South Africa · COOKING CLASSES
Every trip has one free day too few. These 13 cooking classes justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Join Faldela and her family in their Bo-Kaap home for a 150-minute Cape Malay cooking class. Prepare dishes such as curry, rotis, samosas, salad, and dessert, learn how spices shape the cuisine, then sit down to eat with soft drinks. English instruction, ingredients, and equipment are included.
“It was a nice experience. I would like to get the recipes of the dishes we made...”
At Pahari African Restaurant in Salt River, Caleb and Florence guide you through traditional dishes, African food history, drinks, snacks, and a communal meal. You will help prepare Sadza, stews, vegetables, chakalaka, and sugar beans, with vegetarian and vegan choices available.
“Great experience!! So friendly and amazing food - highly recommend for authentic South African culinary class.”
Join a local host in Bo-Kaap for a two-hour Cape Malay cooking class. Prepare dishes such as samosas, chilli bites, flatbread, and curry, then sit down for the meal with soft drinks and a conversation about family, food, and local traditions.
“We really enjoyed our cooking class! The food was very tasty and everyone was able to participate in different parts of the process. The host gave us lots of information about the history of the cuisine and was very friendly.”
Spend four hours exploring Bo-Kaap with local guides such as Faldela, Gadija, or Ilyas, then cook samosas, chicken curry, roti, sambal, and koesisters in a local home. You will learn spice tricks, share the meal, and leave with the recipes.
“There are two parts to this activity. The second is the Malay cooking class. If you have the time, you should not miss it. It opens the world of Cape Malay cooking from the inside. The guide really knows her business, and has a great sense of humor. Because of her, the event is a lot of fun, and you meet people from all over the world. Making a rooti from scratch is a transformative experience. Since it is not really meaningful to walk through the Bo-Kaap on your own, you need a guide, and this one knows the neighborhood’s history. I was especially intrigued by how the colorful houses…”
Meet chef Nicola Spilsbury at Spilsbury’s Kitchen in Franschhoek for a four-hour, hands-on South African cooking class. Prepare traditional dishes, learn useful kitchen tricks, enjoy local wine, and share the meal with up to 11 other food lovers.
“Beautiful kitchen space and awesome evening learning about African cuisine, cooking a true feast and having a wonderful time! Would book again anytime”
Join Florence and her team at Pahari African Restaurant for a 150-minute, small-group cooking class. Learn the story behind African ingredients, prepare Sadza, stews, chakalaka, and beans, sample African drinks, and share the meal communally. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
“This is a must do when visiting Cape Town. The food (and overall experience) is incredible and everyone is just so welcoming and nice. We had a truly amazing night, thank you so much!”
Spend about three hours with Lorette and Desmond in their Grassy Park home, learning two or three Cape Malay dishes such as roti, chicken curry, bobotie, or malva pudding. You cook by hand, use garden herbs when available, and sit down with the family to eat your meal.
“Lorette made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. She j had the ingredients prowled & we made a wonderful meal. She walked us through how to make the curry & vegetable chicken main dish. We also had fun with making roti….everyone took a turn. Lorette is very Read more”
Explore Gqeberha’s Campanile, Donkin Reserve, markets, and street art with local guide Rawson, then choose a hands-on African cooking class with shared food, traditional drinks, and vegetarian options.
“Knowledgeable tour guide who didn't only show the shiny places.”
Spend about three hours in Wynberg with local chefs Richard and Gillian. Watch and help prepare two or three South African dishes, perhaps braai, bredie, curry, or malva pudding, then sit down to eat with wine and local conversation.
“Rather a leap in to the unknown but, golly, what a terrific experience.Certainly very much off the beaten track but our hosts were just lovely - gushing with informative discussion and local knowledge that one couldn't ever glean elsewhere. In short - really very good indeed. Oh yes, and the food was fantastic too!”
Shop for ingredients, cook a starter and main course, then share a Pan-African meal in a local home. Choose an organic vegan or meat menu. Hosts may include Chef Tee or Nonhlanhla Noni Godole, with English or French instruction, drinks, pickup, and storytelling included.
“While I think the experience did reflect a locals day-to-day, and the host were extremely friendly, I can’t say it was the experience I expected. It was supposed to start at 4, but we were not actually picked up from the hotel until about 5:40 and the communication for the lateness was barely there. We kept having to contact them ourselves for updates on where driver was. Once we were finally picked up, they took us shopping. Where they didn’t seem to have a plan on what we were going to cook since we were running late. The “street market” was about 5 booths in a pitch black alley way.…”
Meet Colleen and Ruth at Ruth’s home in Manenberg for a private, hands-on Cape Malay cooking class. Prepare samosas, tomato bredie, yellow rice, and dessert from family recipes, then sit down with your hosts to enjoy the meal with alcoholic drinks included.
“Such a memorable day from start to finish. I was by myself and felt like I was with friends the entire time, Coleen and Ruth really make you feel at home. The food was amazingly flavorful and well explained. I’m so happy I booked this, easy Uber there and back, and had plenty Read more”
Spend four to five hours with a private guide exploring Langa, Bo-Kaap, and District Six, then prepare and share a three-course Cape Malay meal with a local host. Air-conditioned transfers, hotel pickup, bottled water, and drop-off are included. Kelvin and local guide Glen have led this experience.
“Had a wonderful tour with Kelvin as our guide. Our first stop was Langa Township with Glen as our local guide. It was a real eye opener as to the hardships these people live under and something we will never forget. We then went to the CasRead more”
Travel from Cape Town’s cruise port to Wynberg for a private cooking class and home meal with chefs Richard and Gillian. Learn two dishes, taste braai, bredie, local desserts, and wine, then return to the port. Vegetarian meals and menu requests are available in advance.
“Unfortunately I missed this event due to emergency surgery. The rest of our group attended and report a fabulous time with wonderful hosts. Food, beverage and commeradery were all excellent.”
Pick a reserve, a coastline or a cellar.
