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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  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  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!

    avatar thumb JanM500UK1
    February 17, 2023
  • star rating  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.

    avatar thumb pattgu008
    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  More than food! - More than just food! This tour included loads of information about the ecology and history of Cape Town, presented in an engaging way that even kept kids interested.

    tamaraf379
    June 23, 2022
  • star rating  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

    avatar thumb pieboyinspain
    January 27, 2023
  • star rating  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
  • 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  Cape Town food tour - Justin was an excellent guide!
    Nice variety of food and drink -restaurants/pubs/coffee shop.
    Offered great exposure and reference for future reservations.

    BJCov
    September 28, 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

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.

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