Take a trip down Longmarket Street

Greenmarket Square, St George’s Mall and Eastern Food Bazaar are only a few of Longmarket Street’s offerings!

Last Updated: 3 March 2017

Longmarket Street – one of the oldest and quaint streets in Cape Town’s Central Business District. It has a symbolic significance in Cape Town as it is the only street that runs the full width of the City Bowl from Bo Kaap to District Six. This significance will only grow in importance as people move back to District Six, resulting in the need for a strong link to and from the CBD.

The street is home to some of Cape Town’s oldest buildings holding a great position in the history of our city and country. It is also rich in thrifty market places and great hangout spots for the whole clan. We have taken it upon ourselves to curate some of the best spots in the street to make your trip down there even more worthwhile.

Greenmarket Square
This historical square in the centre of Cape Town was built in 1696 when a burgher house was erected. Greenmarket Square has served as a slave market, vegetable market, parking lot and now a marketplace trading in African collector-pieces, crafts and curios. It is located in centre of the city bowl and is visited by both locals and tourists alike. During the apartheid era the market was often the focus of political protests due to its proximity to parliament and its history. Near the centre of the square is a hand operated pump used to bring clean water to the surface from an underground river that runs through the city. Today Greenmarket Square is a terrific spot to shop till you drop and the surrounding restaurants allows for good pit-stops when on your tiring adventure. It could be safe to call it the gem of Longmarket Street.
Burg St & Longmarket Street | Cape Town City Centre | +27 (0)74 810 4665

Earth Fair Food Market (Thursdays)
Other than Greenmarket Square, just outside of St. George’s Mall, Longmarket Street offers another pop-up market experience every Thursday. The Earth Fair Food Market provides a great opportunity for locals to indulge in nutritious and healthy food made by local entrepreneurs. If you’ve been to the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock a couple of times you’d realise that you come across a lot of familiar faces at the fair as many of the same traders from the Old Biscuit Mill bring their fresh flavours and produce to the Earth Fair Market as well. Our recommendation for you is the delectable tastes of Montague Cheese. Mr. Juice is also there to satisfy that thirst of yours, enjoy his range of healthy liquids while the soothing beats of the Marimba band complete the ambience of this fantastic little market in the heart of Cape Town CBD. Remember to pop by every Thursday between 11am and 3pm.
Upper St. Georges Mall opposite the Cathedral | jacqui@earthfairmarket.co.za

Dear Me
From a healthy marketplace to a healthy restaurant, Longmarket Street has got you sorted. Dear Me is a restaurant that caters for all dietary requirements. Whether you’re celiac, diabetic, lactose- or wheat intolerant, vegetarian or vegan – Dear Me has got you covered. Their food is simple, honest and saturated with love and respect. They believe in staying true to the integrity of their ingredients by respecting the produce that is used in preparation of a meal. They are dedicated to artisanal principles in that they prepare their food naturally to ensure maximum benefit to their guests. The establishment offers a wide range of homemade products in their pantry from bottled preserves such as pickles, chutneys, jams and more. They also make their own natural, raw almond milk and almond yoghurt.
165 Longmarket St | Cape Town City Centre | +27 (0)21 422 4920

La Parada
Now for a walk uphill, the walk that could lead you to the Bo Kaap but then you decide to make a pitstop at this gem. La Parada is a laid-back, open-fronted bar with magnificent high stools and sidewalk tables. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy Spanish tapas and cocktails. While the eatery is not directly situated in Longmarket street, it surely forms part of the street’s connection to the Bo Kaap. So whether it be for a lazy day out with friends or a great night out you’ll be sure to enjoy yourself at this Spanish-inspired eatery.

