African Food and Storytelling Tour Cape Town City Centre
Awarded Silver at WTM Africa by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism for Cultural Diversity, this experience connects Cape Town’s food culture with its history, spaces, and the lived experiences of local entrepreneurs. This is more than a food tour. While food is central, the experience explores how public space, history, and entrepreneurship intersect, and how forces such as gentrification shape life in the city. Guests are welcomed into hidden community kitchens, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and African-owned food businesses, each with a unique story to tell. Along the way, you’ll meet small business owners and gain insight into the people and cultures that define Cape Town’s inner city. The experience is immersive, responsible, and continuously evolving, reflecting the dynamic nature of the city’s small business landscape. It offers an authentic glimpse into the heart and soul of Cape Town beyond the surface. Vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian options are available.
What you'll see & do
- ✓***Meet & Greet at Church Square*** (Be careful not to head to Church Square in Woodstock instead!!!) Our meeting point is at the statue of Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr on Church Square, right in the heart of Cape Town’s city centre. You’ll find us directly across from McDonald’s, where Parliament and Spin Street meet. This is where we gather to welcome you and introduce you to the experience. Please note, this is more than just a food tour. While food is central, we also explore public spaces, untold histories and the lived experiences of small business owners in the city. Church Square, South Africa’s second oldest public square, is the perfect starting point for this journey. It allows us to begin by reflecting on the importance of public spaces in the country’s history and how they continue to shape community life today.
- ✓***Somali Food Culture*** (First shared warm meal) Enjoy a shared warm East African meal while learning about Somali food traditions and flavours. We’ll taste signature Somali dishes and spiced tea, and explore what makes this cuisine so distinctive. Approx. 20 minutes, depending on group size and curiosity.
- ✓***Old Post Office & Cape Malay Bites*** (incl. Snack Tasting) Visit the historic Old Post Office to uncover layers of colonial history and the evolving role of public space in Cape Town. Meet small food vendors, enjoy Cape Malay/Creole snacks, and browse through second-hand books.
- ✓***Grand Parade & Mandela Balcony*** Welcome to South Africa’s oldest public square. Here, we explore the Grand Parade and pause in front of the iconic Mandela balcony at City Hall, where Nelson Mandela delivered his first public address after his release from prison. This space offers not only rich historical context but also a glimpse into contemporary South African politics. As we walk through the square, we’ll share stories about the informal food vendors who trade here daily, offering their perspective on life and business in Cape Town’s city centre.
- ✓***Discover the Flower Market*** Let's explore one of the oldest open-air markets in South Africa. We walk through the oldest flower market in Southern Africa and greet their vendors.
- ✓***Greenmarket Square and West African Community*** Visit Greenmarket Square, Cape Town’s third oldest public square and a lively hub for informal African traders and entrepreneurs. Here you will meet vendors from across the continent, with an opportunity to browse for souvenirs if you wish. This is also where we begin to explore Cape Town’s West African community more closely. If you are interested in fabrics, we pass by our favourite Senegalese tailor known for his beautiful African textiles.
- ✓***Introduction to West African cuisine and food tasting.*** (second shared warm meal) Here we share our second warm meal and taste West African cuisine from Mali and speak about how African cuisine has the ability to unite people.
- ✓***Central Methodist Mission*** Join us at the Methodist Mission, a welcoming space where people from all walks of life gather daily. Steeped in community activism and social justice history, it remains a beating heart of Cape Town’s inner city. Here we pause for tea or coffee and a treat while reflecting on the stories this space holds.
What's included
- ✓Carbonated beverages
- ✓Bottled water
- ✓Lunch
- ✓Snacks
- ✓Tea and coffee
Good to know
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.
African Food and Storytelling Tour Cape Town City Centre
Awarded Silver at WTM Africa by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism for Cultural Diversity, this experience connects Cape Town’s food culture with its history, spaces, and the lived experiences of local entrepreneurs. This is more than a food tour. While food is central, the experience explores how public space, history, and entrepreneurship intersect, and how forces such as gentrification shape life in the city. Guests are welcomed into hidden community kitchens, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and African-owned food businesses, each with a unique story to tell. Along the way, you’ll meet small business owners and gain insight into the people and cultures that define Cape Town’s inner city. The experience is immersive, responsible, and continuously evolving, reflecting the dynamic nature of the city’s small business landscape. It offers an authentic glimpse into the heart and soul of Cape Town beyond the surface. Vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian options are available.
What you'll see & do
- ✓***Meet & Greet at Church Square*** (Be careful not to head to Church Square in Woodstock instead!!!) Our meeting point is at the statue of Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr on Church Square, right in the heart of Cape Town’s city centre. You’ll find us directly across from McDonald’s, where Parliament and Spin Street meet. This is where we gather to welcome you and introduce you to the experience. Please note, this is more than just a food tour. While food is central, we also explore public spaces, untold histories and the lived experiences of small business owners in the city. Church Square, South Africa’s second oldest public square, is the perfect starting point for this journey. It allows us to begin by reflecting on the importance of public spaces in the country’s history and how they continue to shape community life today.
- ✓***Somali Food Culture*** (First shared warm meal) Enjoy a shared warm East African meal while learning about Somali food traditions and flavours. We’ll taste signature Somali dishes and spiced tea, and explore what makes this cuisine so distinctive. Approx. 20 minutes, depending on group size and curiosity.
- ✓***Old Post Office & Cape Malay Bites*** (incl. Snack Tasting) Visit the historic Old Post Office to uncover layers of colonial history and the evolving role of public space in Cape Town. Meet small food vendors, enjoy Cape Malay/Creole snacks, and browse through second-hand books.
- ✓***Grand Parade & Mandela Balcony*** Welcome to South Africa’s oldest public square. Here, we explore the Grand Parade and pause in front of the iconic Mandela balcony at City Hall, where Nelson Mandela delivered his first public address after his release from prison. This space offers not only rich historical context but also a glimpse into contemporary South African politics. As we walk through the square, we’ll share stories about the informal food vendors who trade here daily, offering their perspective on life and business in Cape Town’s city centre.
- ✓***Discover the Flower Market*** Let's explore one of the oldest open-air markets in South Africa. We walk through the oldest flower market in Southern Africa and greet their vendors.
- ✓***Greenmarket Square and West African Community*** Visit Greenmarket Square, Cape Town’s third oldest public square and a lively hub for informal African traders and entrepreneurs. Here you will meet vendors from across the continent, with an opportunity to browse for souvenirs if you wish. This is also where we begin to explore Cape Town’s West African community more closely. If you are interested in fabrics, we pass by our favourite Senegalese tailor known for his beautiful African textiles.
- ✓***Introduction to West African cuisine and food tasting.*** (second shared warm meal) Here we share our second warm meal and taste West African cuisine from Mali and speak about how African cuisine has the ability to unite people.
- ✓***Central Methodist Mission*** Join us at the Methodist Mission, a welcoming space where people from all walks of life gather daily. Steeped in community activism and social justice history, it remains a beating heart of Cape Town’s inner city. Here we pause for tea or coffee and a treat while reflecting on the stories this space holds.
What's included
- ✓Carbonated beverages
- ✓Bottled water
- ✓Lunch
- ✓Snacks
- ✓Tea and coffee
Good to know
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.