Scattered around the Cape Peninsula are several weekly markets which make for a great excuse to stop hibernating and get out this winter.  Since my move to Muizenberg, the Blue Bird Garage Food and Goods Market has become a Friday night fixture.  Located across the tracks from the False Bay train station on the Southern Suburbs line, the entrance is tucked away at the back of the Blue Bird Pantry (though this cafe closed later in 2012 to make even more room for the market). The distant sound of live music and glow from the twinkly fairy lights will welcome you inside.

The market is small but in all the right ways.  They've got a variety of food stalls down the left-hand side of the room, several dessert tables to the right, and a few vendors scattered between selling jewelery, books, and clothes.  There's ample seating in the center of the room on simple, picnic style tables.  There is an area for kids to play towards the back, so it's a family friendly market.

Everything I've sampled at this market has left me wanting more. Most dishes range from R15 tasters like dumplings to R55 plates of freshly made pasta, quesadillas, or wraps. For the guys, this makes for a really great (cheap!) date night. My hands-down favorite dessert is the R25 chocolate Guiness cake (it's so good, you won't want to share!)

The Blue Bird Garage was recently featured in this article, A musician’s guide to Cape Town’s indie-folk scene, and runs every Friday from 4:00pm to 10:00pm.