107 Bree Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 426 0330

Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar
Up for some rooftop rendezvousing in Longmarket Street? Make your way to Tjing Tjing by following the staircase inside of Dear Me brasserie. The venue is on the rooftop of a 200-year-old house and its interior sports with beautiful leather seats and Chinese lanterns. They specialise in cocktails and have a unique wine list, a variety of craft beers, draughts and a delectable tapas menu. The part rooftop, part attic in the heart of the CBD is also set to make for a great nightlife experience, expect new indie and electronica music to keep you dancing until the break of dawn.
165 Longmarket St | Cape Town City Centre |+27 (0)21 422 4374

Noon Gun Tearoom and Restaurant
Up for some original Cape Malay sweet treats? Well then, make your way to the Noon Gun Tearoom in Longmarket for this great experience. Being closely situated to the noon gun cannon on Signal Hill gives this restaurant some much historical recognition. This little gem is nestled below the cannon, whose daily boom has jolted Capetonians into knowing that it is mid-day for over 200 years! The Noon Gun Tearoom’s sweet treats include koeksisters (syrup-coated doughnut) and melktert (milk tart).
273 Longmarket St | Central | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 424 0529

Eastern Food Bazaar
Ready to feast on something exotic and out of this world (more like out of this country)? Then make your way to one of Longmarket Street’s greatest eateries. The Eastern Food Bazaar serves up regional Indian, Asian and Turkish cuisine. They offer a unique Cape Town experience at their buzzing canteen-style eatery. Look forward to Turkish kebabs, Cape-style biryanis, creamy North Indian curries and real tandoor dishes that covers the whole spice spectrum from Bombay to the Bo Kaap. Their 10 kitchens cover a wide variety of dishes to appease that hunger of yours. There’s no way you visit Longmarket Street without popping in at this eatery.
96 Longmarket Street | Cape Town City Centre | +27 (0)21 461 2458

Food Lovers Market Café
Right opposite St. George’s Mall you will find a local favourite, Food Lover’s Market Café, that offers an array of breakfast and light dish options that will keep you busy while the family is doing their weekly grocery shopping in the Food Lover’s Market store which is the home of the café. This is the perfect spot for when you’re on the go. The café accommodates the needs and wants of almost everyone so your options on their menu are limitless.
122 St. Georges Mall |Cape Town City Centre | +27 (0)21 424 0294

Afraid of Mice
Are you into those signature pieces your mom used to wear back her day? Get to Afraid of Mice for this spectacular vintage shopping experience of your dreams. This little vintage store is not about dusty racks and grumpy clerks that one would usually associate with vintage stores. Sisters and owners of this wonderful store Bianca and Simone Brandi are proud lovers of vintage and their store exerts this.

Shop 86 | Cnr Longmarket St and Long St | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 423 7353

St. George’s Mall
St. George’s Mall was once a congested city street; today it is a pedestrian area in the middle of the Cape Town city centre. Bustling with activity for all that ranges from live entertainment - provided by buskers, dancers, drummers, street artists and the like - to the sidewalk coffee shops and restaurants at which many locals and visitors to the city sit and watch people pass by. Fancy yourself a shopaholic? Well St. George’s is also the perfect place to shop, with a combination of stalls, informal traders, art galleries and African curio shops providing any number of goods or souvenirs.
St. George's street |Cape Town Central | Cape Town

Iziko Old Town House Museum
You feel like it’s time to reflect on our country’s history and where you might come from? Then the Iziko Old Town House Museum is just the place to do exactly that. The Old Town House was built in 1755 as Cape Town’s first public building. In 1914 the building went on to become the city’s very first museum, it now houses the world-renowned Michaelis Collection of early Netherlandish art. The interior walls of the building are covered with masterpieces by Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruisdael and many other artists of yesteryear. The venue is suitable for a stylish corporate reception. The rooms of house are also used to host music concerts and other cultural events. The courtyard behind the building is also suitable for picturesque outdoor receptions. The venues are also often used for wedding photographs and film shoots.
149 Longmarket St | Cape Town City Centre | +27 (0)21 481 3933

Cape Town Central Library
We all know that the world is slowly but surely moving to a more digital way of life, but nothing beats a physical page-turner with a cup of Earl Grey tea on the side. The Cape Town Central Library is not only popular for its interesting books or for being an after school hangout, but they also host various musical afternoons and you can also enjoy a cuppa joe at the American Corner inside the building. Central Library Cape Town is a public library in Cape Town. It is one of 102 libraries within the City of Cape Town Library and Information Services.
Drill Hall | Darling St |Cape Town City Centre | +27 (0)21 444 0383

Article written by Jaye-Dee Jansen

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