1. Festive markets and pop-ups in December 2025
Visit one of Joburg’s many festive markets this season and scoop up one-of-a-kind, locally made treasures for your loved ones. For more markets and other happenings this season, check out our Christmas markets, lights and fairs guide.
Tue, Nov 18 – Tue, Dec 16: Bryanston Moonlight Christmas Market.
Sun, Nov 16 – Sun, Dec 21: Rosebank Sunday Market Festive Edition.
Fri, Dec 5: Prison Break Christmas Market.
Sat, Dec 6 – Sun, Dec 7: Festive Forty Four at 44 Stanley.
Sat, Dec 6 – Sun, Dec 7: Brooklyn and The Firs Antique Fairs.
Sun, Dec 14: Kensington Family Christmas Market.
2. Glorious goods
AUTHENTIC AFRICAN ARTEFACTS
With a showroom in Kramerville, Amatuli Artefacts are long-established suppliers of unique and original African artefacts and objets d’art. This awe-inspiring showroom is filled with collectable items such as central African Kuba cloths, hand-painted West African barbershop signs, Zanzibari doors and Yoruba beaded chairs, among many other items of curiosity.
If it's more proudly African-made trinkets and collectables you're after, then head to Victoria Yards, where you'll find Art of the Continent, a store filled with accessories and home décor from across Africa, primarily from West Africa. The beaded figurines, Malian mud-cloth cushions, and colourful, hand-woven baskets make great housewarming gifts.
Or make your way to Melville and visit The Trov, a home for the sale of authentic African art and artefacts; From Tuareg curtains to wooden Mokoro boats and beaded sculptures, there’s plenty to love here.
CONTEMPORARY HAND MADE CERAMICS
At Sue Weston's Storm in a Teacup store at 44 Stanley, every item is handmade in South Africa or Eswatini and exquisitely crafted.
Danish-trained ceramist Kim Sacks stocks desirable ceramic pieces in her eponymous gallery in Parkwood. Here you'll also find baskets, wood carvings, textiles, and beadwork (look out specifically for the irresistible Marigold Beads) – and all manner of other items from tribal art to contemporary, museum-quality handmade objects that span rural and urban makers.
If you're shopping online, Actually Ashleigh takes blank ceramic pieces and transforms them into functional art with colourful and contemporary designs.
A BOUNTIFUL BOUQUET
If you don't have a green thumb to speak of, we suggest going all out on flowers, always a welcome gift for any occasion. Florist to the stars Johannes van Greunen's Hyde Park Corner florist Botanicus is a great place to pick up statement bouquets that won't be mistaken for something picked up at the corner store on the way home.
Petal & Post is an independent e-commerce florist based at 44 Stanley, whose arrangements arrive beautifully wrapped and can be ordered online for same-day delivery. You can also buy special Petal & Post gift packages through the online store, which include flowers and other items like handmade soaps and luxurious sweet treats.
3. Fashion, beauty, and accessories
44 STANLEY
At the 44 Stanley precinct, you’ll find a hand picked mix of fashion and accessories perfect for that special gift. Conceptual design and fashion store Guillotine by Lisa Jaffe is one of our favourite places for timeless, chic fashion inspiration. With a longstanding flagship store at 44 Stanley and an online retail site, Guillotine sells its own range of limited-edition women's fashion collections. Mungo Designs stands out with its range of handcrafted natural-fibre textiles, from cosy blankets to flat-weave towels. Sealand has eco-friendly apparel and gear, including bamboo socks, bags, and recycled T-shirts, all perfect for exploring the great outdoors. Ya-de brings bold African prints from Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana, and Me&B rounds things off with colourful, size-inclusive clothing (sizes 32–46) in versatile, playful silhouettes.
BOYS OF SOWETO
Founded by Vusumuzi “Bob” Ndima, Boys of Soweto fuses vintage township style with contemporary luxury, earning global acclaim and GQ features. Known for their bold monograms, elevated streetwear, and sharp tailoring, you will be spoilt for choice at their flagship store in Braamfontein.
ALOVESUPREME
Proudly local, ALoveSupreme’s aprons, tablecloths, and tea towels, available at Tapenade and Friends in Rand Steam Shopping Centre, add a quirky yet stylish touch to everyday cooking and hosting. Functional yet fun, the range turns any kitchen into a feel-good space, making you the most stylish cook around town.
