In a city crawling with bohemians, beatniks and hipsters, it’s no surprise that vintage furniture shopping is a big thing in Cape Town. But the appeal is not only about expressing your Scandi-modernist cool or gilt-edged theatrical flair. You can also save many thousands of rands—and give yourself a lot of simple joy—by buying a beautiful, restored vintage chair table or lamp. It could last you another fifty years, and cost you less than a new Coricraft armchair.
The city’s second-hand furniture stores are dotted all over the peninsula with no dedicated vintage strips. The bigger stores are often located in industrial areas near the City Bowl, such as Paarden Eiland or Milnerton. In any of the burbs and coastal villages stretching down to Simon's Town, you may also come across a room full of treasure.
Here is a selection of the Cape’s finest antique and second-hand furniture dealers to shop at for those hidden gems to style your home.
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If you’re looking for solid, functional furniture at decent prices—for both home or office—then 2nd Hand Warehouse offers a comprehensive trove of options, ranging from rough and ready bargains to upscale items. Vintage fiends won’t find much to make their hearts race, but the huge range caters to anyone who needs to fit out an unpretentious space at the best price.
In the placid seaside town of Hout Bay you will find Anything Goes —a suitably relaxed, unpretentious place to trawl for upcycled gems on a lazy afternoon. From garden furniture and pouffes to carved wooden leopards, it’s all there for you to buy at a decent price (the store prides itself on affordable pricing). They will also purchase used furniture, from a Coricraft couch you want to replace to grandma's antique chest of drawers, to various bric-a-brac and appliances.
If you want a proper, old-school antique treasure hunt, then Antiques on Kloof is your place. There's no fancy website, no sleek showroom, and no eye-watering prices—just a delicious jumble of pre-loved antiqueness. The store is alive with beautiful old objects in good or not-so-good condition—perfect for anyone who enjoys repairing, stripping or repainting something old.
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One of the city’s top specialists in used office furniture, 2ndsFurniture carries a variety of functional chairs, desks and workstations, storage units, screens and boardroom tables. Office chairs are serviced and steam-cleaned before display and sale, and everything in the showroom is in working order.
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One of Cape Town’s expert suppliers of refurbished mid-century modern furniture, Klassiek is well worth the outing to the industrial district of Paardeneiland. You can also browse or buy stock online too. Klassiek sources a massive range of Scandinavian and Anglo-Dutch pieces dating from the 1950s and 1960s, plus several older styles—dwarfing the variety and quantity typically found in boutique mid-century showrooms.
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A small but eclectic dealership in the City Bowl district of Gardens, Anouk offers a well-balanced mix of antiques, Art Deco and mid-century modern pieces. Known for stocking meticulously restored quality furniture and a high standard of service, the Avalon team also offer same-day delivery.
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Housed in a grand old school building on the grand old street of Albert Road, Woodstock, Delos is the ideal atmospheric setting for hardcore antique hunting. Specialising in antique lighting, particularly chandeliers, Delos leans into the ornate and extravagant Expect acres of gilt, dark oak and velvet, lots of Louis XV, and a healthy smattering of Art Deco.
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A family-run dealership since 1982, Die Handelshuis in Belville is a paradise for antique hunters, with a regular sideline in vintage cars. If you run out of bargain-hunting gas, the showroom’s cafe serves freshly ground coffee, breakfasts and sandwiches. Perhaps Cape Town’s only shop where you could conceivably pick up a grand piano, a stuffed zebra and a 1926 Dodge Sedan all in one outing.
Once you’ve found the perfect second-hand piece to suit your style and budget, getting it home safely is the next step. With Wise Move, you can quickly compare quotes and book vetted small load furniture removals to get your piece safely to the exact spot where you want it. Whether you're sourcing affordable second-hand pieces to furnish a new home or collecting one-of-a-kind treasures to fill your current home, you have peace of mind knowing your vintage finds are delivered in one piece.
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