South Africa · COOKING CLASSES
Good cooking classes fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 12 to book early, what each includes and where they differ.
Meet Faldela at her Bo-Kaap home for a 2.5-hour English cooking class focused on Cape Malay food. You will prepare dishes such as curry, rotis, samosas, and sweet treats, learn about spices and local traditions, then sit down for lunch with soft drinks. Ingredients, equipment, and recipes 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 including Sadza, chicken stew, chakalaka, sugar beans, and peanut-butter greens. You will hear the stories behind the food, help prepare the meal, enjoy African drinks and snacks, and sit down together for a communal dinner. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
“Have taken many different cooking classes all over the world and found that this was one of the best ever.,Florence and Caleb and staff provided the history of the food we cooked and interacted with the class. It was a great mix and the African Cooking Experience has to be recommended hiighly.”
Join Cape Malay Cook Up for a two-hour class in a traditional Bo-Kaap home. You will prepare dishes such as samosas, chilli bites, flatbread, and curry, then sit down for lunch with your host. Expect hands-on cooking, stories about Malay culture and Bo-Kaap, and a friendly shared table.
“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, salsa salad, and koesisters in a local home. You will visit a spice shop, learn about the neighborhood’s Muslim Cape Malay culture, eat what you prepare, and take home the recipes.
“It was amazing - Gadija took us on our historical walking tour of Bo Kaap and explained the history before entertaining us with the cookery session with Bilquis - I finally learnt how to make flaky roti Yeahh”
Join chef Nicola Spilsbury at Spilsbury’s Kitchen for a four-hour, small-group cooking class in Franschhoek. Prepare traditional South African dishes, learn practical kitchen tips, enjoy local wine with your meal, and share the evening with up to 12 food lovers. The class starts at 5 pm and returns to its central meeting point.
“Spilsbury's Kitchen is not just a beautiful space to be in with unique and stunning options of kitchenware to purchase but it is also a place to escape the real world and "play" a little. What an insightful journey of self-expression I had - through tRead more”
At Pahari African Restaurant, Florence and Caleb guide you through a 150-minute cooking class covering Sadza, chicken stew, chakalaka, sugar beans, and beef bones with greens. You will hear how family recipes changed over time, sample African drinks and snacks, cook as a small group, and share the meal at the table.
“Hele aardige mensen, echt Afrikaans eten. Goede uitleg erbij over tradities en geschiedenis”
Join Lorette and Desmond in their Grassy Park home for a private three-hour Cape Malay cooking class. You will prepare two or three dishes, perhaps roti with chicken curry, bobotie, or malva pudding, then sit down with the family to eat. Recipes, drinks, lunch or dinner, and gratuities are included.
“My husband was sick and unable to accompany me. Lorette went to the trouble to make a custard to go with the Mavi pudding because my husband had eaten it at a restaurant and loved it (without the custard) which is the classic way to eat it I learned. She gave me to go Read more”
Explore Gqeberha with local guide Rawson, visiting the Campanile, Donkin Reserve, markets, street art, and historic streets. Choose the walking tour alone or add a hands-on African cooking class with sadza, chicken stew, chakalaka, beans, and vegetarian options. Pickup and drop-off are included around Port Elizabeth.
“Knowledgeable tour guide who didn't only show the shiny places.”
Spend about three hours in Richard and Gillian’s Wynberg home, where they demonstrate two or three South African dishes, discuss Cape Malay, Afrikaans, English, and African food traditions, and serve the meal with wine. Menus can include braai, bredie, curry, chicken, or malva pudding. This is an interactive demonstration, not a formal cooking class.
“We had a great time during our visit last week. Richard and Gillian were great hosts. The food was terrific and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Highly recommended. About 25 minutes from central Capetown but easy and cheap by taxi or uber.”
Spend three to four hours with a local chef, starting with pickup in Sandton and a market or supermarket visit. Choose a vegan organic or meat menu, help prepare traditional Pan-African dishes, then eat together in a private home with wine, juice, and stories. Ask whether Chef Tee or Noni is hosting your session.
“Upon arrival, we were greeted with refreshing drinks-a delightful water infused with lemon and papaya, alongside a homemade hibiscus tea with ginger-that perfectly set the tone for the evening. The chef then treated us to a spectacular culinary journey, preparing several amazing dishes inside the kitchen, followed by three succulent meat dishes grilled outdoors. Each dish was a masterpiece, and I can confidently say it was the best meal I had during my entire stay in Johannesburg. We concluded the evening gathered around the kitchen table, illuminated by candlelight, savoring the scrumptious meal while enjoying delightful conversations. This experience is highly recommended for anyone lookin...”
Join sisters Colleen and Ruth in Ruth’s Manenberg home for a private, hands-on Cape Malay cooking class. Over about two hours, you’ll prepare samosas, half-moons, spring rolls, tomato bredie, yellow rice, and dessert, then share the meal with your hosts. The full experience lasts about four and a half hours and includes alcoholic drinks.
“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”
Leave Cape Town’s cruise port for Wynberg, where chefs Richard and City and Guilds-trained Gillian welcome you into their home. Learn two South African dishes, enjoy a private meal with wine and dessert, and return to port within about four hours. Vegetarian menus are available by request.
“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 park, a coastline or a city.
