15 Cooking Classes Around the World Worth the Airfare

1.Xiao Long Bao, Beef Noodles & Boba Tea Cooking Class in Taipei

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 159 reviews · from $89Our pick

At CookInn Taiwan’s Zhongshan kitchen, you’ll knead dough, fold xiao long bao, prepare braised beef noodles and cucumber salad, then shake bubble milk tea. Instructors such as Angela, Lydia, and Diana keep the class friendly and practical. The group is capped at 10, with recipes and class photos provided afterward.

“It was an amazing experience got to create a wonderful lunch an we got a nice keepsake to go home of our recipe book”

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2.Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · from $77

Spend about three hours at CookingFunTaiwan’s small Taipei studio making Xiao Long Bao, chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, tofu strips salad, and bubble milk tea. English, Chinese, and Japanese instruction is available. Teachers such as Vivian, Sandy, and Serena guide the hands-on work, with vegetarian adjustments available if requested ahead of time.

“The staff were all amazing and lovely, our teacher was hands on and super helpful. Would recommend and suggest for all who come to taiwan.”

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3.Private Kyoto Sushi Cooking Class & Tea Ceremony with Emika

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · from $109

Spend about three hours in Kyoto with Emika, cooking sushi or traditional Obanzai dishes in her home. Prepare seasonal vegetables, miso soup, tofu dishes, and your chosen main, then share the meal with drinks and matcha. Add a market visit after lunch to see where local residents shop and buy Japanese ingredients.

“Amazing experience, friendly and knowledgeable host, value for money. We picked up many tips and techniques to try Japanese cooking when we get home.”

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4.Xiao Long Bao & Boba Tea Cooking Class in Taipei

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · from $79

At CookInn Taiwan’s Zhongshan classroom, you’ll spend two hours making soup dumplings from scratch, plus smashed cucumber salad, seasonal greens, and bubble milk tea. The 2:30 pm class welcomes beginners, limits the group to eight, and offers a vegetarian version with luffa and mushroom.

“Had a lot of fun in this cooking class with Cookinn Taiwan. Our group was only 4 people, so a bit more intimate with 1 instructor looking after all of us. The instructor spoke English well, was helpful and professional. For the class we actually Read more”

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5.Xiao Long Bao, Pork thick soup, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Light Meals Experience-B (Taipei Cooking Class)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $65

Spend 2.5 hours at CookingFun Taiwan in Taipei making xiao long bao, pork thick soup, and bubble milk tea. Vivian, Jennifer, and other English-speaking instructors guide you through the recipes in a clean kitchen. Classes run Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for up to 10 people, with a recipe book and food to enjoy at the end.

“Caring, friendly instruction and superb organization made it easy to accomplish. Nice intermittent tea breaks. The best was enjoying the food we made.”

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6.Traditional Afternoon Tea Experience and Baking Class in Stratford-upon-Avon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $175

At The Dough House in Stratford-upon-Avon, Fulden leads a private, hands-on class in scones, Victoria sponge, chocolate cake, jam, clotted cream, and seasonal pudding. You will sit down to afternoon tea with your baking, tea, coffee, and sparkling wine, then take home leftovers, recipes, jam, and antique crockery.

“Pace of the afternoon was just right and the involvement in the process made it the more interesting, was amazed that my husband thoroughly enjoyed it. Learnt some quick tips which I will definitely be using and also Graham has rekindled his enthusiasm to use the kitchen more.”

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7.Osaka Japanese Cooking And Matcha Class near Osaka Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $65

Join Ikuko and her son Takumi for a two-hour Japanese cooking and matcha class near Osaka Castle. Choose home cooking, okonomiyaki, or bento, then learn to prepare matcha at home. The small group, limited to 10 people, allows plenty of hands-on help. A sake tasting is available as an upgrade.

“Fantastic time for our whole family! An absolute must do for an authentic, fun & personal experience. Ikuko & her son Takumi are so charming and fun to spend time with! This is a must if you visit Osaka!”

