Ubud: Private Balinese Cooking Class & Family Lunch with Pickup

Summary

Cook Balinese dishes in Ubud village home with Dewa’s family

You’ll join Dewa’s family in their Ubud village home for a private Balinese cooking class, starting with a garden tour full of fragrant herbs. Cook traditional dishes over a wood fire alongside Jero, then share lunch together under the trees. Expect laughter, real conversation, and flavors you’ll remember long after—plus round-trip hotel pickup so you can just relax into it all.

What’s the experience like?

The driver was already waiting outside my hotel in Ubud at 9am — I was running late, fumbling for my sandals, and honestly worried I’d forgotten something (turns out, just my sunglasses). The drive north was quiet except for the distant hum of scooters and the smell of rain on warm stone. When we pulled up to Dewa’s family compound, it felt like stepping into another world — mossy walls, chickens darting around, and Dewa himself waving us in with this easy grin like we were old friends.

We started with a walk through his garden. I tried to remember all the names — galangal, cacao, nutmeg — but mostly I just remember the sharp green scent when he snapped a leaf and handed it to me. Dewa explained how his grandmother used some of these plants for medicine. His wife Jero joined us in the open-air kitchen, laughing when I nearly dropped an egg into the fire (she caught it one-handed, didn’t even blink). Cooking over a wood-fired stove is harder than it looks; my arms still smelled faintly smoky hours later.

I didn’t expect to feel so at home in someone else’s kitchen. We made pepes ikan (tuna wrapped in banana leaves), bumbu kuning chicken with turmeric and coconut milk, plus these corn fritters called bregedel that I could eat forever. Jero showed me how to grind spices by hand — she made it look easy but my attempts were… less graceful. Lunch was under a shady pavilion with their kids running past and a breeze carrying hints of fried shallot and coconut. I still think about that first bite of bumbu kuning — bright yellow sauce, soft chicken, rice that tasted like earth and smoke.

It wasn’t really about perfect recipes or technique (though you do get to take their family recipes home). It was more about sitting together around the table while Dewa poured us local beer and told stories about growing up here. There was this moment where everything got quiet except for birds outside and someone’s radio drifting from next door. Sometimes you travel halfway across the world for moments like that — not big things, just small ones that stick with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Private Balinese cooking class in Ubud

• Pick up from Ubud hotel at 9am
• Walk garden to discover fruits and spices
• Visit Dewa's traditional family compound
• Cook Balinese dishes with Dewa's wife
• Prepare pepes ikan, bumbu kuning, bregedel
• Enjoy the meal you helped prepare
• Receive family recipes and memories

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Ubud cooking class?

Yes, round-trip transfers from Ubud hotels are included.

What dishes do you cook during the Balinese cooking class?

You’ll make pepes ikan (grilled tuna), bumbu kuning chicken or fish, corn fritters (bregedel), vegetable salad (jukut urab), plus dessert or fruit.

How long does the private cooking class last?

The experience lasts about 4 hours including pickup time.

Can vegetarians join this Balinese cooking class?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if requested when booking.

Is this a professional cooking school?

No—it’s an informal class hosted at Dewa’s family home by expert home cooks.

Who leads the cooking class in Ubud?

Dewa or another family member hosts along with his wife Jero.

Are children welcome at this cooking experience?

Yes—infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are fine.

Where exactly is Dewa’s house located?

Dewa’s compound is in Keliki village just north of Ubud among terraced foothills.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip hotel pickup from Ubud, a private garden tour to learn about local fruits and spices, hands-on Balinese cooking instruction at Dewa’s family home using traditional methods, all ingredients for several classic dishes plus drinks like local beer or bottled water—and finally lunch shared together before heading back into town.