Skip to content

Cape Town Culinary Tours

Cape Town 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

What Our Customers Say About Us

261 reviews on tripadvisor
  • star rating  A great taste of Cape Town - First off Elsje was amazing since we had to rebook this tour 3 times due to the pandemic. Very flexible and accommodating, which was really appreciated. The tour was great. Not just the food and drink but an overall informative experience learning about Cape Town. Our guide Justin was on point with everything. I am not even a coffee drinker but enjoyed the coffee at Origins. My wife and I learned so much about coffee including how it is made decaffeinated. The food at Cafe Charles was very good, especially the Bobotie, which we look forward to making ourselves with the spice kit we were given when we get home. The pairing with the sparkling Sauvignon Blanc was perfect. The next stop was fun, casual, sports bar vibe - The Fireman's Arms. Here we enjoyed 3 different types of beer and the food of choice for us was the Cornish inspired puff pie. Good sports talk with Justin here. The last stop was at the Misfits the by Ideas Cartel for a gin tasting. My wife isn't a gin drinker but did like the varieties that didn't have the "piney" taste. The most unique part of this was that each gin was paired with a homemade ice cream. All the ice creams were good, but the basil ice cream is a must. Justin then took us to a Biltong shop where sampled and purchased some Biltong before ending our day. Excellent way to learn some about Cape Town and experience a variety of their food culture.

    Matthew G
    August 3, 2022
  • star rating  This is more than a food tour, but, trust me, the food is highly varied and outstanding. This tour truly finds the heart of Cape Town cuisine and give you an introduction. It was all great, and to me, the highlight was the food at the Vasco de Gama taverna. The wings, the beef, and the chorizo were so flavorful. I have a friend coming in from the States, and that’s where I’m going to bring him for real Capetonian “pub” fare.

    But more than the food, you’ll be immersed in Cape Town and South African history, culture, Justin is a font of knowledge in these areas. Coming from the US, it’s a great introduction to the incredible complex country that is SA today.

    This is a valuable and enriching CPT experience on all levels.

    avatar thumb Neil P
    November 9, 2022
  • star rating  Perhaps the best way to get to know Cape Town! - Wow! This operation rocks. They have something for everybody. From coffee, to bobotie, to koesisters, to wine. Oh, and there's a good dose of culture and history thrown in too. Justin has been our guide twice and he is a wealth of great information. Do yourself a favor and take this amazing tour.

    andrewrice
    January 29, 2023
  • star rating  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
  • star rating  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!

    avatar thumb kreneebw
    February 4, 2023
  • star rating  A great food tour with an expert guide - We had such a great experience with Justin as our guide. We booked this for the start of our trip to Cape Town so we could ‘get our bearings’ so to speak and get expert advice on places to visit (and avoid) for great food and drinks. We also wanted to experience great African cuisine and wines and learn more about the history, the people and the culture the area. Justin did not disappoint with his expert knowledge and engaging style. We learnt so much and it got our trip off to the ideal start

    m_lawson90
    November 19, 2022
  • star rating  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
  • star rating  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
  • star rating  Justin,our guide, was excellent.

    If there was an app that covered everything in CT (geographical,political,edible,educational,drinkable,geopolitical,ecological,environmental sports,cultural) it should be called “Just Ask Justin” as he knows just about everything.

    We had a great tour of parts of CT that we had not seen previously despite many visits. Excellent F&B and things that we had not tried before.

    Thoroughly recommend.

    avatar thumb JPHIGH
    February 8, 2023
  • star rating  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

What to Expect

Your culinary journey begins at Bo Kaap Deli, where a local refreshment awaits and your experienced guide introduces you to an intimate circle of fellow culinary enthusiasts. Wander amidst Bo Kaap’s vibrant, colourful houses, immersing yourself in the charm of the area.
 
Continuing on, to the Heritage Square dating back to 1771. Prepare your taste buds for a delightful experience at the charming Zannes Fare, renowned for serving the best Bobotie in town. Pair this delectable dish with local bubbles as you savour the stories and ambiance of the area.
 
Our next stop is Marcos African Cafe, where you’ll indulge in an African platter featuring traditional meats and vegetables, accompanied by a tasting of a ceremonial African drink.
 
Our journey takes us further to Fireman’s Arms, one of South Africa’s oldest bars, where you’ll have the opportunity to sample a tasting-size Bunny Chow and Malva pudding. Complementing these flavoursome treats, you can choose a local craft gin or beer to complete your tasting experience.
 
This tour is family-friendly and offers accommodations for vegetarians and those preferring non-alcoholic alternatives. 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.
 
We look forward to welcoming you to an unforgettable culinary adventure in Cape Town!

FAQ

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

More Tours to Explore

A Taste of Africa Tour

Join us on an African inspired culinary journey through Cape Town's historical city center.

The Cape Coffee Experience

Explore your own backyard by walking the streets of Cape Town and dive headfirst into the ever-growing coffee scene.