Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa: Learn 2 Dishes

Three hours: market walk, two dishes, one meal you made

A private cooking class in Addis Ababa where you learn to prepare two traditional Ethiopian dishes using family recipes in a local home kitchen, then eat what you cooked. Hilena, your host and a native of the city, teaches hands-on. Her brother translates. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You can add a guided tour of a neighborhood street market before the cooking begins.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private cooking class in Addis Ababa

• Hotel pick up
• Optional market tour
• Walk through local market
• Buy ingredients
• Cooking class in local home
• Enjoy meal prepared
• Hotel drop off

The experience

You start in Hilena's home kitchen in Sansui, about 20 km from the airport on Addis Ababa's outskirts. If you book the market option, you'll walk through a local neighborhood market first (stalls selling grains, vegetables, fruits, live poultry, and clothing), and buy a few ingredients before heading back to cook. Hilena teaches you how to make two Ethiopian dishes using her family recipes, walking you through each step. Her brother is there to translate, since Hilena speaks limited English. The whole class runs about three hours.

After cooking, you sit down to eat the meal you just prepared. The menu shifts with the season, and vegetarian options are available if you let the operator know when you book. Dietary restrictions and allergies can be accommodated. Just mention them at checkout. This is a private, personalized experience, though Hilena runs a guest house, so other travelers may be staying there. Your cooking class itself stays just between you and Hilena.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in all options. The experience is suitable for all fitness levels, and infants can come along in a pram or stroller, or sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private cooking class with Hilena in her home kitchen.
• instruction on two traditional Ethiopian dishes using family recipes.
• the meal you prepare.
• all fees and taxes.
• gratuities.

Options for this experience

4 options

Cooking+Lunch+RTT with HilenaGuide in English or Arabic · 11:00Pickup is included

Cooking+Dinner+RTT w/ HilenaGuide in English or Arabic · 17:00Pickup is included

Market visit and cooking class with Hilena (lunch)Guide in English or Arabic · 09:30Pickup is included

Market visit and cooking class with Hilena (dinner)Guide in English or Arabic · 16:00Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30, 11:00, 16:00 and 17:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Book the market option if you want to see where local ingredients come from before you cook with them. The standard cooking-only option works better if you'd rather spend the full time in the kitchen learning the dishes. Either way, you're cooking hands-on, not watching a demonstration.

Traveler reviews

4.83★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

Can I add a market tour to the cooking class?

Yes. Two of the four booking options include a guided walk through a local neighborhood market before you return to Hilena's home to cook. You'll see what grows locally and buy ingredients you'll use in the dishes.

What if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?

Vegetarian options are available, and Hilena can accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies. Tell the operator at checkout what you need, and the menu can be adjusted.

Does the price include hotel pickup?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in all four booking options.

How many dishes will I learn to cook?

You'll learn to make two traditional Ethiopian dishes using Hilena's family recipes, cooking them from scratch in her home kitchen.