African Experience (eat, drink, dance and drum)

Photo courtesy Gemma Longman

Eat, drink, dance and drum African style in Cape Town.

South Africa’s rich cultural traditions surrounding the preparing of food and drink, eating and drinking, as well as dancing and drumming are still prevalent in many areas of South Africa – and Cape Town is no different.

Enjoy a meal served in African ambience at Mzoli’s, the trendy local butchery turned club and eatery, and the Eziko Restaurant in one of Cape Town’s townships, Langa.

Eziko Restaurant (+27 21 694 0434) is linked to the Eziko Cooking and Catering School. The aim of the school is to teach members of the local community to cook, and so provide them with marketable skills. Eziko is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is a popular stop with tour operators.

Mama Africa (+27 21 426 1017), on Long Street, specialises in African food with live local music adding to the atmosphere. Mama Africa is open Mondays to Saturdays from 20h30 to 2h00. 

African Cafe (+27 21 422 0221; www.africacafe.co.za ), on the corner of Buitengracht Street and Shortmarket Street, offers visitors the full African experience, with communal Ndebele, Xhosa and Zulu feasts, among others. Be entertained by the dancing and ululating staff.

For those looking to dance Africa style, Club Africa, corner of Lower Main and Station Road in Observatory, is a lively spot which has mostly African dance music with occasional live music. Club Africa (+27 21 464 7126) is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 19h00.  

Interactive drumming, traditional South African gumboot dancing and boomwacking (plastic tubes tuned to musical notes) can all be found at Drum Cafe Cape Town in Camps Bay.

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