We spent another fabulous morning at the Neighbourgoods Market last Saturday. What a pleasure! Cape Town’s original gourmet market, now in its third year, is already a local institution and well worth a visit. For local Capetonians and visitors alike, it has become a very pleasant Saturday morning experience: where one can sample fine food, coffee, beer, smoothies and wine from many local purveyors. And because it is so easy to browse around, find a place to sit and enjoy the vibe, breakfast often turns into lunch! Plus one can easily leave with a bag full of various fresh items to cook for dinner and other meals for the rest of the week.

The offerings are incredibly diverse, which makes it a pleasure, compared to restaurant eating and shopping malls. Similar type markets have sprung up all over South Africa in the last couple of years and gained huge popularity. It seems to be one of those classic full circle phenomenons: due to the frenetic pace of city life in the modern world, people are going back to the market shopping experience, buying direct from the maker of the product, taking time to talk to them (and each other) rather than do the fast food/supermarket/bulk buying thing. There is a feel good factor too big to deny in this format of old world village market: it just feels right.

And this particular one has so much to choose from: a good old school hot dog or steak roll, a poached egg and salmon/bacon on a potato rosti topped with hollandaise sauce and herbs, homemade cider or ginger beer, falafel, italian thin crust pizzas, melt-in-your-mouth-belgian style waffles with fruit and cream, fresh west coast oysters, tuna sashimi and the list goes on.

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And you might well have heard some negative comments at times but give it a whirl and see for yourself. Yes, the parking is not perfect and you might have to walk a bit to get there: good exercise. Yes, it is crowded and a bit crammed at times: go early, enjoy the space, get a seat and once the crowds arrive you will be mellow already and thinking about your next snack.

Other reasons to go: there is a whole wing of design goods where one can buy anything from jewellery to clothes, fabric, furniture, kids clothing and toys, and and. Set in the Old Biscuit Mill precinct on lower main road Woodstock, this has become a true icon shopping and eating experience. Get there soon. The Market is open on Saturdays only, from 9am to 2pm, at The Old Biscuit Mill, 373-375 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa. See: www.neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za