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Cape Town Tour: Food, Art & Thrift Adventure
4.9
19 Ratings
Cape Town
Discover the vibrant neighborhoods of Salt River and Observatory in Cape Town on a walking tour. Indulge in African food, admire street art, and explore unique thrift stores.
Discover the vibrant neighborhoods of Salt River and Observatory in Cape Town on a walking tour. Indulge in African food, admire street art, and explore unique thrift stores.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Cape Town - This journey starts with a leisurely walk through the vibrant streets of Salt River, where participants will shop for ingredients at local establishments. The group will then proceed to the home for the cooking class. The meeting point is Fargo Trading, one of Cape Town’s oldest and most underrated spice shops, setting the perfect tone…
- Cape Town - This journey starts with a leisurely walk through the vibrant streets of Salt River, where participants will shop for ingredients at local establishments. The group will then proceed to the home for the cooking class. The meeting point is Fargo Trading, one of Cape Town’s oldest and most underrated spice shops, setting the perfect tone for this genuine Cape Malay/Creole culinary experience.
- Cape Town - After visiting one of Cape Town’s most iconic spice shops, the group will continue gathering ingredients for the meal while enjoying a relaxed walk through Salt River. Along the way, they will admire striking street art created by the Salt River Heritage Society and the International Public Art Festival. Participants will also learn about African immigrant communities who operate local grocery shops, as well as Cape Malay/Creole food vendors. The walk concludes at the home, where everyone will cook and dine together.
- Cape Town - Participants will have the opportunity to cook and enjoy an authentic three-course Cape Malay/Creole meal. They will experience true ‘Kaapse Kos’ while learning about its rich history and heritage, and connect with local home cooks renowned in their communities for their exceptional cooking and baking.
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Lunch
- Tea and coffee
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Lunch
- Tea and coffee
Additional Information
Honored with a Silver award at WTM Africa by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism for Cultural Diversity, this interactive cooking experience provides an insightful introduction to Cape Town’s Cape Malay culinary traditions. Participants can enjoy a walk through Salt River to gather ingredients and interact with the community, followed by…
Honored with a Silver award at WTM Africa by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism for Cultural Diversity, this interactive cooking experience provides an insightful introduction to Cape Town’s Cape Malay culinary traditions. Participants can enjoy a walk through Salt River to gather ingredients and interact with the community, followed by the preparation of a traditional Cape Malay dish. No previous cooking skills are necessary, just a passion for food and culture.
Participants are guided through essential aspects of the cooking process while discovering the historical influences that have shaped this cuisine. Throughout the experience, the socio-cultural identity of the Cape Muslim community is explored.
This experience is adaptable and participatory, allowing guests to engage at their own pace, and fosters a genuine connection through food, stories, and shared moments in a local setting with local home cooks.
- the remaining time will be for the transfer for each attractions
Location
Old Biscuit Mill
Albert Road
Please meet us right in front of the entrance of THE OLD BISCUIT MILL at 375 Albert Road, We'll start by shopping for spices together before heading to the house for the cooking class."
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(19 Ratings)
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W9711ezkristinh
Feb 2, 2026
Unique experience, highly recommend! - Loved this experience! Great way to see some local culture and learn to cook some devine cuisine. My guide(s) were as lovely as they were great teachers; as well as gracious and thoughtful in every detail. Very highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Martinclem
Jan 27, 2026
Much more exciting than expected and a great intro to South African culture . For South Africans too ! - This is an exciting and informative experience. You are with people who have deep understanding having lived in the neighbourhoods we walked. It great to see life through their eyes as well as visit a host of shops all operated by small businesses. A great highlight is learning how to cook and then also sitting down and enjoying delicious food. Great company and thoroughly recommended. I can't believe how I as a South African took so long to get here.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Go80520
Jan 26, 2026
This cooking class was phenomenal! Highly recommend for solo travelers - I so enjoyed my afternoon with Shihaam and Zeinab. We started the tour with a visit to the meat market and spice shop, with co-host Tawanda showing off local murals along the route. Starts and cool drinks were ready when we got to the house, and after a short rest, the cooking began! The house smelled so delicious with different spices blooming, roti raising on the griddle, and chicken sizzling in the pan. The spice level was perfect -- I ate the chicken curry until I couldn't take another bite. Then came dessert and Shihaam's special tea. We discussed the medicinal characteristics of food, traded stories about our families, talked about local birds, and laughed at each others' jokes. A perfect day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Friedab2026
Jan 9, 2026
A taste of Capetown - I had SOOOOO much fun !! The hosts were lovely. I felt at home and at the same time I learnt a lot about Capetown cuisine, spices and history !