223 JAN SMUTS CREATIVE HUB
If homeware is your gifting love language, make your way to 223 Jan Smuts Creative Hub, a creative hub packed with beautifully crafted local designs (and some seriously standout galleries). Start at Something Good Studio, where artist-designed blankets feature illustrations and sketches by talented South African creators, ideal for anyone who appreciates cosy, functional art. You’ll also find Romaria, the elegant knitwear label by Something Good Studio founders Carla Pinto and Zydia Botes, offering timeless pieces with a contemporary twist. And for design lovers with a minimalist streak, the hub hosts Africa’s largest Magicode showroom, showcasing modular Swiss USM furniture: clean lines, clever configurations, and endlessly customisable style.
AFRICARISE
A must-visit store for contemporary African fashion, AfricaRise in Sandton City showcases an exciting array of top African fashion brands whose labels aren't usually found in high street malls. Each designer has been given space within the store to represent the unique aesthetics of their brand, creating a colourful and inviting shopping experience. There's an amazing collection of items on sale for him and her, ranging from jewellery and accessories to suits and evening wear.
LOVE JOZI
Love Jozi, the innovative South African T-shirt and design company, mixes urban fashion with social consciousness and humour, finding design inspiration in optimism about the city we call home. Take Joburg with you on your beach holiday with the summer range of city-inspired beach towels donning happy colours and peachy designs, reminiscent of old-school summer holidays in South Africa. We love their latest range "Made in Joburg, China!" totes, and the "mapkins" (napkins featuring Joburg maps) always go down a treat. As well as their iconic Joburg T-shirts, Love Jozi also produces greeting cards, candles, mugs, key racks, bookends, and posters, all emblazoned with graphic designs that reference the city's streets, neighbourhoods, skyline, and other familiar Joburg iconography.
EGG BEAUTY
Lovers of local beauty products can get their fix at EGG Beauty, a sub-brand of WE ARE EGG, at The Zone @ Rosebank. Your go-to for homegrown skincare, makeup, and wellness faves like Standard Beauty, Swiitch Beauty, Lelive, and many more.
ARTCLUB AND FRIENDS
Cape Town’s coolest artist-led fashion label, Artclub and Friends brings its effortlessly chic unisex style to Joburg with a dedicated store at Nine Yards in Parktown North. Find casual wear designed to flatter all ages, body types, and genders in a calm, curated palette of blues, whites, greys, and blacks.
4. Art and music
For the music lovers in your life, gift them the vinyl they’ve been longing for or surprise them with a classic from their favourite artist. Great places to hunt include Mr Vinyl at 44 Stanley, Record Mad in Linden, and Bantu Records in Parktown North, which has an excellent selection of African and diaspora artists. Also check the treasure-filled crates at the Rosebank Sunday Market for surprise bargains.
5. Food and drink
Photo: Bean There Coffee.
If spirits are more your style, Joburg’s craft gin makers deliver with flavour and flair: try Time Anchor’s colour-changing Mirari gins or Primal Spirits’ elegant taster boxes from Victoria Yards.
Photo: Wedgewood via Instagram.
If you’re gifting for food lovers this festive season, start with Wedgewood in Parkhurst, where luxurious, powder-pink charm meets handcrafted indulgence. The signature nougat and artisanal treats come beautifully bundled in ready-made hampers, but the real magic lies in designing your own – box, ribbon, wrapping paper, and locally sourced goodies included.
For something fresh (literally), pop into Garden Fresh in Parktown North, a beautifully designed haven of top-quality produce, flowers, and pantry gems, complete with a juice and salad bar for a healthy pick-me-up while you shop.
And of course, no holiday haul is complete without a stop at Woolworths, where seasonal treats and perfectly curated hampers remain undefeated crowd-pleasers.
6. Joburg tours and experiences
Joburg is packed with fascinating things to see and do, and one of the best ways to experience it is with a local guide. Gift a walking tour, cycling or skateboarding adventure, or an immersive storytelling experience – a unique present that also supports a Joburg business.
City Skate Tours, founded by Joburg locals Ayanda Mnyandu and Daniel Monegi, started as two friends showing their crew around town on skateboards, and has since grown into a full-blown, seriously cool way to explore the inner city.
We’ve also long admired Thabo Modise of Toura Travel Therapy, whose gallery-hopping experiences in Rosebank or Soweto make art feel inviting rather than intimidating. If you enjoy cycling, consider one of MicroAdventures' graffiti cycle tours, or book a Soweto cycling experience with the excellent Lebo's Soweto Bicycle Tours.
Another favourite is the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, an advocacy organisation that lobbies for the protection of Joburg’s historical buildings and runs a diverse range of walking and bus tours, led by local heritage specialists, that focus on the city’s history and architecture. The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation offers an annual membership package that provides preferential rates on all tours, as well as invites to exclusive events. Booking a tour or buying a membership makes for a special gift; look out for discounted membership rates, offered during the festive season. Read here for more on the best Joburg tours and experiences.
Comments