To market, to market

Over the past few years there has been a switch from mall shopping to market shopping. But markets aren't just about shopping - they're also a great way to spend Saturdays or Sundays with family or friends. If you're looking to join the market lovers' club, here's a list of some of the best, writes Pearl Boshomane

 WESTERN CAPE

BAY HARBOUR MARKET, HOUT BAY

Over 100 stalls of food, craft and fashion. All cutlery and containers are biodegradable .

When: Fridays, 5pm to 9pm; Saturdays and Sundays, 9.30am to 4pm

Where: Bay Harbour, 31 Harbour Road, Hout Bay

CITY BOWL MARKET ON HOPE

Preservative-free dried fruit, coffee, marmalade, charcuterie, honey, fashion, jewellery and more. There is also a wine market .

When: Thursdays, 4.30pm to 8.30pm

Where: 14 Hope Street, Gardens, Cape Town

NEIGHBOURGOODS MARKET

The original Neighbourgoods is hipper than its Joburg sibling. Artisan breads, chocolate, poached eggs, macaroons, microbrewed beer and fresh oysters. It has attracted big names like Luke Dale Roberts and Martin Senekal, whose food has done much to entice market-goers.

When: Saturdays, 9am to 2pm

Where: Old Biscuit Mill, Albert Road, Cape Town

KWAZULU-NATAL

DARGLE LOCAL MARKET

I t is filled with fresh local goods . Organic farm products are commonplace .

When: first Sunday of the month, 9am to 11.30am

Where: D20, Dargle Main Road

ESSENWOOD CRAFT MARKET

Primarily a craft market, it's for the whole family.

When: Saturdays, 9am to 2pm

Where: Berea Park, Steven Dlamini Road, Berea

I (HEART) MARKET

One of the most popular markets, it sells homemade crafts.

When: first Saturday of the month, 9am to 2pm

Where: Moses Mabhida Stadium

SHONGWENI FARMERS AND CRAFT MARKETS

Offers products as diverse as bonsai trees, wooden furniture, herbal products and jewellery .

When: Saturdays, 6am to 10.30am

Where: corner Kassier and Alvestone Roads, Assagay

GAUTENG

BLUBIRD WHOLE FOOD MARKET

With the slogan "United flavours of nations", the market sells food and goods from around the world: a Polish patisserie, Bulgarian yoghurt, Italian pestos and pastas, Indian curries and samoosas, and Albanian dairy. They also have great cupcakes, honey, olives and fair trade coffee. The organisers of this market also run the Killarney Wholesome Market, which is on Thursdays from 9am to 3pm at Killarney Mall.

When: Sundays, 9am to 2pm

Where: Blubird Shopping Centre, corner Atholl-Oaklands Road and Fort Street, Atholl

BRYANSTON ORGANIC & NATURAL MARKET

Johannesburg's original outdoor market launched in 1976. It has hand-crafted goods, clothing and art for sale, organic produce as well as a deli. The market features children's activities, exhibitions and live music performances.

When: Thursdays and Saturdays, 9am to 3pm

Where: 40 Culross Road (off Main Road), Bryanston

CONGO CORNER MARKET

Located in the cosmopolitan Yeoville, this market is the perfect place to find authentic African produce. Here you will find vendors from all corners of the continent selling everything, from homemade bread to spices and oils. As a bonus, the prices are generally cheaper than your average market.

When: Mondays to Saturdays, 10am to 4pm

Where: Rockey Street, Yeoville

EAST RAND FOOD MARKET

Focused on homemade, home-grown and handmade products, the market puts consumers in direct contact with producers, making the products cheaper. The owners are planning a big change to the market soon, although they won't reveal what it is.

When: Sundays, 9am to 3pm

Where: corner Ridge and Elizabeth roads, Boksburg

FARMERS' MARKET @ BAMBOO

A great place to find freshly baked bread, cheese and honey, the farmers' market at Bamboo is very much a neighbourhood market. Local residents go there to do their weekly vegetable shopping - it's not hip at all.

When: Saturdays, 8am to 1pm

Where: Bamboo Lifestyle Centre, 53 Rustenburg Road, Melville

FOURWAYS FARMERS MARKET

One of the newest additions to the market world, this outdoor market launched in March. Set in a garden, over 60 vendors sell fresh produce, locally made products, locally designed goods and organic-grown vegetables. There is a picnic area, seating under pine trees and a nursery.

