Cape Malay/Creole Cooking Class and Local Shopping in Salt River
Description
Awarded Silver at WTM Africa by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism for Cultural Diversity, this hands-on cooking experience offers a meaningful introduction to Cape Town’s Cape Malay culinary heritage. Join us for a stroll through Salt River to source ingredients and engage with the neighbourhood, followed by preparing a traditional Cape Malay meal. No prior cooking experience is required, just an interest in food and culture. Guests are guided through key elements of the cooking process while learning about the historical influences that have shaped this cuisine. Along the way, the experience explores the socio-cultural identity of the Cape Muslim community. The experience is flexible and participatory, allowing guests to engage at their own pace, and offers a genuine connection through food, stories and shared moments in a local setting with local home cooks.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This experience begins with a relaxed stroll through the colourful streets of Salt River, where we’ll shop for ingredients at local businesses. We’ll then make our way to our home for the cooking class. Our meeting point is Fargo Trading, one of Cape Town’s oldest and most underrated spice shops, the perfect place to set the tone for this authentic Cape Malay/Creole cooking experience.
After exploring one of Cape Town’s most iconic spice shops, we’ll continue shopping for ingredients for our meal as we take a relaxed walk through Salt River. Along the way, we’ll see striking street art created by both the Salt River Heritage Society and the International Public Art Festival. You’ll also learn about African immigrant communities who run local grocery shops, as well as Cape Malay/Creole food vendors. We’ll end the walk at our home, where we’ll cook and eat together.
You’ll get to cook and share an authentic three-course Cape Malay/Creole meal. Experience true 'Kaapse Kos' while learning about its rich history and heritage, and connect with local home cooks who are known in their communities for their incredible cooking and baking.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- the remaining time will be for the transfer for each attractions
Reviews(19)
Dennis and Shihaam were amazing guides who made this cooking class such a memorable experience. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate throughout the tour. Even after living in Cape Town for 14 years, I learned so much about the city through this experience. Based in Woodstock, we enjoyed great coffee, rooibos tea, and made a delicious vegetarian curry. I highly recommend Unexplored Cape Town to both locals and visitors looking for an authentic experience.
I've lived in this country for over 15 years, but the team always makes me discover a new gem in Cape Town (and even beyond – shout out to Ishavara in Johannesburg!). I had enjoyed Malay dishes before, but had never been involved in the cooking process. The ladies made us feel like family; the house felt like home and was so peaceful. I enjoyed the art, the colors, and the stories. They even shared fascinating stories and nuances about the very spices we were using to cook. I recommend not only this experience but all of Unexplored Tours. It has a unique twist that gives you a different perspective with each visit. I will definitely do it again next time I am in Cape Town. — Vanessa
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!
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.
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!
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 👌
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.
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!
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.
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!