Azerbaijani Cooking Class in Baku: Make Three Dishes

Walk ancient streets, then roll up your sleeves to make dolma, qutab, and ayran

An Azerbaijani cooking class in Baku's UNESCO Old City where you prepare dolma, qutab and ayran under a local chef's instruction, then share the meal you've made. The half-day also includes a guided walk past the 12th-century Maiden Tower and 15th-century Palace of the Shirvanshahs, hotel pickup, and finishes with samovar tea and local sweets. Available as a private or group tour with an English or Russian-speaking guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Maiden Tower15m
2. Palace of the Shirvanshahs15m
3. Baku Old City2h · entry included

Old City tour and cooking class

• Check-in at Old City office
• Visit the Double Gates entrance
• Explore the Maiden Tower
• See Juma Mosque
• Tour the Palace of the Shirvanshahs
• Pass by Ali Shamsi workshop
• Attend Azerbaijani cooking class
• Enjoy samovar tea with sweets

The experience

The morning starts at the operator's office in Icherisheher, the walled Old City, and moves through the Double Gates: 12th-century fortified entrances that still mark the boundary between Baku's medieval core and the modern city. From there, the walk passes the Maiden Tower, a UNESCO monument from the same era, and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a 15th-century palace UNESCO describes as one of the pearls of Azerbaijan's architecture. The guide points out the Juma Mosque, which has functioned since the 12th century, and stops at the workshop of Ali Shamsi before moving into the cooking space.

The class itself happens in a traditional restaurant in the Old City. You work with a local chef to prepare three dishes: dolma (vine leaves stuffed with meat and rice), qutab (a stuffed flatbread), and ayran (a yogurt drink with mint). The chef demonstrates each one, then you make them yourself. There's no standing and watching. You're handling the ingredients and the techniques. After the class finishes, you sit down and eat the three dishes you've just made in a communal setting, the way the meal is meant to be shared.

The experience closes with the samovar ritual: fragrant tea brewed in the traditional urn, poured into small glasses, and served with local sweets and homemade jams. This is how Azerbaijani hospitality works, and it's the last thing you taste before heading back. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the guide speaks English or Russian. The whole thing runs three to four hours.

What’s included

• A guided walking tour of the Old City passing the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• hands-on cooking instruction from a local chef.
• preparation of three Azerbaijani dishes (dolma, qutab, and ayran).
• lunch featuring the dishes you've made.
• samovar-brewed tea with local sweets and jams.
• a live guide in English or Russian.

Options for this experience

2 options

Group tourGuide in English or Russian · 11:00Shared tour, pickup is included

Private tourGuide in English or Russian · 7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00Privately organized, lasting 3 hours, with flexible timing to suit your preference. Includes pickup.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Old City Tours LLC

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you want the class and the walking pace shaped to your group's interests and timing. The group option works well if you're traveling solo or want to meet other travelers while learning to cook: the shared meal at the end is built for that.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What dishes do I actually make in the cooking class?

You prepare dolma (vine leaves stuffed with meat and rice), qutab (a stuffed flatbread), and ayran (a refreshing yogurt drink with mint). After you finish making them, you eat all three together in the restaurant.

Does the tour include the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs?

Yes. The walking portion of the tour passes both landmarks. The Maiden Tower is a 12th-century monument, and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs dates to the 15th century. Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Old City.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour. The guide will meet you at your accommodation and return you there at the end.

Can I book this as a private tour or does it have to be a group?

You can choose between a private tour or a group tour at checkout. Both options follow the same itinerary and include the same cooking class and walking tour.

How long does the whole experience take?

The tour runs three to four hours from start to finish, including the walking tour, the cooking class, lunch, and the samovar tea service.