The Essentials Tour

Come experience some of Cape Town's most delicious quarters, from Bo-kaap to De Waterkant.

Embark on a mesmerizing gourmet adventure through two of Cape Town’s distinct and culturally significant areas, each with its own rich history and impact on our daily lives, spanning from the 1760s until the present day. Don’t miss the chance to tap into our local guides’ extensive knowledge and let us introduce you to the most mouthwatering parts of Cape Town.

Quick Facts

Experience a variety of South Africa's most iconic culinary delights, from flavourful dishes to locally crafted drinks. Come hungry!
Tours start at specific, selectable times and run for approximately 4 hours.
Family-friendly, but each guest over the age of 3 requires their own ticket.
Price includes 15% VAT (Sales Tax). Restaurant gratuities and taxes are included too. Gratuities for your guide are always appreciated.
We highly recommend bringing your camera—there’s so much worth capturing!

The tour concludes a 15-minute walk from the V&A Waterfront, though we recommend using local transport options such as Uber for added convenience.
Group sizes are limited to a maximum of 12 guests, with a minimum of 2 guests required for the tour to operate.
Gluten-friendly, vegetarian, and non-alcoholic options are available. Please specify your preferences when booking.
The Cape Town Essentials Tour runs Tuesday to Saturday, rain or shine.

What Our Customers Say About Us

261 reviews on tripadvisor

Great experience and tour.
We had a fantastic day, highly recommended. Alongside the food and drink that we fully enjoyed, the tour around the neighbourhood and the history that Justin shared with us made this a memorable occasion and one of the highlights of our holiday. Justin was a great guide and nothing was too much trouble. We booked this tour through Trailfinders and we will also share our recommendation with them. Thanks Justin!

JanM500UK1
February 17, 2023
Exceptional food tour! - Justin was a fantastic tour guide. He was easy to talk to and he quickly brought our small group together for a great day. Starting off with a coffee tour was an incredible surprise and very educational. Overall the quality of the food and beverages was top notch and the conversation fascinating.
This is a must do if you visit Cape Town.

ArnieJ_12
January 3, 2023
Great into to Cape Town! - We had a wonderful tour with Justin. We ended up touring on a national holiday, so they had to adjust the plan ahead of time, but we thought it was perfect! We loved all the places we went and felt like we got a good feel for Cape Town. Justin also gave us a great history lesson and is very knowledgeable which I'm so glad was a part of the tour. We compared all bobotie to the first taste we had on this tour and we loved the blind wine tasting at the end. Justin walked us back to our car and sent us recommendations for other restaurants while we were in town. This is a must-do in Cape Town!

annmarieb278
January 16, 2023
Great Experience - Awesome morning out doing a coffee tour, highly recommend any of the tours for some great knowledge and history of all things Cape Town and African. thanks Justin

T3115EUsteveh
July 25, 2022
So much fun! - We are in agreement with all the other reviews .Justin is AWESOME!!! It was just us with him and he made us feel like I stand friends! We had so much fun and had an awesome afternoon learning some Capetown and SA history while learning about the food and wine of this amazing country. Take the half day to spend with Justin.you won’t regret it!

Also the communication with Elsje was very friendly and welcoming.

sunnyarbormom
December 18, 2022
Delicious food with incredibly hospitable guide - We had a great time on this tour! The food and drinks were great and our guide Justin was incredibly informative about Cape Town's history and culture. There were two native South Africans on the tour with us which was a pleasant surprise. We loved the stop where we tasted Bobotie served with the MCC sparkling wine the most.

After the tour, Justin personally walked us to the bar where we were looking to have a post food tour cocktail at Cape Town's oldest gay bar. We were very happy with this food tour experience. Would highly recommend!

Casey S
September 20, 2022
Phenomenal tour - One of our favorite parts of our 3 week trip to Cape Town. Highly recommend this tour early in your trip to acquaint yourself with local history and culture. Ask for Justin, who was a fount of knowledge and an in incredible guide. He caters to your personal preferences and his love of SA shows in his attention to detail.

cbaumgart34
April 21, 2022
This was our first time doing a food tour and I must say we loved every minute. The tour started at at Origins coffee roasting shop, I learned so much about coffee and got to taste fresh coffee beans and had a delicious Pasteis de Nata.
Our second stop was at the cutest African restaurant called Cafe Charles where we had bobotie with rice and some tasty bubbly, it was so delicious. Our tour guide Justin gave us an amazing download on the history of Capetown. Our third stop was at an Irish pub called The Fireman’s Arms we had a flight of beer and a nice meal there. Again everything was delicious and Justin provided more history on the Cape. Our last stop was at this place called Misfits By The Ideas where we tasted a flight of Inverroche gin and had a delicious variety of ice creams to top off the day. Before we parted ways Justin gave everyone a seasoning pack and recipe for bobotie. Not sure when I’ll be brave enough to try cooking it, but it was definitely a nice and thoughtful add to the trip.
If you are debating about booking, don’t hesitate, just book it, you won’t be disappointed. Justin and his team will make your day!

