Waking up early on a Saturday is no hardship when you’re rewarded with freshly baked pastry and a cup of molten coffee in a beautiful setting, soon to be followed by a spot of browsing, socialising and selecting lunch (and dinner) from a smorgasbord of stalls. Variety is what really appeals about markets, plus there’s the community buzz and the contact you can make with amazing small producers. We’ve gathered our favourite Saturday morning markets that are dotted around South Africa. Happy shopping!

Johannesburg

Bryanston Organic And Natural Market
At this long-standing outdoor market you can buy organic fruit and vegetables as well as locally-roasted coffee, sauces and preserves, raw chocolate, ready-made meals and organic beauty products.

The Farmers’ Market @ Bamboo
This vibrant grocery-style rooftop market offers a range of produce straight from the farm. Be sure to try the sugar-free baking goods.

Jozi Food Market
There’s a country feel to this outdoor market, which offers everything from organic veggies and potted herbs to gluten-free cakes, chicken liver pâté and homemade pear and Roquefort soup.

Neighbourgoods Market
Highlights of this warehouse-style market include seasonal fruit and vegetables, meat from Braeside butchery, a variety of ethic cuisines and craft beer.

Pretoria

Hazel Food Market
As well as socialising and people watching, you can buy artisan breads, herb-laden pâtés, organic vegetables, and home bakes.

Irene Village Market
Much of the stock is seasonal, but regular favourites include mocha pavlova, homemade nougat, gluten-free cakes, Karoo lamb, artisan breads and organic cheeses.

Pretoria Boeremark
Many farmers sell their organically grown products, fine meat, artisan cheese, flowers ranging from giant proteas to sweet-smelling sweetpeas, traditional fare like melkkos or crackling as well as a selection of Italian breads.

KZN

Barbz Market
Relishes, jams, pickles, homemade cookies, award-winning free-range Croft Chickens, fresh organic vegetables, local cheeses and sausages are all sourced from local producers.

Essenwood Market
This is primarily a craft market but you can also buy pancakes, bunny chow, raw honey, home bakes, biltong, pork pies, free range eggs and cheeses.

The Food Market
This air-conditioned indoor venue houses waffles, homemade lemonade, game meat, farm ducks, meze, bakes, cheeses and cured meats. There is a strict “KZN produced only” policy.

The Gowrie Market
Shop for a variety of meals and freshly baked goods from the Barbz kitchen, fresh fruit and veggies, breads, herbs, flowers and more.

Made On Saturday
Crunchy salads, old-fashioned baked goods and legendary muffins. Visit the local basket maker before piling in the fresh produce.

Shongweni Farmers’ Market
Country charm in the form of traditional sausages, handcrafted organic cheeses, rustic French staples like terrines and rillettes, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean specialities from baklava to falafel.

Cape Town

Bay Harbour Market, Hout Bay
100-plus food, craft and fashion stalls with live music and draught beers on tap. Ethical shopper tip is that stallholders use biodegradable compostable cutlery and containers, and all market waste is recycled.

Bo-Kaap Market
This community food and craft market offers traditional cakes, biscuits, rotis with curry, samoosas, koeksisters along with hand-crafted items like bags, jewellery and soft furnishings.

City Bowl Market On Hope
Organic fruit and vegetables, good quality bread, free-range eggs and cheese are for sale as well as meals like Malay curries, sushi, oysters, paella and salads.

Country Craft Market
This outdoor market offers a variety of stalls filled with countless crafts, a braai area and tea garden.

Earth Fair Food Market
Socialise and shop while the kids play. Popular items include stone-ground flour bread, free-range meats, hand-crafted farm cheese and fresh seafood, with beer on tap and organic wine.

Market at the Palms
The market offers a variety of fresh oysters, mussels and fish, and prime meat cuts as well as designer teas, figs, homemade pies, ginger beer, pancakes, gourmet sandwiches and Lemberg Estate wines and beers.

Neighbourgoods Market
Highlights include Honest Raw Chocolate, fresh oysters, cuisine from every corner of the earth, microbrewed beer and macaroons. Get there early to find a spot at the communal tables.

