Cartagena: Cooking Class in Family Restaurant Kitchen

Summary

Cartagena cooking class with chefs in old city restaurant kitchen

You’ll step into a real Cartagena restaurant kitchen with local chefs, cook coconut rice and mojarra roja together, dance to Caribbean music while waiting for your fish to fry, then share stories over empanadas and patacones at their family table. Expect laughter, sticky fingers, and maybe even new friends by dessert.

What’s the experience like?

Someone hands me an apron — it’s still warm from the dryer, smells faintly of soap and fried plantain. We’re already laughing because I’ve managed to tie mine crooked. The kitchen is tucked right in the heart of Cartagena’s old city, and there are photos taped up everywhere — faces from who knows how many countries. Our chef, Mariela, points out her cousin in one of them, grinning with a big wooden spoon. “He always burns the rice,” she jokes.

I didn’t expect to actually help make the coconut rice for tonight’s service — you can hear the clatter from the dining room through the wall. Mariela shows us how to scrape fresh coconut; my knuckles get sticky and sweet. There’s music playing (cumbia?), and when we start on patacones she does this little shoulder shimmy that makes us all try it too. My plantains come out more like chips than anything else, but nobody minds.

The mojarra roja goes into the pan with a sizzle that drowns out everything for a second. While it cooks, Mariela teaches us a few dance steps right there between the counters — she says you can’t cook Cartagena food without moving your feet at least once. I’m not sure if I got it right but I’m pretty sure I smiled the whole time. Later we fill empanadas by hand and talk about our families back home, what food means where we’re from. When we finally sit down to eat together in the restaurant, it feels less like a class and more like being invited into someone’s story. I still think about that first bite of coconut rice — somehow smoky and sweet at once.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cooking class in Cartagena restaurant

• Arrive at family restaurant kitchen
• Put on aprons and hats
• Prepare coconut rice from scratch
• Make crunchy patacones
• Prepare panela water drink
• Cook Mojarra roja al papillon fish
• Dance to typical music while fish cooks
• Prepare empanada dough and fillings
• Eat all prepared dishes together
• Share cooking experiences and socialize

Top questions

How long does the Cartagena cooking class last?

The cooking class lasts just over 2 hours in total.

Where is the cooking class held?

It takes place inside a family restaurant kitchen in Cartagena's historic center.

What dishes will I learn to cook?

You’ll prepare coconut rice, mojarra roja (local fish), patacones, empanadas, and panela water.

Is there dancing during the class?

Yes! The chef teaches some typical local dance steps while waiting for dishes to cook.

Is lunch included after cooking?

Yes, you eat everything you prepare together at the end of the class.

Are professional chefs guiding the experience?

Yes, two professional chefs lead the cooking class and share stories about each recipe.

Is pickup included for this tour?

No hotel pickup is included; public transportation options are nearby.

Can infants join this activity?

Specialized infant seats are available if needed during your visit.

What’s included

Your day includes hands-on guidance from two professional chefs inside their family-run Cartagena restaurant kitchen in the old city; all ingredients for coconut rice, mojarra roja fish, patacones, empanadas; dancing breaks; plus a full meal shared at their table when you’re done cooking together.