Cape Town's cooking comes out of a specific and uncomfortable history. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
Top picks
What we’d book first
Editorial picks · live inventory
No. 01
Private Wine Tour with Wine Expert to Stellenbosch-Franschhoek Wine Regions
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The guide
Cape Town's cooking comes out of a specific and uncomfortable history. Enslaved people brought from Southeast Asia by the Dutch created what is now called Cape Malay food, sweet and spiced rather than hot, and it remains the most distinctive thing on the table here. Layered on top are Dutch farm cooking, British colonial habits, Portuguese and Mozambican chilli from further up the coast, and some of the best value fine dining in the world thanks to the exchange rate. The wine country starts twenty minutes out of town. Seafood comes from two different oceans meeting at the point.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
Bo-Kaap
Painted houses on the slope above the city, and the historic centre of the Cape Malay community. Spice shops, koesister on Sunday mornings, and home-run kitchens serving curry.
Woodstock
Old industrial area east of the centre. The Neighbourgoods Market on Saturdays, plus restaurants in converted warehouses along Albert Road.
City Bowl
Bree and Loop Street between the mountain and the harbour. Where most of the ambitious restaurants and wine bars are, within walking distance of each other.
Constantia & the Winelands
Vineyards inside the city limits at Constantia, and Stellenbosch and Franschhoek an hour out. Long lunches at estates, most needing a booking.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Bobotie
· Spiced minced meat under a savoury egg custard, with raisins and chutney. Cape Malay in origin and the closest thing to a national dish. - 02
Cape Malay curry
· Fragrant rather than fiery, built on cinnamon, cardamom, and turmeric, usually with fruit. Different from Indian curry in intent. - 03
Braai
· Not a barbecue in the American sense but a social occasion built on wood coals. Boerewors, lamb chops, and sosaties are the standards. - 04
Snoek
· An oily local fish, smoked or grilled with apricot jam. Sold on the harbour at Kalk Bay and Hout Bay. - 05
Gatsby
· A foot-long roll stuffed with chips, meat, and sauce, invented in Athlone in the seventies and cut into portions to share. - 06
Malva pudding
· Baked sponge with apricot jam, soaked in hot cream sauce out of the oven. Dutch farm dessert, on almost every menu.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Lunch 12:00 to 15:00, dinner from 18:30, and top restaurants book out weeks ahead in the December and January high season. Tipping is 10 to 15 percent and matters to staff wages. The rand makes serious cooking affordable by European or American standards. Wine estates mostly close by 17:00. Do not walk between neighbourhoods late at night; use a car or a ride app.
All 20 food tours
Viator last revised 2026-11-09The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
Private Wine Tour with Wine Expert to Stellenbosch-Franschhoek Wine Regions
For wine lovers who want to get insider knowledge of the South African wine industry or just enjoy the amazing Cape Winelands. This is a private day tour with a specialist wine guide that you can design by choosing four
8h from $3999 - 02
Private Full Day Stellenbosch Wine Tour with Pick Up and Drop Off
This tour is designed to introduce guests to one of South Africa's finest and most famous wine producing regions. Tours and Tastings are conducted by specialist wine tour guides, to give in-depth insight and information
8h from $3200 - 03
Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience
Join us in a cooking experience to learn how to cook a traditional African cuisine meal from start to finish. Enjoy your meal privately with family, friends, work colleagues and travelers from all over the world in a pe
2.5h - 04
The Cape Town Essentials Food Tour
Our signature experience takes you on a captivating journey through time—from the 1600s to today—revealing how centuries of cultural exchange, global trade, and resilience have shaped Cape Town’s distinctive flavours and
4h - 05
African Food and Storytelling Tour in 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 entr
2h - 06
Taste of Cape Town - food and city tour
Join us for a captivating journey through Cape Town's heart and soul. We tell you Cape Town's story through the lens of food. Our seasoned local guides, from chefs to food experts, lead the way. Over 4.5 hours, savour a
