Greek Cooking Class in Epanomi: Learn from a Local Chef

Cook Greek food in a seaside home and sit down to the meal you helped create

A private cooking class in Epanomi, a seaside village outside Thessaloniki, where you learn to make traditional Greek dishes in Erna's home kitchen. You prepare side dishes and mains using fresh seasonal ingredients over roughly two hours, then sit down to eat them alongside dishes Erna has prepared, with Greek wine and coffee with homemade sweets to finish. The menu changes with the season. Vegetarian options are available if you request them when booking.

The experience

You arrive at Erna and Thanos's home in Epanomi and step into a kitchen where everything is made from scratch. Erna teaches you how to prepare a rotating selection of traditional northern Greek dishes: feta or anchovies wrapped in wine leaves, fried aubergines stuffed with herbs and cheese, a version of tzatziki made with purslane instead of cucumber, fish with herbs and pine nuts, or a traditional pie filled with wild greens like amaranth and dandelion. You work with fresh, seasonal ingredients and learn the techniques as you go. The cooking itself takes about an hour to two hours, designed to be approachable rather than intimidating.

Once you've finished cooking, you move to the dining room or garden (depending on the weather) and sit down to a full meal. The dishes you helped prepare come out alongside others Erna has made, paired with Greek wine. This is where the class becomes something closer to a dinner party. You eat what your hands made, taste how the flavors come together, and swap travel stories with your hosts. Thanos, who handles the fish in the kitchen, joins you at the table. Coffee and homemade loukoumi (traditional Greek sweets) wrap up the afternoon.

The class is entirely private, so the pace and menu can shift to match your interests or dietary needs. Erna and Thanos blend their Greek and Austrian backgrounds into the food and the hospitality, which means the cooking carries influences from both cultures. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, let the operator know at booking so they can adjust the menu in advance.

What’s included

• Private cooking class instruction from Erna.
• all ingredients and use of the home kitchen.
• a full meal with the dishes you cooked plus others Erna prepared.
• Greek wine with the meal.
• coffee and homemade loukoumi.
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Lunch, wine and a cooking sessionGuide in English, German or Greek · 11:00

Cooking, dinner and wineGuide in English, German or Greek · 18:00

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 dayDepartures at 11:00 and 18:00

Book up to1d before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, German and Greek

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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 yesterday

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Book the Cooking, Dinner & Wine option if you have a free evening and want the full social experience with wine. Choose Cooking, Lunch and Wine if you prefer an earlier time or a lighter meal. Either way, this is a private class, so the pace and menu adapt to your interests and any dietary needs you mention at booking.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

9 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, German and Greek.

Can children come?

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

What dishes do I actually cook during the class?

The menu rotates with the season, but typically includes feta or anchovies wrapped in wine leaves; fried aubergines stuffed with herbs and cheese; tzatziki made with purslane; fish with herbs and pine nuts; and either baked lamb or a traditional pie filled with wild greens like amaranth, dock weed and dandelion. You prepare these dishes hands-on in the kitchen under Erna's instruction.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. The class is designed to be fun and approachable for all levels. Erna teaches you the techniques as you work, and the focus is on learning and enjoying the process rather than demonstrating existing skills.

What happens after the cooking is finished?

You sit down to eat the dishes you helped prepare, along with others Erna has made, paired with Greek wine. The meal takes place in the dining room or garden depending on the weather. Coffee and homemade loukoumi finish the afternoon as you relax with your hosts.

Can I request vegetarian dishes or accommodate dietary restrictions?

Yes. Vegetarian options are available, and the menu can be adjusted for allergies or other dietary restrictions. You must inform the operator at the time of booking so they can plan the menu in advance.

How long does the whole experience take?

The cooking portion lasts roughly one to two hours. The full experience, including the meal and coffee afterward, takes about three hours total.