Ubud is a foodie’s paradise, especially for those eager to learn about Balinese cuisine in its most authentic form. What makes Ubud stand out is its deep connection to local culture—many cooking classes here aren’t just about recipes, but about experiencing Bali’s daily life, traditions, and flavors firsthand. We love the PRIVATE Authentic Balinese Cooking Class at Putu’s Home, where you live among locals in a traditional compound and get a true taste of Balinese family life (more info). It’s perfect if you want a deeply personal experience, complete with farm visits and homemade dishes.
If you’re looking for variety, Ubud offers everything from classic market tours with cooking lessons to farm-to-table experiences. Whether you’re on a budget, seeking a comprehensive culinary adventure, or wanting to learn about local markets, this list covers the top options. Each one offers a different slice of Bali, ensuring there’s something for every kind of traveler.
Quick Overview
The list below features 15 of the best cooking classes in Ubud, covering private family experiences, market tours, farm-to-table options, and group classes. Prices range from $25 to around $104 per person, with durations from 2.5 to 6 hours. Highlights include visiting traditional markets, cooking with farm-fresh ingredients, and learning authentic Balinese techniques. Whether you prefer a small group or a private session, these tours are tailored to help you cook like a local and understand Bali’s culinary soul.
1. PRIVATE Authentic Balinese Cooking Class in Ubud at Putu’s Home
At number 1, this private, hands-on experience offers a chance to cook in Putu’s family home, surrounded by farm animals, spices, and traditional Balinese medicines (more info). For about $75.60, you spend roughly 3 hours with Putu and her family, learning how to prepare dishes like grilled fish or banana leaf parcels. You’ll be guided through traditional methods such as pounding spices and steaming rice over a wood fire, making it a truly immersive experience. The highlight for many is the chance to feast on dishes grown and made right on the farm, washed down with local alcohol.
What makes this class stand out? The personal connection and cultural insights—Put’s warm hospitality, her family’s farm life, and the homemade medicines. Reviews rave about the authenticity and the genuine Balinese family atmosphere. It’s ideal if you want an intimate, authentic experience that combines cooking, culture, and hospitality. The inclusion of door-to-door transfers makes it hassle-free.
Bottom line: Perfect for travelers craving a personal, family-centered experience that combines food with Balinese culture.
2. Balinese cooking school (9 Dish Cooking and Market Tour)
Number 2 on our list is a comprehensive cooking adventure that covers nine Balinese dishes, making it a favorite among food lovers (more info). For around $26, you get a 5-hour journey from sourcing ingredients at a local market to preparing and tasting your creations. The morning tour includes a market visit—an excellent way to understand Bali’s ingredients, from spices to tropical fruits—before cooking in a local kitchen with a friendly instructor.
Guests love the variety of dishes, the access to ingredients you wouldn’t find at home, and the lively atmosphere. The instructor’s knowledge and humor make the experience memorable. It’s a great value, especially since you learn multiple recipes and skills, perfect if you want to impress friends back home.
Bottom line: An excellent choice for those who want to master many Balinese dishes and learn market shopping tips.
3. Balinese Farm Cooking Class by Pemulan Bali
Number 3 offers a farm-to-table experience in Ubud’s countryside (more info). For just $38, you visit a traditional market, pick your own produce at a farm, and learn to cook six authentic Balinese dishes. The emphasis on local ingredients and the farm setting makes this stand out—especially for those interested in sustainable, organic practices.
Guests praise the hands-on approach and the humor of the chef, making it pleasant and educational. The class includes tea and coffee, along with recipes to take home. It’s ideal for anyone wanting a relaxed, farm-based experience that connects cooking to nature.
Bottom line: Best suited for eco-conscious travelers wanting to combine farming, market shopping, and cooking.
4. PRIVATE Balinese Cooking Class in Ubud with Dewa with Transfers
Number 4 offers a deep dive into Balinese home cooking in a private setting (more info). For $69, you are taken into a traditional village near Ubud, where Dewa and his family welcome you into their walled compound. You’ll travel through terraced foothills, learn about local spices, and prepare a variety of dishes on a wood-fired stove.
Guests highlight Dewa’s storytelling and cultural insights, making this a rich cultural experience as well as culinary. The class includes a feast of your own making, accompanied by local drinks. The private transfers add convenience for those staying in Ubud.
Bottom line: Ideal for travelers wanting a private, authentic family experience with cultural insights.
5. Balinese Authentic Cooking Class in Ubud
Number 5 offers a small-group, half-day immersion into Balinese cooking (more info). For around $41, you visit a traditional market, tour a local farm, and learn to prepare multiple dishes. The session is flexible with morning, afternoon, or evening options, and vegetarian and vegan choices are available.
Participants appreciate the personalized attention and the chance to learn about local ingredients in a relaxed setting. Many mention how much they enjoyed the hands-on cooking and the delicious meal at the end.
Bottom line: Perfect for those seeking a balanced, intimate experience with flexible scheduling.
6. Jambangan Bali Cooking Class
Number 6 is a local home-based class focusing on sharing Indonesia’s culinary secrets in a family environment (more info). For $32.61, you explore a local market, learn more about Balinese cuisine than you would at a restaurant, and enjoy a meal you cooked yourself.
Guests love the family-friendly atmosphere and the chance to see everyday Balinese life, including a little music and local customs. It’s a more relaxed, personal experience suited for families or those wanting to connect with Balinese daily life.
Bottom line: Great for families and those wanting an authentic, intimate look at Balinese cooking.
