The 9 Best Shops in Pretoria

Pretoria’s original hobby emporium, which was established over 70 years ago, is a paradise for model-makers, RC racers and board-game geeks alike. Jix Hobbies’ shelves are packed to the rafters with everything from intricate plastic model kits and model trains to the latest Warhammer minis and puzzles galore.

The atmosphere is part old-school toy store, part community clubhouse – staff happily chat about the finer points of airbrushing techniques or demo a new remote-controlled 4x4. Regulars (some three generations deep) drop in for weekly painting workshops or tabletop gaming tournaments in-store. Whether you’re a seasoned hobbyist or just browsing with the kids, this Menlyn institution’s mix of nostalgia and nerdy excitement is utterly infectious.
 
Menlyn Retail Park, 150 Lois Ave, Menlyn, Pretoria

A stalwart of South African style, Nicci has been dressing Pretoria’s fashionistas for over 25 years. Its Menlyn Park outpost (set in the glossy new Menlyn Maine precinct) lives up to the brand’s chic reputation.

For the fashionistas who don’t do fast fashion. Nicci Boutique has built a loyal following. It leans towards polished, contemporary womenswear. If you were to imagine it, you’d want to think along the lines of European-inspired silhouettes, bold prints and sharp tailoring.

Gleaming glass windows reveal mannequins clad in the latest season’s trends – from elegant day dresses to evening wear that pops. Expect a mix of Nicci’s own label pieces which are produced locally and sustainably, alongside some other curated on-trend finds, many of which are imported from Europe. Add to that their shoe collection and a wall of accessories, and it’s easy to see how Nicci Boutiques’ journey has evolved from a single Joburg store to 19 boutiques nationwide

Shop 59, 180 Amarand Ave, Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria, 0181

On the first Saturday of each month, Brooklyn Mall’s parking lot transforms into a retro treasure trove. The Vintage Square Thrift Fair has become Pretoria’s go-to event for sustainable fashion hunters – essentially an open-air pop-up shop where every rack holds a potential gem.

Forget digging through mothballed piles of faded clothes. For serious thrifters, the Vintage Square Thrift Fair takes out loads of the hassle. Rather than scouring through boxes yourself, it curates the best of Pretoria’s retro treasures into a monthly market at Brooklyn Mall. Expect rails covering everything from pre-loved denim to leather boots to dainty 70s dresses, as well as some designer labels and hidden gems made of fabric like silk and cashmere, the selection is varied, eclectic and easy on the wallet too.

If you want to score the best bargains, it pays to arrive early. The fair runs from 9am–3pm, so grab a coffee and settle in for a morning of vintage shopping. There’s something quite thrilling about the prefect thrifted find, as the regulars here will attest to.

Level 3 Parking, Brooklyn Mall (Entrance 2 on Veale St), New Muckleneuk, Pretoria

Part wine bar, part deli and part boutique liquor emporium, Vee and Forti is a slice of la dolce vita in Pretoria’s eastern suburbs. Run by the Mazzone family (yes, Forti of Pretoria fine-dining fame), this Lynnwood gem invites you to browse over 1,100 different wines – from rare Cape “unicorn” vintages to everyday Chenin – all sold at shelf price. Pick a bottle and settle in at a bistro table; for a token corkage you can sip it right there, paired with an antipasti platter of imported Italian salami, prosciutto and creamy local mozzarella.

Daytimes see a steady stream of regulars grabbing barista coffees and fresh ciabattas from the deli counter, while Thursday night wine club tastings turn the venue into a convivial vino haven. With knowledgeable, unpretentious staff to guide and a cozy, wood-accented interior, Vee and Forti hits the sweet spot between upmarket and welcoming – perfect for Pretoria oenophiles and cheese lovers in the know.

Lynnwood Rd & Daventry St, Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria

Big Blue is the go-to spot for proudly South African fashion and quirky gifts – a colourful boutique where humor and heritage collide. The Menlyn Park branch buzzes with funky local energy: racks of graphic T-shirts sporting cheeky Afrikaans one-liners and Joburg skyline prints sit alongside retro-inspired dresses in shweshwe fabrics.

Tongue-in-cheek coffee mugs, vintage signage and novelty books make it a brilliant browsing experience (you’ll chuckle at the irreverent slogan socks and politically playful aprons). Big Blue champions local designers, so quality is high and the vibe is unapologetically “local is lekker”. You won’t leave empty-handed or without a smile.

Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, Pretoria

Sometimes, nothing beats getting lost in a good bookstore. Exclusive Books Brooklyn Mall has long been a cornerstone of Pretoria’s literary scene and offers exactly that refuge for bookworms amid the mall’s bustle. Let your partner, kids, or parents go shopping while you order a cappuccino from the in-house Seattle and melt into a comfy armchair to spend an hour or two paging through the latest bestseller.

The selection is as broad as it gets: glossy new releases and international bestsellers greet you up front, while deeper in you’ll find aisles devoted to Africana history, travel guides, children’s books and more.

Just beware: it’s the kind of place you wander into "for five minutes" and end up losing an hour.

Brooklyn Mall, Cnr Veale & Fehrsen Streets, Pretoria

If interior decor lovers could design their very own heaven, it might look something like the new @home superstore in Menlyn Park. IKEA can eat its heart out, because this sprawling homeware emporium offers “a homeware shopping experience like no other” - and that’s not just a tagline.

Contemporary kitchenware gleams on one side, while bookshelves, wall art and plush couches tempt from another. It’s all designed to inspire; you’ll find yourself mentally redecorating your home every five minutes.

Regular customers love the seasonal trends and the fact that it’s local. @home is a South African brand, so the in-house items come with a touch lekker Saffa style. But the store also stocks items from big international brands (why hello there, SMEG) and local icons too.

Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, Cnr Atterbury Rd & Lois Ave, Menlyn, Pretoria

Just up the road from the University of Pretoria, Protea Bookshop Hatfield is an oasis for serious book lovers and curious minds alike. Protea is part of a respected local bookseller-publisher network known for catering to niche tastes. Its Hatfield shop may be unassuming in size, but it’s jam-packed with knowledge: Africana and academic texts, school and varsity textbooks, novels in both English and Afrikaans, even theological works – you name it, they’ll have it.

The atmosphere is scholarly, rather than ‘casual reader’ - almost as if you were in an old-school library. The staff are famously knowledgeable (and often multilingual); they can locate obscure titles quicker than any algorithm and will gladly order anything not in stock. It’s a must-visit for anyone who believes no Kindle can replace a good old bookstore.

1067 Burnett St, Hatfield, Pretoria

Part plant nursery, part secret garden, Gariep Nursery is a little slice of Eden for Pretoria’s green thumbs. Specialising in succulents and indigenous flora, this Faerie Glen spot is a plant-lover’s dream. Stroll through and you’ll see why enthusiasts swoon: neat rows of spiral aloes, spiky Madagascan plants and countless fat little succulents in terracotta pots. In fact, it was one of the first nurseries in South Africa to cultivate the Pachypodium namaquanum, better known as the halfmens – an otherworldly, rare succulent.

As you’d expect from a niche outlet like this, the staff are passionate, hugely knowledgeable and happy to geek out about gardening and succulents with you. It’s wonderfully peaceful too and feels more like a curated botanical garden than a commercial outlet.

309 Cliffendale Dr, Faerie Glen, Pretoria, 0081