Tucked at the foot of Signal Hill, on the edge of Cape Town's city centre, Bo Kaap is instantly recognisable for its rows of brightly painted houses and steep cobbled streets. Beyond the photogenic facades lies a neighbourhood with a rich and layered history, home to a Cape Malay community whose roots in the area stretch back over 250 years.
This guide looks at where that history comes from, what to see while wandering the streets, and where to eat and shop once the walking is done.
In this blog we cover…
- The origins of Bo Kaap: how the neighbourhood began as rented housing for enslaved people and political exiles brought from the Dutch East Indies.
- Why the houses are so colourful: the story behind the switch from mandatory white to a rainbow of colours.
- The cobbled streets and stairways: how these historic pathways connected homes, mosques and workplaces.
- Auwal Mosque: South Africa's first mosque and its remarkable history.
- The Bo Kaap Museum: one of the oldest buildings in the area and a window into Cape Malay family life.
- Exploring on foot: details of the popular Bo Kaap walking tour.
- Where to eat: recommended restaurants serving authentic Cape Malay cuisine.
- Where to shop: standout local boutiques worth a visit.
The Origins of Bo Kaap
Bo Kaap, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, dates back to the 1760s, when a number of "huurhuisjes" (rental houses) were built in the area. These homes were leased to enslaved people and political exiles brought to the Cape from Dutch colonies further east, including Batavia, Sumatra and Java in present day Indonesia, as well as parts of East Africa.
Many of these groups spoke some form of Malay, and the community that grew around this shared language became known as the Cape Malays. Today, many residents identify simply as South African Muslims, though the Cape Malay heritage remains central to the neighbourhood's identity.
The architecture found throughout Bo Kaap blends Cape Dutch and Georgian styles, with flat roofed homes lining narrow, cobbled roads.
Why the Houses Are So Colourful
One of the most asked questions about Bo Kaap concerns its trademark colour scheme. While the properties were still under lease, homeowners were required to paint them white. Once this rule was lifted and residents were permitted to purchase the properties they had long occupied, many chose to paint their homes in bold, vibrant colours.
This was widely seen as an expression of newfound freedom, and the tradition has continued ever since, giving the neighbourhood its unmistakable look today.
The Cobbled Streets and Historic Stairways
Bo Kaap's stairways date back to the eighteenth century and were originally built to connect the terraced homes constructed into the slope of Signal Hill. Artisans, tailors and cooks used these steps daily to move between home, mosque and workplace, and over time the stairways became informal meeting spaces for neighbours.
They also took on deeper cultural significance, serving as the setting for celebrations, processions and community gatherings. During apartheid, when large parts of the surrounding area were demolished, the stairways endured as one of the few physical links to the neighbourhood's earlier history. They remain a defining feature of Bo Kaap today.
Image: @globetrotter_fotos on iNstagram
Auwal Mosque
As the spiritual centre of Cape Town's Muslim community, Bo Kaap is home to numerous mosques, though none is better known than Auwal Mosque. Commissioned by an Indonesian prince and completed in 1794, it holds the distinction of being the first mosque built in South Africa.
According to local history, the mosque's first Imam is believed to have written several complete copies of the Quran entirely from memory while based there. The mosque can be found on Dorp Street and remains an active place of worship today.
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Image: @sien.explores on Instagram
The Bo Kaap Museum
Housed in one of the oldest surviving buildings in the neighbourhood on Wale Street, the Iziko Bo Kaap Museum dates back to the mid eighteenth century. The building was declared a National Monument in 1965, restored during the 1970s, and opened as a museum in 1978 under Iziko Museums.
Inside, the house has been furnished to reflect the lifestyle of a nineteenth century Cape Muslim family, offering visitors genuine insight into the social history of the community within a wider South African context. A visit here is one of the best ways to understand the neighbourhood beyond its famous streetscape.
Image: @michelle2ts on Instagram
Exploring on Foot
Bo Kaap is best explored on foot, and a free walking tour is one of the most popular ways to do so. Guests typically meet at Morning Mojo Cafe and Deli, easily spotted by the green umbrellas, with booking recommended though not required (groups of ten or more must arrange a private tour).
