I firmly believe that the best way to connect with a culture is by breaking bread with locals. As a digital nomad, I get the unique opportunity to visit places all around the world, and to stay longer than most vacationers. Eating out at restaurants is great, but in my experience, it’s in learning how to prepare local food that I come to fully understand its meaning. I took my first cooking class in Paris in 2021, shortly after I started traveling full-time, and have since made it a point to sign up for a class in most every place I visit long-term. I mainly find cooking classes through Airbnb Experiences or word of mouth.
For me, cooking is a way to completely disconnect from work and stress and fully engage your mind and body on the task at hand. It’s a lovely break from technology, and a great way to meet new people and learn new techniques. I can’t wait to take more as I continue my travels, but for now, here are my seven favorite cooking classes I’ve taken across North America, South America, and Europe.
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Courtesy Airbnb
Traditional Greek dinner in Athens, Greece
This cooking class in Athens is located on the roof of The Artist Hotel near Monastiraki Square. The four-hour experience is terrific from start to finish. You learn how to prepare a five-course traditional Greek dinner—Aegean Salad, tzatziki, spanakopita (spinach and feta pie), moussaka (beef and eggplant lasagna), and galatopita (custard pie). Once you prepare the meal, you are seated in a room with breathtaking views of the Parthenon. My class had 11 people, including myself and the instructor. It was less hands-on than some other classes on this list, but still very informative. This class tends to get booked up quickly. I waited too long to book my spot, so I reached out to the host, who was happy to squeeze me in.
Courtesy Airbnb
Baking pastel de nata in Lisbon, Portugal
If you’ve ever been to Portugal, you’ve likely eaten your weight in pastel de nata, the traditional Portuguese egg custard tart. This two-hour class teaches you everything you need to know about this pastry and where to buy the equipment to make it back home. The class occurs twice daily from Monday through Saturday, so there’s no excuse not to book this on your next trip to Lisbon. I’m a much better cook than a baker, so this class was perfect for learning the basics of pastry.
Courtesy Airbnb
French pastries in Paris, France
This was the first cooking class I took back in 2021. There’s nothing more Parisian than pastry, and this class was so much fun. We made delicious strawberry pies, and it was fascinating learning how to bake vegan pastry. This experience is no longer available, but there are similar ones that I have yet to try but are on my list, like learning to make croissants, macarons, or baguettes. Although I cannot personally attest to those classes, the reviews speak for themselves—each has at least a 4.9 out of 5 average rating.
Courtesy Airbnb
Authentic Bulgarian in Sofia, Bulgaria
If you’re looking for less of a traditional cooking class and more of an evening of cooking with friends, the experience with Yana is just that. From the moment we met, it was like we had known each other for years. It was just my friend and I in the class, and we made traditional Bulgarian dishes of our choosing. We could be as hands-on or hands-off as we wanted. The class felt like a dinner party with my closest friends, talking about everything from travel to family. Yana’s passion for cooking and connecting with people from across the globe shines through, so this is a don’t-miss if you find yourself in Sofia. There wasn’t any availability shown on Airbnb when I was in Sofia, so I just messaged her, and she was more than willing to work with me to find a date that worked for both of us while I was in town.
Courtesy Airbnb
Courtesy Airbnb
Schnitzel and strudel in Vienna, Austria
It doesn’t get more Austrian than schnitzel and strudel. Lena teaches you family recipes that are easily replicated when you return home. The potato soup was the star—creamy, warm, and delicious. Learning to make the phyllo was one of the most valuable lessons of the day, as it’s used in so many cuisines worldwide, and it’s not very easy to do correctly. Lena hosts these classes a few times a week, so you have some flexibility on when to book.
Courtesy Airbnb
Courtesy Airbnb
Tacos al pastor in Mexico City, Mexico
Learning to make tacos in Mexico City is an unforgettable experience and probably my favorite class on this list. Chef Raja is so welcoming and has this class down to a science. You start the day at his home, where he has a beautiful courtyard and kitchen. Then, he takes you on the tram to a local market, where he explains how to select various vegetables and meats. At the front of the market, there’s a juice stand where you can get fresh fruit juice to drink while wandering around the market.
Once you have your supplies, you return to Chef Raja’s home and get to work. You prepare everything you eat—the tortillas, the meat, the garnish, the salsas, and the guacamole. Each person has a station to prepare their own portion, so you get detailed instruction throughout the class. Once you’ve finished, you sit down in the courtyard and enjoy the delicious tacos and company of Chef Raja and his wife. They host these classes almost daily, but it’s a popular one, so I recommend booking as soon as you know your travel dates.
Courtesy Argentine Cooking Classes
Empanadas in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina has a special place in my heart, and this cooking class only furthered those feelings. To start, you meet at Norma’s apartment in Buenos Aires, which has an incredible view overlooking the city. Throughout the class, you learn to make a lentil stew, empanadas, and alfajores (a cookie with dulce de leche). You also get to try mate, the nonalcoholic drink of choice for most of Argentina and Uruguay. It’s heavy in caffeine and resembles green tea in flavor. Alongside the meal, you can drink red or white wine produced in Argentina, some of the best in the world. You can book a class via email at normasoued@gmail.com or through the website, which is linked below.
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