4.5h - 07
Cape Town Winelands – Franschhoek Wine Tram & Stellenbosch Tour
Join our small group tour and discover the Mountainous, best wine growing regions of South Africa. This tour combines the ever-popular Franschhoek tram and also allowing a visit to the historic town of Stellenbosch in a
9h - 08
African Story Wine Tours in the Cape Winelands
Get ready for an unforgettable, full-day adventure through the breathtaking South African winelands! On this fantastic 8-hour tour, we’ll whisk you away to the gorgeous regions of Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch for
8h from $2150 - 09
Private Stellenbosch, Franschhoek Paarl Wine Tour from Cape Town
Private Tour- once a booking is instantly confirmed, clients will be the only tourists in the vehicle for the day. Tour for 2 pax, couples or small groups with maximum 7 pax. Taste at least 15 premier wines on vineyar
8h from $2300 - 10
Constantia Wine and Storytelling Tour with Lunch From Cape Town
A sip-and-stroll storytelling walk through South Africa’s most iconic vineyards, visiting Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, and Buitenverwachting. With exclusive access to private trails, and keys to secret gates, th
5h from $3235 - 11
Private Day Tour to Cape Point , Penguins, Wine or Beer Tasting
All tours are owner-operated! Up to 7 people can be accommodated on tour. This full day tour will take you right around the beautiful Cape Peninsula, past the world-famous Clifton and Camps Bay beaches, through Hout Bay
8h from $3695 - 12
Cape Town Lion's Head Hike Sunrise coffee/tea or Sunset
This small-group hike, limited to a maximum of 6 participants, offers a more personal and authentic experience. Lion’s Head is one of the three iconic peaks that frame the city of Cape Town and is renowned for its specta
4h from $1040 - 13
Best of Cape Town Full-Day Private Tour with Table Mountain
Discover Cape Town, Cape Town City, Table Mountain, Boulder's Penguins colony, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Winelands all in one day in a private vehicle with your very own tour guide. Your tour guide will ensure that you
8h - 14
Cape Town Peninsula Day Tour ( Cape Point/Penguins/Wine Tasting)
Cape Town Day Tour – Coastal Beauty, Penguins & Local Culture Enjoy the best of Cape Town in a full-day tour combining scenic views, wildlife, & local stories. Travel in comfort along the stunning Atlantic Seaboard towa
6h from $115 - 15
Cape Town Wine Tour: Stellenbosch & Franschhoek +Tastings & Lunch
One of the best days you’ll have in South Africa. This all in one wine tour covers everything you must see and taste in the Cape Winelands. Learn about the history of Stellenbosch & Franschhoek as we explore the Oak lan
8.5h - 16
Uncork the Cape : Stellenboch Half Day Wine Tour
Escape the buzz of the city and step into a world of rolling vineyards, historic estates and world class wine. On this daily half day wine tour. you'll be treated to scenic drives through the picturesque Cape Winelands.
5h from $900 - 17
Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries
Spend an enriching day discovering the Cape's top wine regions of Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch with a knowledgeable local guide. This 3 regions Cape Winelands tour offers a comprehensive wine experience and inc
8h - 18
Winelands Explore Full Day Tour: Franschhoek, Paarl, Stellenbosch
Oenophiles and nature lovers alike are in for a treat on this private exploration of the Cape Winelands. Not only do you visit three esteemed wine farms for fine wine tastings and phenomenal pairing in the Paarl, Stellen
8h from $5197 - 19
Full Day Small Group Wine Tour Cape Town and Stellenbosch
Our tours operate daily and accommodate groups up to maximum 13 guests, and we include a good mix of large and boutique wineries. Our guides are fun, knowledgeable and entertaining. We include private experiences such
8h from $2550 - 20
Cape Town Authentic Experience (private)
Experience Cape Town through the eyes of a local guide on this unique and authentic journey. Begin your day like a true Capetonian with a freshly brewed cup of coffee while getting to know your guide. During this relaxed
4h
Frequently asked
- How much do food tours in Cape Town cost?
- Roughly $115–$5197 per person, with the median around $2550.
- When should I book?
- One to two weeks ahead in peak season; same-day is sometimes possible off-peak but limits choice.