A good hotel concierge will have their ear to the ground and know exactly what’s hot and happening in their town and those secret little places that even the locals aren’t aware of. We asked Cape Grace Concierge, Marilise Lombard to share five of Cape Town’s more creative places with us and she didn’t disappoint:

1) Art Jamming: Some people jam to music but here you jam art. Simply walk in and let your imagination take hold of the paint brushes and fill the canvas with colours to a chilled out beat. This is paintertainment for any age and very therapeutic for adults whose creativity has not seen the light of day for years. Find them at Cape Quarter and Willowbridge.

2) Haas Collective: The quirkiest gallery, shop and coffee venue which challenges you to see the world from a different perspective. It’s for people who appreciate unique offbeat design in the form of art, graphics, photography, jewellery, books, clothing and artefacts sourced locally and of limited availability. Their espresso bar even serves Kopi Luwak (the most expensive coffee in the world due to it having been ingested by a civet first, but that’s another story). Find them at 67 Rose Street, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town.

3) Cape Malay Cooking Safari: This is a guided tour with a difference where you get to hear how food, history and religion are interwoven in the Bo-Kaap culture of the historic Malay Quarter of Cape Town. It’s a tour that involves all the senses as you get to mix a masala, fold samoosas and balance the delicate flavours of a Cape Malay curry. Then it’s time to sit back, relax, and appreciate your handwork as you tuck into a traditional Malay Meal. Watch the video.

4) Montebello Centre: Tucked into the leafy suburb of Newlands, this best-kept secret has over twenty arts and craft studios and workshops, a historic greenhouse and nursery, country restaurant and organic deli farm shop. It’s a calming place of innovative creativity well worth a visit.

5) Fugard Theatre: The Fugard may be one of the newest theatres in Cape Town but its location in District Six – declared a White Only Area in 1966 – sets the scene for relevant stories to be told. Named for South Africa’s greatest living playwright, Athol Fugard, this theatre attracts acting greats like Sir Anthony Sher in Broken Glass and Sir Ian McKellen in Waiting for Godot. Don’t miss a performance here.