7. Balinese Cooking class with traditional morning market visit
Number 7 combines a market visit with hands-on cooking in a small-group setting (more info). For $30.77, you get about 6 hours of culture, including a trip to a local morning market, where you’ll learn about spices and local ingredients. Then, you’ll cook in a traditional open kitchen.
Guests praise how well-organized and fun the class is, with one reviewer calling it a “wonderful cultural experience.” The inclusion of a market visit makes it ideal for those wanting to understand Bali’s food sources.
Bottom line: Perfect for foodies who want a comprehensive, cultural experience.
8. Market Tour & Authentic Balinese Cooking Class in Ubud with Putu
Number 8 offers a private, market-to-table experience (more info). For $104, you start with a market tour, then help prepare dishes like banana leaf parcels and Balinese curry in Putu’s family compound. The highlight is the chance to interact with three generations of the family.
Guests love how authentic and relaxed the atmosphere is, with many noting the lively market visits and the chance to learn about ingredients directly from a local family. It’s a full-day experience with a focus on family and tradition.
Bottom line: Best for travelers wanting a deep cultural connection and a full day of local immersion.
9. From Ubud: Authentic Bali Farm Cooking School & Organic Farm
Number 9 is a sustainable, farm-based experience for eco-minded travelers (more info). For $34.58, you pick vegetables from a green garden, tour a traditional market, and prepare six dishes on a community-run organic farm. The focus on farm-to-table highlights Bali’s organic farming.
Guests rave about the beautiful setting and the friendly instructors. This class is especially appealing if you want to see how Bali’s food is grown and prepared in a sustainable way, with recipes to recreate at home.
Bottom line: A top pick for eco-conscious travelers who want a full farm-to-table experience.
10. Bali Ubud Paon Cooking Class
Number 10 offers a small-group, professional cooking session with a local chef (more info). For $43, it includes a market visit, and you learn techniques to cook dishes like banana-leaf fish and chicken satay. Hotel transfers are included, making it convenient.
Guests appreciate the expert guidance and the variety of dishes prepared, with many saying the class is “a great way to spend an afternoon.” It’s suited for those who want structured instruction without sacrificing authenticity.
Bottom line: Ideal for travelers seeking professional instruction and a hands-on approach.
11. Bali Cooking Class with Culture Experience
Number 11 offers an immersive cultural experience with a professional chef (more info). For $50, you tour a local market, enjoy breakfast and banana fritters, then prepare a full menu including multiple entrees and desserts. Afterward, you take home recipes.
Reviews highlight the comprehensive nature of the experience and how it combines food, culture, and stories about Balinese life. It’s perfect for those wanting a well-rounded cultural and culinary day.
Bottom line: Great for curious travelers who want to learn not just to cook, but about Bali’s lifestyle.
12. Balinese Vegan Cooking Class with Fresh Harvesting & Garden Tour
Number 12 is a plant-based journey in organic gardens (more info). For $42.56, you harvest ingredients yourself, cook with traditional utensils, and enjoy a 4-course vegan meal surrounded by lush plantations.
Guests love the personalized and relaxing vibe, especially as many are solo travelers. One reviewer noted, “the food was DELICIOUS” and appreciated the intimate atmosphere.
Bottom line: Perfect for vegetarians or vegans wanting a hands-on, farm-fresh experience.
13. Balinese Cooking Class with Traditional Market Tour
Number 13 is a shorter but highly interactive class combining a market visit with a traditional cooking lesson (more info). For $58.16, you learn to prepare five dishes and enjoy a 2.5-hour lunch.
Guests mention the personalized instruction and enjoy the hands-on experience, especially the use of a stone mortar. It’s ideal if you want a quick, authentic culinary experience.
Bottom line: Excellent for travelers looking for an immersive yet concise class.
14. Bali Amazing Cooking Class
Number 14 offers a fun, comprehensive cooking experience for just $25.65 (more info). You visit a local market, cook 10 different dishes, and explore rice fields. Many reviews mention how delicious the food is and how much they learned.
It’s an affordable, lively class, perfect for travelers who want to learn a lot quickly and enjoy Bali’s scenery.
Bottom line: Best for budget-conscious food lovers who want a full taste of Bali’s flavors.
15. Exclusive Authentic Balinese Cooking Class at Family home
Number 15 is a private, all-day experience at a family home, with hands-on practice in a traditional open kitchen (more info). For $50, you start with a market visit, then cook in a 6-hour session, finishing with a feast.
Many reviewers highlight the warm hospitality and the chance to learn in a real family setting. It’s perfect for those seeking an intimate, extended experience.
Bottom line: Ideal for dedicated foodies wanting a full-day, personal Balinese culinary adventure.
How to Choose the Right Cooking Class
Picking the best cooking class in Ubud depends on what you’re after. If you want a private, family-style experience, try the Putu family experience, which immerses you in local life. For a comprehensive, multi-dish tour, the 9 dish class offers excellent value.
Budget travelers might prefer the Bali Amazing Cooking Class, while those interested in sustainable, farm-to-table food should consider Pemulan Bali’s farm cooking. Cultural seekers will love the culture-focused class, which combines storytelling with cooking.
Remember to consider factors like duration, group size, dietary options, and whether you want a market tour included. Booking early is advised, especially during high season (July-August and December).
Ubud’s cooking classes offer a fantastic way to deepen your understanding of Balinese life and cuisine. Whether you choose a private family experience, a market-to-table tour, or a farm-focused class, you’ll leave with new skills and unforgettable memories. For discerning travelers, options like the Putus family class and market tour with Putu stand out as truly authentic and value-packed. Don’t forget—early booking guarantees a spot in these popular classes.