Dubbed the biggest awards show of the year, Kfm 94.5 invited the people of the Cape to vote across 30 categories for the 2022 Best of the Cape Awards. No funny business, just you choosing the Mother City’s finest. And Cape {town} Etc is adding to the gees by proudly supporting each winner.
Stay tuned: over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a full feature story on each of your favourites. All aboard! This is the ‘Best Market’ in the Cape:
The best market winner: Elgin Railway Market
Fresh air, the crunch of a croissant being ripped apart, wafts of freshly brewed coffee and … a thundering whistle from a train? Only at the iconic Elgin Railway Market. You guessed it: it’s in Elgin.
It’s housed in an old apple warehouse that’s been converted into a bustling steampunk, art deco market – crammed with local food and craft vendors, and there’s live music. It’s the gateway to the beautiful Elgin Valley, where views are best enjoyed with friends, family, and something delicious from one of the many stalls.
The original building was built in the 1940s by Italian prisoners of war. Today, it’s a much more joyful place, but respect for the past remains in the restoration of this unique building. The tapered concrete columns and curved box gutters bear testimony to the skill of those bygone craftsmen. It has been extensively renovated into a showpiece well worth a visit.
The Ceres Rail company, with its stable of 80-year-old steam trains, operates a Cape Town to Elgin weekend return trip. Think 160 kilometres (round trip) of blissful scenery. The trains depart on Saturday and Sunday mornings from Cape Town’s Harbour Bridge Platform, close to the Cape Town International Convention Centre. There’s seriously no better way to get to this market.
The train’s arrival is a must-see for children (and adults) as they roar in with thunderous whistling, puffing and hooting. Visitors to the market can greet the train on the station platform or view its arrival from the Market’s leisure deck overlooking the railway platform.
Sweets treats are abundant, including homemade fudge, ice cream, handmade chocolate, and of course, a great selection of cakes and pastries.
The bar serves local wines, beer and cider. There’s also a wine shop that stocks excellent Elgin and Bot River creations. We recommend going for Elgin’s signature craft gins by L-Gin. And if you’re keen for a cuppa, Steam Coffee serves home-ground brews.
A variety of retail offerings can be found on the mezzanine and ground floors with stunning jewellery, genuine leather goods, wooden glasses and watches, vellies in abundance, CBD oils and edibles, Himalayan salts and lamps, kids toys and clothes, ladies apparel and skin care, men’s gifting and grooming, braai tools and equipment. And then a rummage in the salvage shop.
Visiting the Elgin Railway Market is so much more than a pitstop, it’s an unmissable experience.
Elgin Railway Market’s details:
- Website: www.elginrailwaymarket.co.za
- Location: Oak Avenue, Elgin, 7180.
- Train tickets and bookings: www.ceresrail.co.za
- Cost: from R450 (children) | R625 (adults).
The finalists in this category were:
- Elgin Railway Market
- Hermanus Country Market
- Oranjezicht City Farm Market
- Pure Boland Farmers Market in Worcester
- The Market at Camphill Village
The 2021 winner of this category: Hermanus Country Market
Up next:
Tune into Kfm 94.5, visit capetownetc.com, and follow @capetownetc on social media to discover more about your favourite people, places, experiences and more.
Find us:
- Website: capetownetc.com
- Instagram: @capetownetc
- Facebook: @CapeTownEtc
- Twitter: @CapeTownEtc
- TikTok: @capetownetc
- YouTube: Cape {town} Etc
- Sign up for our lekker newsletter
Also read:
Picture: Elgin Railway Market / Instagram
