The oldest Malay settlement in South Africa, the Bo-Kaap boasts brightly coloured houses, ancient mosques and especial stores. Savour traditional Cape Malay food offered at the quaint Bo-Kaap Kombuis restaurant, renowned for its sweet and spicy flavours. Situated high on a hill, the restaurant offers spectacular views of Table Mountain and is surrounded by cultural and historical treasures. Imbibe the history, culture and traditions of a people who settled in the Mother City more than 300 years ago, as you enjoy warm local hospitality and dishes with aroma’s that effuse the coastal air.
As you meander the kaleidoscopic, cheerful streets step back in time with a visit to the Bo-Kaap museum established in 1976. Portraying the lifestyle of a traditional 19th-century Muslim family living in Bo-Kaap, the museum is created and furnished as if it is a family’s home. Glimpse into the past in this little space that offers visitors the opportunity to explore the culture, and socio-political climate of the bustling Bo-Kaap neighbourhood. Take a stroll next door and visit the stunning Monkeybiz boutique. Selling beautiful unique African beads, with a modern twist, there are gorgeous items to take home as gifts, and to adorn yourself and your home. Numerous mosques dot the Bo-Kaap district but the most famous is the Auwal Mosque.
Allegedly the first mosque built in South Africa in 1794, and commissioned by an Indonesian prince, the first Imam, or Muslim worship leader, is said to have scribed numerous copies of the holy Quran thoroughly from memory on this site.
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