kreneebw
February 4, 2023
We loved it! I went with my husband and we really enjoyed it, everything was delicious and we learned a lot of history and interesting facts of Cape Town. Justin our guide was so kind and fun, and we thank him for sharing the love he has for his city and its food.

pattgu008
January 29, 2023
This is a MUST DO event in Cape Town. The tour is of a really cool district rather than a city, but it is a lovely little district.

The tour guide Justin was brilliantly professional and really approachable. His local and national history and knowledge was deep and insightful. Great conversation through the day.

The 4 locations we visited were spectacular. Super food, great drinks and lovely people.

The time flew by. Justin also was happy to recommend other places to eat, visit or travel to.

I would 100% recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cape Town

pieboyinspain
January 27, 2023

What to Expect

Immerse yourself in Cape Town’s rich history and vibrant culinary scene on the Cape Town Essentials Tour. This experience takes you on a captivating journey through time, from the 1600s to the present day, exploring how centuries of cultural exchange, international trade, and resilience have shaped the city’s unique flavours and traditions.

Stroll through the colourful, postcard-perfect streets of Bo-Kaap, where every building tells a story. Indulge in local delicacies like golden koeksisters, savour the comforting spices of Cape Malay bobotie, or let your taste buds dance over hearty favourites like bunny chow, pap, and chakalaka. Sip on rooibos tea, enjoy locally crafted beverages—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic—and prepare for a flavour explosion that captures the essence of Cape Town.

But this isn’t just about the food. With a passionate local foodie expert who knows every shortcut, side street, and secret recipe, you’ll uncover unforgettable stories, chat with local vendors, marvel at historic architecture, discover hidden gems, and taste dishes passed down through generations. From tales of the 17th-century spice routes to the indelible scars of slavery and apartheid, every stop on this tour offers a deeper connection to Cape Town’s soul—one bite at a time.

This experience is family-friendly and thoughtfully accommodates a variety of dietary preferences, including vegetarian and non-alcoholic options, ensuring every guest gets a taste of Cape Town’s story.

Don’t miss the chance to embark on an unforgettable adventure—book your spot on the Cape Town Essentials Tour today and let us introduce you to the most mouthwatering and meaningful parts of the city.

We can’t wait to share Cape Town’s magic with you!

FAQ

Do I need to purchase tickets in advance?

Yes, all tickets must be purchased in advance. To maximize your chances of getting the day, time, and number of tickets you prefer, please book well in advance as spots fill up quickly. Tickets can be purchased using any major credit card and you will receive instant confirmation upon booking. Cash and/or walk-up traffic the day of the tours are not accepted.

Does the tour operate in in climate weather?

Our experiences are held rain or shine. In the event of blustery weather, we will be able to go inside many of the establishments on the tour. However, we advise to check the weather conditions for your days event and dress appropriately. If we believe the weather will significantly jeopardize the quality of your experience, we will offer you plenty of notice in the event of a cancellation.

Do we only walk around and sample food?

Absolutely not! Our tours combine architectural commentary, historical facts, local culture and culinary insight into a unique experience. Imagine walking through Cape Town eating our local artisans most delicious foods while learning the neighborhoods from real locals. Let us show you how easy it is to fall in love with Cape Town!

Does the tour come in other languages?

Yes! While our tours are offered daily in English, we also offer tours in Afrikaans by request. Please contact our team for more details.

What if I have dietary restrictions and allergies?

We do our best to accommodate your dietary and allergy needs. As long as we are given advance notice at the time you book your experience, we can arrange for alternative tastings as best we can. At this time, we are unable to accommodate vegetarian and gluten-free diets. You are absolutely more than welcome to join us on the tour, just keep in mind that there may be some tastings that you may have to avoid. Should you have any questions, please reach out to our operations team directly.

What happens if I need to cancel?

We understand that plans can change and therefor, we offer a 100% refund up to 14 days prior to your tour date, minus any credit card processing fees already paid. Should you need to cancel within 14 days, but at least 48 hours from your tour, we can offer a date exchange to any date int he future. Cancellations within 48 hours are subject to a 100% cancellation fee as our our vendor partners have already begun preparing your experience.