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8.Street Food Cooking Class in Taipei : Gua Bao/Lu Rou Fan/Boba Tea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $79

At CookInn Taiwan’s Zhongshan classroom, spend two hours making Taiwanese small eats with a guide such as Angela. Prepare steamed gua bao buns, braised pork belly for lu rou fan, and chewy tapioca pearls for bubble tea. The class is capped at eight people, ends with a meal, and includes a recipe book.

“This cooking class was fantastic. The instructor was super friendly and helpful, and the food came out amazing. It was an interesting way to learn about how some of the street food we've been getting is made, and the recipe book we received will make a great souvenir. I look forward to trying what I learned again at home”

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9.Xiao long bao, Pork thick soup, Bubble milk tea. (Taiwan Cooking Class)-B

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $65

Spend 2.5 hours with Vivian and her team learning to fold xiao long bao, prepare Taiwanese pork thick soup, and make bubble milk tea. The small class, capped at 10 people, uses English, Chinese, and Japanese instruction. You will cook, eat, discuss local ingredients, receive recipes, and return home with useful kitchen skills.

“Excellent cooking class with a great instructor. Highly recommend anyone visiting Taipei to attend. Well worth it.”

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10.Home Made Onigiri and Matcha Cooking Class in Hiroshima

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $81

At 10:30 am near Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, you’ll make two onigiri flavors, miso soup, and matcha with Japanese hosts including Midori and Weiko. The small class welcomes children, offers a toy area, and ends with wagashi. Pickup may be available, and the Atomic Bomb Dome is a five-minute walk away.

“This was great way to spend a morning. Lots of learning, laughing and good was delicious! Great location right next to Peace Park too.”

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11.Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $77

Spend three hours making four Taiwanese favorites at CookingFunTaiwan in Taipei: xiao long bao, chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, tofu strips salad, and bubble milk tea. English, Japanese, and Chinese instruction is available, with Vivian and Lin Ling helping multilingual groups. The class is limited to 10 people and includes recipes to take home.

“I was really nervous at first because I was alone and very early but as soon as they greeted me, they made me feel comfortable already. It was also very helpful to have a very friendly translator beside us for those who don't understand tRead more”

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12.Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $77

Spend three hours in Taipei’s CookingFunTaiwan kitchen learning four Taiwanese favorites: Xiao Long Bao, chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, tofu strips salad, and bubble milk tea. A husband-and-wife host team works with English, Japanese, and Chinese speakers, with translator Dawn available for English instruction. The class meets near Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall and is limited to 10 people.

“This was a great experience! The instructor was so friendly, helpful, and personable. The studio was very clean and air conditioned and we stayed cool throughout the whole lesson. Definitely recommend. It was a really fun experience!”

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13.Osaka: Japanese Cooking Class with Matcha Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 2 hours · from $64Best value

At Wa Cafe Kitajima, a local chef such as Ikuko guides you through one Japanese cooking choice: home-style dishes, okonomiyaki, or bento. You cook with your group, then learn to prepare matcha. The class is limited to 10 people and sits a seven-minute walk from Morinomiya Station, making it an easy stop near Osaka Castle.

“the experience for my girls was a hit. the conductor / teacher was the best, enthusiastic, and happy her techniques came through well but you can tell she loves teaching and cooking hope she does other classes for my next trip”

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14.Taiwanese Baking Class with Oolong Tea Tasting in Taipei

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $80

At CookInn Taiwan’s Zhongshan classroom, you’ll spend about 2.5 hours making pineapple cakes and mung bean cakes, then taste them with Taiwanese oolong tea. The class includes snacks, recipes, clear instruction, and a special box of pastries to take home. It’s capped at 10 people and starts at 2:30 pm.

“The class was so well done, the instructor was patient and gave clear instructions. Our final scallion crackers and pineapple cakes were beautifully packaged for us to take home along with our lovely recipes. One of the best “treat yoself” experiences I have had!”

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15.Yokohama: Sushi & Gyoza Cooking with Matcha Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $81

Meet Yuka in Yokohama for a relaxed cultural session in her traditional tatami room. Choose matcha and green tea, manga drawing, or quiet tea time, then make sushi rolls and gyoza with her guidance. English instruction, food, drinks, sweets, and cooking supplies are included.

“The activity was awesome, very in depth experience that was a ton of fun!”

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