Cook traditional Cape Malay dishes in a private Grassy Park home with host Lorette. Learn family recipes, dine together, and get a genuine introduction to Cape Town’s multicultural foodways.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
The front gate opens onto a small suburban garden where rosemary and curry leaf brush the sun-warmed path. Inside Lorette and Desmond’s renovated Grassy Park house, the kitchen hums: a kettle, the clack of utensils and the earthy scent of turmeric and cinnamon. Guests gather around a wide counter to learn recipes handed down through generations—mini rotis, bobotie and malva pudding—each step guided by stories that map family, faith and migration.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
3 hours
Fitness Level
Low—suitable for most people who can stand for short periods and move in a small kitchen space.
Wildlife
History
Cape Malay cuisine traces to enslaved and exiled people from Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean who influenced Cape Town’s spice traditions.
Conservation
Water is scarce in the region—hosts and visitors should minimize waste and favor locally grown produce; support small-home enterprises to keep economic benefits local.
Reserve your spot on the Private Cape Malay Cooking Class in Lorette’s Cape Town Home today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Confirm dietary needs ahead of time
Lorette accommodates vegetarian and halal diets but needs advance notice to adapt menus and ingredients.
Use public transport or allow parking time
Grassy Park is reachable by train and bus; if driving, allow extra time for residential parking and narrow streets.
Bring a small notebook or phone for recipes
You’ll learn techniques and spice ratios that are helpful to record; photos of stages make replication easier at home.
Mind kitchen mobility
The class takes place in a home kitchen with some standing and light lifting—ask about seating or accessibility if needed.
Comfortable closed-toe shoes
Protects your feet in a working kitchen and on the short walk from the street.
Apron (or wear older clothes)
Keeps clothing clean while you chop, stir and handle sauces.
Phone or camera
Capture photos of recipes and plating to help recreate dishes later.
Reusable water bottle
Stay hydrated during prep and conversation—Cape Town can be warm in summer.