The route usually passes Wale Street, Auwal Masjid Mosque, Faeeza's Home Kitchen, a lookout point over the city, Chiappini Street, Atlas Spice and the Bo Kaap Museum, offering a well rounded overview of the area's landmarks, scents and sounds along the way.
Bo Kaap sits roughly a five minute walk from the city centre and De Waterkant, and around a twenty minute walk from the V&A Waterfront, making it an easy addition to a day spent exploring central Cape Town.
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Image: @capetownfreewalkingtours on Instagram
Where to Eat
Cape Malay cuisine is one of the highlights of any visit to Bo Kaap, and there are several excellent options in the neighbourhood.
Bo Kaap Kombuis
Widely regarded as one of the best Malay restaurants in the area. Run by Yusuf and Nazli Larney, the restaurant reflects the customs of Bo Kaap's original residents, with a menu built around traditional, flavourful and occasionally spicy dishes. A savoury platter of samosas and other finger foods makes a good starting point, followed by one of the classic Cape Malay curries served with roti.
Image: @bokaapkombuis on Instagram
Marco's African Place
Seating over two hundred guests, offers a livelier setting with a menu and atmosphere inspired by African cuisine, music and art more broadly. The restaurant hosts live entertainment daily, along with occasional jazz evenings, and its interior is decorated with ceramic pieces and traditional art from across the continent.
Image: @coolcapetravel on Instagram
Visitors keen to go a step further can also join a Cape Malay cooking tour, offering a hands-on introduction to the spices and techniques behind the neighbourhood's signature dishes.
Where to Shop
Monkeybiz
Located just beside the Bo-Kaap Museum, Monkeybiz is a boutique specialising in African beadwork. The shop reinterprets traditional beading techniques with a contemporary twist, and its pieces have gained enough recognition to be featured in a Sotheby's Contemporary Decorative Arts exhibition.
Beyond retail, Monkeybiz also functions as a non-profit, providing income to local families, employment opportunities for disadvantaged women, and funeral and burial funds for the beaders registered with the organisation.
Image: @monkeybizcape on Instagarm
Atlas Trading Company
Trading from its Bo Kaap spice house since 1946, the business has been run by the Ahmed family for three generations and is recognised as Cape Town's oldest spice store. Its range spans more than 150 spice blends, including thirty exclusive to Atlas, with a focus on Cape Malay, Indian and Thai cuisines alongside spices sourced from further afield.
For a family business built on nearly eighty years of trade, each blend reflects a long standing commitment to authenticity, quality and the flavours passed down through generations of Cape Town households.
Image: @bluegoose_gansbaai on Instagram
A Colourful Stay Awaits
Anyone planning a stay in Cape Town will find Bo Kaap an easy and rewarding addition to their itinerary, whether for an afternoon of exploring or a full day taking in its history, food and shopping.
For accommodation on the Atlantic Seaboard within easy reach of Bo Kaap and the rest of the city, Nox Cape Town offers a wide range of properties suited to all your holiday rental needs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Bo Kaap:
What is Bo Kaap known for?
Bo Kaap is best known for its brightly coloured houses, cobbled streets and its history as home to Cape Town's Cape Malay community.
Why are the houses in Bo Kaap so colourful?
Homeowners were once required to paint their leased houses white. Once the properties could be purchased, owners began painting them in bright colours as a symbol of freedom.
Is Bo Kaap safe to walk around?
Bo Kaap is generally considered safe for daytime visits, particularly along the main tourist routes. As with anywhere in the city, it is worth staying alert and keeping valuables out of sight.
How far is Bo Kaap from the city centre?
Bo Kaap is around a five minute walk from Cape Town's city centre and De Waterkant, and roughly twenty minutes on foot from the V&A Waterfront.
What is the best way to explore Bo Kaap?
Walking is the best way to take in the neighbourhood, and joining a local walking tour is a good way to learn the area's history while visiting its main landmarks.
Can visitors go inside the houses?
Most of the houses are private residences and are not open to the public. The Bo Kaap Museum offers the best opportunity to see inside a period home in the area.