STREET FOOD · WORKSHOPS
The 15 best food workshops & classes you can book tonight, with what each costs, how many stops it makes and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Spend five hours with a local chef such as Federico, Tommaso, Alice, or Jon, shopping and tasting at Florence’s Mercato Centrale before making pasta, sauces, bruschetta, and tiramisu. Finish with Chianti, a digital recipe book, and a graduation diploma.
“Had a great time! Chef and staff were all nice and made a fun class. Touring the market to start was a nice activity”
Meet an English-speaking host and sushi master in Tsukiji for a 90-minute hands-on lesson. Watch fish being prepared, learn about knives, rice, wasabi, nigiri, and maki, then make five nigiri and one roll. Hosts such as Yuko, Yugo, Kate, and Tanaka have led sessions.
“We had an amazing experience making sushi and learning about the process. Nao was an excellent guide. He was so kind and welcoming. This was definitely a highlight of our trip! Highly recommend!”
Meet at The Greek Kitchen on Athinas Street, walk with your cook through Varvakios Agora, then prepare dolmades, spanakopita, imam baildi, tzatziki, and portokalopita. English-speaking cooks such as Vasia and Thanasis keep the class relaxed, social, and practical.
“LOVED LOVED LOVED this! We loved it all from the walk through the local food markets, to learning new recipes and sharing the food together as a group at the end. Despina was lovely. Efharisto Despina 😍”
At Pierogi & More in Warsaw, you’ll learn to knead dough, prepare meat and vegetable fillings, fold pierogi several ways, and cook the dumplings you make. The roughly two-hour class is taught in English, includes vegan options by request, and ends with a Polish liqueur tasting.
“This is an excellent experience for travelers visiting Warsaw! The opportunity to actually make pierogi ourselves (and eat them) was SO much fun. We are excited to try making pierogi at home with all that we learned!”
In Tsukiji, an English-speaking host such as Yuko, AJ, or Satoko guides you to a traditional third-floor classroom, where a professional chef demonstrates fish preparation before you make four nigiri and one maki. Eat your sushi with tea, soup, and an extra piece prepared by the chef.
“We went on a trip through the Tsujiki fish market with a very friendly guide who explained the different food types very well. The sushi course afterwards was very good, the chef and staff was very nice and helpful. Would recommend for any size group from 1-4 people.”
Meet at Bucareli 165 in Mexico City for a hands-on Mexican cooking class led by chef José. Visit a local market to help choose ingredients, make tortillas, guacamole, salsas, guisados, and dessert, then sit down to eat. The menu changes with the season, and vegetarian options are available.
“Wonderful hands-on class that starts with buying produce at the local market and ends with a satisfying meal that we cooked! I highly recommend this class for anyone interested in learning about spices, herbs and the process of making basic Mexican dishes.”
Meet at a real home in San Telmo for a three-hour hands-on class led in English or Portuguese by hosts such as Thomas or Sophia. You’ll make meat or vegetarian empanadas, corn-starch alfajores with dulce de leche, and traditional mate, then sit down to eat what you prepared.
“We are a family of 3 (parents and 1 teen). This activity worked well for all of us. We loved the structure of the activity and the guide was excellent.”
Spend 150 minutes in a clean open-air kitchen with instructors such as New, Tu, Gataii, or Poppy. Choose a soup, main dish, and salad, then cook and eat your own Thai meal. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available if requested ahead of time.
“New was brilliant! Activity was perfect and nice of them to share the recipes with you afterwards”
Meet an English-speaking chef, explore Florence’s Central Market with tastings, then cook fresh pasta, Nonna’s lasagna, sauces, and tiramisù. The class is fully hands-on, usually lasts 3 to 5 hours, and ends with your meal, Chianti, dessert wine, recipes, and new friends.
“Alicia was a wonderful guide/chef/teacher. Learned a lot at the market and in the cooking class. The time flew by and the food was delicious.”
Meet an English-speaking guide at Tsukiji Hongwan-ji Temple, explore the Outer Market, and sample local foods before traveling to ABC Cooking Studio. With an instructor such as Miwako or Miwa, you’ll prepare sushi, tamagoyaki, miso soup, and side dishes in a group of up to six, then eat what you make.
“Great tour and tour guide! The ABC Japanese cooking school was wonderful and we made a complete sushi dinner with soup sashimi and sushi rolls we eat it all and cooked it all it was a ball”
Join Rose Kitchen in a peaceful Hanoi villa for a two-hour, hands-on class led by an English-speaking Culture Storyteller such as Simon, also called Tín. Choose one dish, including phở, bún chả, bánh xèo, or spring rolls, then enjoy a complimentary local coffee.
“I chose to make bún chà. It was a one-on-one class as I was the only client /guest. Chef Simon (Viet name Tín) was engaging and I learned he had culinary training in Paris and spoke some French which I was happy to practice my French Read more”
Meet Yayo near Noda Station for a 2.5-hour home cooking lesson in Osaka. You will prepare okonomiyaki, takoyaki, miso soup, and other Japanese favorites, then eat your meal with optional sake and beer. The class holds no more than eight people, with vegetarian and pescatarian choices available by request.
“I learned so much from her cooking class! Ever since I have returned to the US I have been making different types of okonomyaki and my mother loves them!”
Spend two hours inside Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Curb Market with a guide such as Nic, Ariel, Glenn, or Kristin. You’ll sample four vendor dishes, learn market history, make biscuits from scratch, and take home the recipe. Groups are capped at 12, with dietary requests accepted in advance.
“Great presentation on the history of the market, entertaining host, good food, fun activity. Would recommend.”
Spend about 90 minutes making Japanese gyoza in a traditional Kyoto townhouse with an English-speaking instructor such as Hama, Maya, Ryo, or Yo. Choose a filling, make wrappers, fold and cook your dumplings, then try Samurai armor for photos if you wish. Aprons are provided.
“We had a great time learning how to make Japanese-style gyoza in the "Gyoza Cooking Class in Kyoto: Traditional Japanese Dumplings" and highly recommend the class if you're interested! Our instructor, Hama, was easy and fun to leaRead more”
In a roughly 2.5-hour class with Sakura Cook, you make fresh ramen noodles, soup, toppings, and two gyoza styles: pork and rectangular vegetable dumplings. Chef Keigo and his team teach each step in English, then serve your meal with green tea and seasonal dessert. Vegetarian options require advance notice.
“We had a amazing night, the steps where easily explained and the food was tasty! Will definitely make this at home aswell”
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