Late Night Thrift is going Bold and Beautiful in Obs on 6 August, and Lower Main Road will be marking the end of winter in style with loud colours, bold prints, sparkles and sequins and a little extra shine in honour of Women’s Month. Shops on the Thrift Trail will be spilling out onto the pavement, and in addition to rails and rails of great secondhand and sustainable fashion, there’ll be buskers, food trucks, and plenty to catch the eye.
A laidback alternative to First Thursdays in the Cape Town CBD, Late Night Thrift sees Observatory hosting a neighbourly after-hours celebration. By bringing together thrift stores, creative spaces, and social venues, it captures what makes Obs distinct: its sense of community, its alternative edge, and its love for the pre-loved and the quirky.
Our advice: shop first, while the rails are full and the night is young, then settle in somewhere for a drink or a bite once you’ve had your fill of the finds. Whether you leave with a new statement piece or simply a good evening, the circuit is there to move through at your own pace, one rack and one stop at a time.
Main Thrift Trail (Trill Rd to Bowden)
THRIFT UP LIFT UP (TULU)
89 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 20% off all winter jackets
REVIVAL
79 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 20% to 30% discount on all (faux) furs and velvet items
GRACIOUS DAISY
77 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 10% off clothing and shoes
REVOLUTION RECORDS
73 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: Happy Hour Special with 10% off all music in the store between 6pm and 9pm.
MAIDS OF HONOUR
62a Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 10% student discount and R40 rail
BANGBANG APPAREL
65 Lower Main Road, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 10%, 20% and 30% off on items throughout the store.
WOODSTOCK BREWERY FOOD TRUCK
Opposite Bangbang Apparel, cnr Lower Main & Norwich Ave
Late Night Thrift offering: Tasty, juicy burgers and crisp fries for thrifters in a rush
GRAND FUNK
62b Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: Boho-leaning vintage with a groovy, free-spirited character
VOOM VOOM TOO
61 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 50% discount on selected items
THRIFTY DAISY
44 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 10% off clothing and shoes
Lower Thrift Trail (Bowden Rd to Norfolk Rd)
GREEN DELI
29 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: food truck
NEVERNEW
15b Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 20% off selected clothing. 10% off sterling silver jewellery
VOOM VOOM VINTAGE & RECORDS
15 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 50% off selected items
Bar Trail (Trill Rd to Station Rd)
OBS LIQUORS
cnr Trill & Lower Main Rds, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: pop up thrift
OBZ BOOKS
76 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: 25% off books by women authors
DUCHESS LOUNGE
123 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: Pop up thrift, karaoke and happy hour cocktails
OBZ CAFE
115 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: Pop up thrift, art exhibition and live music
HONEYBUN
107 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: Pop up thrift rails
Middle Thrift Trail (cnr Milton Rd & Lower Main Rd)
ONCE AGAIN AT WENDY’S
128 Lower Main Rd, Observatory (end of Milton Rd)
Late Night Thrift offering: The OG of thrift in Obs. A small vintage shop with an on-site tailor.
GROUND ZERO
122b Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: Specials on 2 x burgers and chips, plus spot prizes through the evening
FERDINANDO’S PIZZA
205 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: Drumming Circle demo outside (TBC)
Downtown Obs (Scott Rd to Rochester Rd)
GROUND CULTURE
170 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering:‘Sandbox Session’, a curated open mic night with KG
NEVER ON A SUNDAY
186 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: R20 rail and R50 rail
HUNDRED PERCENT CAFE
287 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: Live band, home-cooked food, happy hour on selected drinks, vintage rail
VOLKS
170 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: Juicy burgers, vinyl DJ.
SPINAL TAP
285 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: R50 for two Tequila shots. Open mic night.
YBMV
285B Lower Main Rd, Observatory
Late Night Thrift offering: SALE!!! Nine rails of items at R100 each / five for R400 / 10 at R700
Suggested parking for Late Night Thrift:
– KFC / McDonalds car parks in Norfolk Rd (to start shopping at Nevernew and work your way along the trail)
– Spar car park in Nuttall Rd (for the main drag between Bowden Rd & Station Rd)
– Milton Rd (for Ferdinando’s Pizza and Once Again @ Wendy’s then work your way to the main hub)
– Scott Rd (for YBMV, Spinal Tap Bar, My Laundry Lounge, Hundred Percent Cafe, Ground Culture & Never on a Sunday)
Keep up to date with all the best things to do and see in Observatory
Model for featured image: Xolisa Nyakati – shop assistant at Thrift Up Lift Up (TULU)
With thanks to Thrift Up Lift Up for the location, clothes and accessories.
