Top Bali Cooking Classes

Bali is distinct in many ways from the rest of Indonesia, with its own culture, religion, and cuisine. On any trip here, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to taste Balinese food, but if you want learn how to create delicious Balinese dishes for yourself, here’s what you need to know about cooking classes in Bali.

Departing from Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak, or Denpasar, a traditional market tour with a home-based cooking class allows participants to become familiar with every aspect of Balinese cuisine. Get acquainted with typical Indonesian ingredients, such as exotic fruits and coconut oil, at a local market before learning how to prepare and cook what you’ve purchased. 

Cooking classes typically take place in a local host’s home, some of which are set among the rice fields. The focus is on traditional and authentic Balinese dishes, such as spiced fish in banana leaves, chicken satay, and dadar gulung (coconut pancake). 

If you want to learn how to make restaurant-quality cuisine, opt for a Balinese cooking lesson led by a professional cook. Many of these take place in the restaurant’s kitchen or in purpose-built cooking schools, where participants usually get their own station and have access to professional cooking equipment as well as a team that offers hands-on assistance. After the cooking course, you’ll get to try the dishes you’ve made, which may include ayam sambal matah (chicken with a spicy shallot, lemongrass, and chili salsa), seafood curry with coconut milk, and pisang goreng (banana fritters).