Cities & Food

Africa's cities are where history, creativity and appetite meet. They're places to wander markets, meet artists and chefs, hear live music and eat extraordinarily well, and they deserve more than a night between flights.

Cities with character

Cape Town pairs a stunning setting with an exciting restaurant scene, the Cape Malay kitchens of the Bo-Kaap and the vineyards of the Cape Winelands on its doorstep. Marrakech and Fes are cities for the senses, with souks full of spices, smoky grills at dusk and riads serving slow-cooked tagines.

Cairo is a city of legendary street food, from koshari to ta'ameya and fresh sugarcane juice, as well as elegant dining on the Nile. Nairobi mixes nyama choma with Swahili and Indian flavors and a thriving contemporary scene, while Tunis, Kigali and Stone Town each offer something distinct, from harissa-spiked brik to Rwandan coffee and Zanzibar's waterfront night market.

Food experiences to seek out

Some of the most memorable meals happen away from restaurants: a cooking class in a Marrakech riad that begins at the market, a Cape Malay cooking lesson in the Bo-Kaap, a coffee tour on the slopes of Mount Meru or a spice farm walk on Zanzibar. We can arrange market walks with local food guides, tastings with winemakers and dinners in family homes.

Neighborhoods, art and nightlife

City time is also about people and neighborhoods: Woodstock's galleries in Cape Town, Zamalek's cafés in Cairo, Nyamirambo's street life in Kigali and the boutiques of Gueliz in Marrakech. We'll suggest where to stay so you can walk to dinner, and plan evenings around live music, rooftop sunsets and the places locals love.

How we plan cities and food

We match city stays to your appetite, from street-food crawls to tasting menus, and handle reservations at restaurants that book up weeks ahead. Cities pair naturally with safaris and beaches, as on our Cape Town + Kruger journey.