I highly recommend 👌
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sallyd516
Dec 13, 2025
Connection and cooking - This cooking class was a wonderful way to connect with local people and the other participants and to enjoy food and stories together. Our hosts Shihaam and Janop were so welcoming and informative, sharing their cooking knowledge and some life stories. After the initial shopping trip to local stores, we arrived at the home where we enjoyed delicious starters before we moved to the kitchen. Shihaam firstly described the uses and properties of the most commonly used spices. She showed us the preparation of a versatile Cape Malay chicken curry recipe and an aubergine dish. Janop helped us to roll and cook roti. The atmosphere was relaxed and we were encouraged to participate, if we wanted, and to ask questions. We sat down to enjoy this feast together followed by malva pudding and masala chai. It was an experience of learning, conviviality and insight into Cape Malay culture. I would thoroughly recommend you try it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Samiramk1137gh
Dec 12, 2025
Immersive, informative, and truly delicious home cooking class - The Cape Malay/Creole cooking class has been one of my favourite memories and experiences in Cape Town so far!
The experience began with our wonderful guide, Shihaam, took us on a tour of a spice shop and the oldest butcher shop in Salt River. Learning about the spices and their health properties was very informative.
After shopping, we arrived at a lovely home, which was the best location for a cooking class. We were greeted with a starter consisting of a split-pea soup, samosas, chilli bites with a mebos (an aprioct sweet, sour, and spicy sauce), and Falooda (a refreshing dessert). After this, we helped Shihaam and Janop in the kitchen and made a chicken curry, eggplant, roti and it was all incredibly delicious! We ended our three course meal with a malva pudding dessert and a masala chai. While everything (and I mean everything) about the food was beyond delicious, the stories from Shihaam and Janop helped us learn more about Cape Mala/Creole culture, food, and history!
I ended the cooking class with a full stomach and a full heart! It was the perfect way to spend the day and I would highly recommend this immersive experience for anyone wanting a unique cooking class experience. If you are keen to learn more about Cape Malay/Creole food and culture in Cape Town, I'd recommend doing it with Unexplored Cape Town!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eleanormuller
Dec 12, 2025
Stylish, friendly and tasty. - This experience is much more than a cooking class. I'd go so far as to say that the cooking lesson is almost the least important part of the experience. What I loved was the integration between shopping, walking through the local area, visiting in a local home with local people and then finally the cooking and wonderful food flavours. It was a stylish, friendly and tasty day. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lonwabom479
Dec 12, 2025
Cape Malay/Creole Cooking Class - A Wonderful Cape Malay/Creole Cooking Experience
I had a fantastic time with Shihaam and Janop during the Cape Malay cooking class. The visit to the Salt River spice shop and Woodstock butchery was informative and added a great local touch. Shihaam’s spice presentation was amazing, and I’ll definitely use some of the spices and recipes she shared.
We enjoyed delicious starters, a flavourful main course, and a lovely dessert in a warm and welcoming home. A truly authentic and memorable experience—highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Noav71
Nov 17, 2025
Lovely experience - I had a wonderfull afternoon with Shihaam and aunt Janap, two lovely women that made me feel comfortable and home immediately. I booked a cooking class and even though I expected a lot from it, it was still better than I could have imagined. It was really special to be welcomed in an african house and to enjoy all the food - which was really delicious! I left with a belly full of treats and a head full of great memories.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathleensn1513ab
Sep 13, 2025
Don’t miss this experience - My mom and two friends joined me at this fabulous cooking lesson. We met at a spice market and explored spices unusual for an American cook. On to the butcher shop to see local meats and how they are sold.
Our cooking lesson started with savory treat, which we learned how to make. Nothing beats hands on. Fish curry for a quick weekday meal. Step by step, details on the spices used and how to bloom them. And it was delicious. Chai tea and malva pudding for dessert.
Our chefs were knowledgeable, good teachers, and so interesting. Highly recommend. I’ve taken cooking lessons around the world while traveling and this is at the top of the list.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
