish out of her Hout Bay home. Her first sales were made from a stall in Greenmarket Square. From there, she sky-rocketed to success: by 1992 she had two factories. Carrol Boyes’ insulated water bottles are the coolest way to stay hydrated.  

See more on the Carrol Boyes website

STAY FREE AND KEEP MOVING

Roal and Léan Boezaart grew up in a house of four boys, and their parents often had their hands full. “To maintain some form of order,” the brothers explain on their website, “our dad introduced a house rule called ‘Freedom of Movement’.” It meant that if the boys worked hard and were disciplined they’d be rewarded with the freedom to do what they liked. In 2013, the brothers launched a lifestyle brand out of a small room at Stellenbosch University. They named it Freedom of Movement. Their leather products are as robust and practical as they are beautiful, and we’re in love with their modern, trendy leather backpacks.

See more at the Freedom of Movement website

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