Porter Estate Produce Market
The setting under the trees in Tokai Forest is big drawcard for this family-oriented outdoor market which sells farm-style goods, fresh goods, local cheeses and honey and pantry goods.

Rondebosch Village Market
This is a very small community market specialising in organic and biodynamic fresh produce such as fruit, vegetables and gluten-free baked goods.

V&A Market On The Wharf
This fresh food and produce market is open five days a week.

Winelands

Durbanville Craft Market
This once-a-month craft fair is held under the oaks in the picturesque gardens of the Rust en Vrede Estate in Durbanville.

Franschhoek Village Market
The area’s producers gather under the trees to sell fresh fruit and vegetables, olives and Seville orange marmalade.

Laborie Lazy Days Market
Amongst the vineyards you can buy everything from home-blended braai salts to shiitake mushrooms. Inside the cellar you’ll find breakfast pies, shwarmas, samoosas, droëwors and Belgian waffles.

Moddergat Organic Market
Set aside a weekly trip to this market for organic vegetables, fruit and other prepared foods. Fruit and vegetables are grown on the farm so you will be getting some of the freshest products around.

Root 44 – Audacia Market
Enjoy entertainment for young and old, as well as food to take home or to eat on the lawns under the trees. Shop for unusual knick-knacks, arts, crafts and gifts.

Stellenbosch Slowmarket
Shop for all things artisanal – from magnificent bread to micro-brewed beer, organic vegetables to charcuterie and sweets to herbs.

Willowbridge Slow Market
This established ethical market located on the outside terrace of the shopping mall features sourdough bread, organic coffee, artisan charcuterie, free-range Karoo meat, farm eggs, handcrafted cheeses and plenty of patisserie-style baked goods.

Garden Route

Harvest Time Saturday Market
Snap up beautiful organic produce, baked goods, fresh local flowers and fruit

Outeniqua Farmers’ Market
Nearly 140 food and craft stalls offer produce and goods created by local farmers and skilled craft people.

Place De Boschendal
Buy the best seasonal produce – organic whenever possible – along with artisan bread, local cheeses, confections, fine oils, spices and homemade preserves.

Wild Oats Community Farmers’ Market
Music and log tables add to the fun of this award-winning market, which features top food producers of the Garden Route as well as some ethnic food stalls.

Overberg

Greyton Morning Market 
This market is the focal point of social life in Greyton, offering fresh produce, preserves, cakes, local cheeses and pestos, homemade lemon curd as well as a variety of freshly baked breads and pies.

Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market
This carefully curated market offers a sophisticated mix of breads, old-fashioned cakes, herbs and spices, and a range of exquisite cheeses and cured meats. Wine tasting is free of charge.

Stanford Saturday Morning Market
Buy anything from Italian-style cheeses, seasonal fresh vegetables, pâtés and breads to preserves, oils, meat products and free-range eggs.

Karoo

Prince Albert Saturday Market
This is the community meeting ground, where people gather for fresh produce, bacon and egg on sweet pot bread, jaffels with curry mince, herbs in punnets and homemade jams.

Swartland

Short Street Food & Wine Market
Look out for cured olives, charcuterie, home-bakes and cheese from the region.

The Riebeek West Funky Fresh Market
Shop for toys, collectibles, home-made treats, breakfasts and beverages.

Eastern Cape

Grahamstown Farmers Market
Local growers sell their produce, as well as fresh baked goods, jams and preserves, potted herbs and indigenous flowers and shrubs, and a range of attractive handcrafts.

Hogsback Farmers’ Market
Locals gather with their wares such as artisan breads, dairy products, home-grown produce and some vegetarian pre-cooked meals.

Lady Slipper Farm Market
This family-friendly market offers all the old-fashioned South African favourites: a braai stall, pancakes, moerkoffie, samoosas, curry and rice, an ice-cream van, sweet treats and baked goods of every kind.

Free State

Boeremark
This 20 year-old market is a must if you like eggs, meat, fruit and vegetables fresh from the farm, as well as fresh flowers, furniture, clothing and jewellery.

By Linda Scarborough