While tourists often flock to Cape Town for its postcard-perfect Table Mountain views, the pastel charm of Bo-Kaap, and the lively V&A Waterfront, a growing movement is encouraging visitors—and locals—to look beyond the usual sights and dive into the rich, complex food stories simmering beneath the surface.

For years, Unexplored Cape Town has been leading intimate heritage food tours that showcase the city’s diverse culinary roots, shaped by migration, colonial legacies, and the African diaspora. Now, the team behind these immersive experiences has launched a new digital platform, opening up new pathways for people to engage with Cape Town’s untold food narratives.

“Food is more than just lifestyle or tourist experience,” says Dennis Molewa, founder and social entrepreneur behind Unexplored Cape Town. “There are so many layers of inherent political and historical influence, which offers a powerful mirror reflecting the city’s past and present struggles and triumphs.”

Through carefully curated tours, Unexplored Cape Town shines a light on the often-overlooked informal food vendors, family-run kitchens, and culturally rich markets that tell the real story of the city’s cuisine—one influenced as much by resilience and migration as by spices and recipes.

These walking tours don’t just explore flavours; they unravel the city’s complex past. Stops include landmark sites like the Cape Town City Hall, where Nelson Mandela addressed the nation after his release, and the Company Gardens, originally built in 1652 to supply the Dutch East India Company with fresh produce. Guests also learn how once-prized global commodities like cloves and nutmeg were deeply entwined with colonial trade routes—spices that now form the backbone of many local dishes.

One standout stop on the tour is Fatima’s Kitchen, a former hole-in-the-wall eatery on Long Street that has become a cornerstone of West African culinary identity in the city. Run by Fatima, her sister Awa, and niece Bintou, the restaurant represents the resilience of African migrant women navigating a gentrifying Cape Town, where affordable space for small businesses is increasingly hard to find.

“Fatima’s food resonates with South African palates while staying true to its West African soul,” says Molewa. “It’s a vibrant place where East, West, and Southern African dishes are served—Cape Town on a plate.”

Recent local tour participant Rifqah described the experience as both educational and deeply moving. “As a Capetonian born and raised in this city, exploring my home with fresh eyes and taste buds was empowering and emotional,” she said. “The narrative was beautiful without romanticising unnecessarily.”

Unexplored Cape Town currently offers several themed food tours:

• Introductory Walking Tour (CBD): A walk from District Six to Bo-Kaap, focusing on the post-Apartheid landscape and colonial legacies.
• Little Mogadishu Food Tour: A culinary dive into Bellville’s Somali and Ethiopian food scene.
• Two Sides of Cape Town Tour: Exploring the formal and informal food economies of the city in a single 4-hour experience.
• African Food & Storytelling Experience: A deep exploration of Cape Town’s African culinary heritage and diaspora influences.

The tours also support a broader mission. A portion of every booking goes toward the African Food Business Fund, a registered nonprofit launched by the Unexplored team to support marginalised African-owned food businesses with financial assistance, mentorship, and tourism industry connections.

“Our goal is to be South Africa’s most inclusive food tour,” Molewa adds. “We’re creating a welcoming, respectful space that actively pushes back against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and all forms of discrimination.”

With the launch of their new website at https://unexplored.co.za, Unexplored Cape Town is making it even easier to access these tours and engage with the deeper stories that shape one of the world’s most beloved cities—one bite at a time.