Despite only being open for less than three months, the much anticipated Nicolway shopping centre in Bryanston is already a firm favourite with the suburb’s well-heeled residents.
Located at the corner of William Nicol Drive and Wedgewood Link, Nicolway offers a healthy mix of stores (86 to be exact) contained within chic architectural surrounds. Think glass ceilings and walls, stylish tiles and fittings, wood-like floors, uncluttered passages and stone feature walls. The natural light and neutral tones combine to create an inviting, calming space within which shoppers can browse and dine to their hearts content.
In addition to ‘standard’ shops such as Dischem, Cape Union Mart, a large, eco-friendly Woolworths, Naartjie Kids, Incredible Connection, Exclusive Books, Big Blue, Vodacom, PNA and Checkers, Nicolway plays host to a bevy of not-so-common boutique shops.
Unsurprisingly, fashion outlets feature strongly. ‘Stolen Muse’ features unique, upmarket outfits as well as the celebrity eco-friendly jewellery brand, ‘Bijules’. ‘Queue’ stocks a comprehensive collection of shoe and handbag brands including Errol Arendz, Daniella Michelle and Zoom. Other stores worth mentioning include Loumod, Caprice, NY Junction, Sowearto, Superdry, S.W.E.A.T 1000 and Hydraulics.
Of course no clothes shopping spree would be complete without purchasing a few accessories or jewellery. Nicolway’s Chrystal Soul, Lovisa, Frankie and Delilah, Bryanston Jewellers- which specialises in high end brands- and Cabouchon cater to shoppers’ need for bling.
Food Lovers Market
A collection of pampering and treatment stores have taken up residence at Nicolway. Product shops in this vein include the Beauty Factory, The Body Shop and Red Square. Those in need of indulging can check into Sorbet, Body Sense Boutique, Pureskin, or Jeauval. Men can also spruce up their appearance at Legent’s Grooming Lounge and Goodfella’s Barber. For a really special hair dressing experience, look no further than GHD Designs Hair Studio which offers head massages, a choice of coffee, wine or champagne and designer cupcakes while you have your locks trimmed.
There’s no shortage of home décor shops at Nicolway. Tried and trusted brands include Loads of Living, @home, Le Crueset and Rugs Original. MBW Art offers framing and art; Pimlico sells beautiful wooden furniture, old-fashioned travel trunks, antiques, lanterns and gifts and luxurious English décor can be found at Phil O’ Mahony Interiors. Nap Living stocks an eclectic collection of clothes, candles, doorknobs and vases; Li’vin serves coffee from its own coffee bar while you browse shelves of enamelled retro products and ‘eco bowls’ and Simply French offers a plethora of French soaps, candles, white and blue accessories and wooden cheeseboards.
Fabulous as all these stores are, two shops really caught my eye, specifically, ‘Melt Chocolates’ and ‘Oil & Vinegar’. In addition to offering a wide range of decadent chocolates which are made in full sight of passing crowds, Melt sells a selection of glass dome covered cakes and treats which can be enjoyed at their mismatched tables. Lemon cheesecake, ‘squishy’ chocolate syrup cake, carrot cake, chocolate brownies, red velvet cake and ‘jewellette’ (white chocolate with cherries, ginger, apricot and pistachio) are but a few of the nibbles which can be sampled on any given day here.
Oil & Vinegar offers a comprehensive range of imported and local ‘on tap’ oils and vinegars (flavours include pomegranate, sherry and strawberry amongst others), mustards, sauces, salad dressings, olives, grilled vegetables, honeys, jams, spreads and dried herb mixes as well as a variety of flavoured pastas. I was particularly intrigued by the ‘Marc de Champagne’ dressing and loved the dried Italian herb mix. Appetites suitably tantalised, shoppers can make their way to Nicolway’s string of upmarket pavement-style restaurants which include Café Fego, Red Rabbit, Fishmonger, Tasha’s, Col’ Cacchio, Turn ‘n Tender and Liquorish. The resident Food Lover’s Market packed is also packed with gourmet food and offers meals on the go.
In my opinion, Nicolway is going the right way about things. The centre isn’t overwhelmingly large, it offers a pleasing mix of shops, has incorporated natural elements and makes shoppers feel welcome and comfortable. I for one will definitely be going back.