Thing to do
Namibia Craft Centre
Around 40 small craft shops in Windhoek's yellow Old Breweries building, selling mostly Namibian-made baskets, leatherwork, jewellery, textiles and carvings since 1990.
Single Quarters Market
Katutura's open-air kapana market, where vendors grill marinated beef over charcoal and sell it with fat cakes and spicy tomato sauce from late afternoon.
At a glance
- Type
- Street food market
- Area
- Katutura, Windhoek, Namibia
Good to know
- Kapana grills
- Evening atmosphere
Why we recommend it
Single Quarters is where much of Windhoek goes to eat kapana, the grilled street meat that is one of Namibia's best-loved foods. The market is in Katutura, the township created by the forced removals of the late 1950s and 1960s, and it takes its name from the hostels for single male contract workers that once stood here. The Oshetu Community Market was built on the site of the former Single Quarters in 2004, and the kapana stands around it have been a landmark since the 1980s.
The routine at each stand is simple. Vendors cook beef offcuts, kept marinating in a bucket beside them, on wire-mesh grills set over charcoal on bricks. You choose your pieces at the grill and eat them with the spicy tomato sauce that vendors keep on hand, usually standing or perched on a bench nearby. Fat cakes, a kind of fried dough, are the usual side, and soft drinks are sold nearby. Mopane worms are also available if you want to try something more unusual. Stands are run independently, so it is worth wandering and choosing the one that looks busiest.
According to The Namibian, the area usually comes alive around 17:00 and is in full swing by about 19:30, with mechanics, lawyers, students and taxi drivers sharing the same benches. There is no dress code and no waiter service, and prices are low. The atmosphere is informal and friendly, with plenty of teasing between regulars and vendors.
For a first visit, going with a local guide or a city and township tour is the sensible choice. A guide will help you order, explain the dishes and make sure you get there and back easily, as you will need a taxi or tour transport from the centre. Carry small notes, keep valuables out of sight and go in the early evening rather than late at night. Hand sanitiser or wet wipes are useful, since you eat with your fingers.
Allow an hour or so. Combine it with a visit to the Penduka craft project near Goreangab Dam or a broader Katutura tour to see more of the township.
Single Quarters Market FAQs
What is kapana?
Grilled, marinated beef cut into small pieces and eaten with spice or tomato sauce, a favourite Namibian street food.
Where is Single Quarters?
In Katutura, north-west of central Windhoek, near the Oshetu Community Market.
When is the best time to go?
Early evening. The Namibian reports it comes alive around 17:00 and is in full swing by about 19:30.
What else is sold besides kapana?
Fat cakes, soft drinks and, for the adventurous, mopane worms.
Is there a dress code?
No. It is an informal open-air market with no waiter service.
Should I go with a guide?
For a first visit it is a good idea, both for ordering and for transport to and from the township.
Is it expensive?
No. It is one of the cheapest ways to eat well in Windhoek; bring small notes.
What does the name refer to?
The former hostels for single male contract workers that once stood on the site.