When: Sundays, 9am to 2pm

Where: Longmeadow Farm, corner William Nicol Drive and Monte Casino Boulevard, Fourways

HAZEL FOOD MARKET

This market has a large selection of meat, fresh bread, cheese and fresh produce. Unlike some other markets, the Hazel Food Market has ample space to walk around and there are picnic tables under trees. The food is an assortment of ethnic dishes, such as Indian, Mozambican, Malaysian and Moroccan.

When: Saturdays, 8am to 2pm

Where: Greenlyn Village Centre, Menlo Park, Pretoria

IRENE VILLAGE MARKET

The self-described art market is located on the grounds of the Smuts House Museum. It has stalls selling art and crafts (only originals are sold), curios, antiques, delicacies, clothing and flowers. It has a tea garden and entertainment for the children, and its location - next to the village of Irene and the Hennops River - is beautiful.

When: second and last Saturday of every month, 9am to 2pm

Where: Smuts House Museum, Jan Smuts Avenue, Irene

JOZI FOOD MARKET

An outdoor market that says it can "rival any open-air European market", it has a wide variety of local food artisans. The emphasis is on small local producers, with organic vegetables, homemade soups, gluten-free cakes and a wide variety of coffees available. With tree-lined fields and picnic tables, the market is family and pet friendly.

When: Saturdays, 8.30am to 1pm

Where: Pirates Sports club, 25 Braeside Road, Greenside

MARKET ON MAIN

Located at the popular Arts on Main in the middle of Jozi, this market is hugely popular with the hip crowd. You'll find arty types buying everything from art, sunglasses and jewellery to delicious food (such as paella) and jars of relish. On the first Thursday of every month (besides January) there is a night market from 7pm to 11pm.

When: Sundays, 10am to 3pm

Where: 264 Fox Street, Arts on Main, Johannesburg

MULTIFLORA FLOWER MARKET

Unlike the other markets, Multiflora specialises in flowers, as the name suggests. Whether you're looking for flowers for your home or a professional florist, Multiflora is a good source of fresh flora and accessories.

More than 300million flower stems pass through its doors each year, making it Africa's largest flower market and auction house.

When: weekdays, 7am to 4.30pm and Saturdays, 7am to 2.30pm

Where: 2 Marjorie Street, Multiflora Building, City Deep

NEIGHBOURGOODS MARKET

Despite being only two years old, this is one of Jozi's best-known markets. Neighbourgoods is located in the inner city, Braamfontein. Taking up two floors of a building, the market has everything, from clothing and leather goods to cupcakes, pizza, prego rolls, lemonade, wine and margaritas.

It can get quite packed, so finding a place to sit can be a mission.

When: Saturdays, 9am to 3pm

Where: 73 Juta Street, Braamfontein

PAULSHOF FOOD MARKET

This occasionally themed market prides itself in providing a relaxing time for families, with it promising "fine food in the forest". Enjoy freshly baked breads and buns, cheeses, coffee and delicious cakes in the picnic area, under the trees.

When: Saturdays, 8am to 2pm

Where: 131 Holkham Road, Paulshof, Sandton

PRETORIA BOEREMARK

It's all about the fresh goods, with farmers selling their meat and organically farmed veggies directly to consumers. Find everything from cheese and eggs to breads and meat. There is a large selection of seedlings and flowers, and even boerewors. Producers aren't only from Pretoria. You'll find some from places such as Nelspruit and Tzaneen. There is also the Rietvlei Boeremark in Alberton.

When: Saturdays, 5.30am to 9am

Where: Pioneer Museum, Keuning Street, Silverton

WALKERVILLE FARMERS' MARKET

Farmers from Walkerville and nearby areas supply the freshest fruit and vegetables, herbs, eggs and honey to customers. It's also a great place to find handcrafted products, leather goods, antiques, jewellery and glassware.

When: Saturdays, 9am to 3pm

Where: 112 Main Road, Walkerville

THE WHITE HOUSE MARKET

Enjoy some jazz music played by the resident musicians while shopping for jewellery, homemade wooden toys, paintings and homemade soaps. There is a bar and a tea garden, an ideal place for eating the various foods available, from hamburgers and prego rolls to curries and samoosas.

When: first Saturday of the month, 9.30am to 3pm

Where: 33 Kliprivier Road, Mulbarton