Ubud Market Tour & Balinese Cooking Class with Putu

A two-burner cooktop produces a complex menu that would take most kitchens twice the time.

This private cooking class in Ubud begins at Pejeng market, where you shop for fresh ingredients alongside locals, then moves to Putu's home for a hands-on lesson in preparing 2-3 authentic Balinese dishes. You'll learn the spices, techniques and medicinal properties behind her family recipes while she demonstrates how a simple kitchen produces layered, bold flavors. The class lasts about 5 hours total, includes round-trip hotel pickup and ends with a home-cooked meal you've prepared together.

The experience

Putu picks you up from your Ubud hotel in the early morning and drives to Pejeng market, where the stalls are full of locals shopping for the day. You'll spend about 30 minutes walking through with her, learning to spot seasonal fruits, vegetables and spices while picking up a few ingredients for the cooking lesson ahead. The market is loud and crowded (good for photos, so bring a camera), and Putu points out what's fresh and what's worth buying for the dishes you'll make.

Back at her home in Ubud, you move into the kitchen and start preparing 2-3 dishes together: you might make grilled eggplant with tomato, grilled fish with Balinese sambal, or a curry. As you chop, grind and grill, Putu talks through the spices she uses (where they come from, how they taste, what they do in the body), and tells you the stories behind her family recipes. Her kitchen has only a two-burner cooktop, but watching her work, you'll see how she manages multiple dishes at once with speed and ease.

The cooking takes about 1-2 hours, and when everything is ready, you sit down and eat what you've made. The meal includes dishes like gado gado (vegetables in peanut sauce), rendang (slow-cooked curry with coconut milk), sayur urab (seasonal vegetables with fresh coconut), and black rice pudding with coconut cream. Local alcohol is included. Putu can adjust for vegetarian diets or allergies if you let her know in advance.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup from Ubud.
• guided tour of Pejeng market with ingredient shopping.
• hands-on cooking class in Putu's home kitchen.
• home-cooked Balinese meal you've prepared together.
• local alcohol.
• instruction in English from Putu.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1d before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Putu teaches in English, so you'll follow her explanations of spices, techniques and family stories without translation. This works well for food-curious travelers and families with children who want a real connection to how Balinese food is actually made and eaten, not a performance of it.

Traveler reviews

4.99★★★★★★★★★★

134 verified traveler reviews

5 ★132

4 ★2

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

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

What's the difference between the Pejeng market and a regular grocery store?

Pejeng market is where locals shop daily. It's crowded, seasonal, and full of fresh produce and spices you won't find packaged. Putu uses it to source ingredients for the cooking class and to show you what's available when, which changes what dishes she can teach you to make.

Will I actually cook the food, or watch Putu cook it?

You cook together in her kitchen. You'll chop, grind and grill while Putu guides you through each step, teaches you about the spices and techniques, and handles the timing so everything comes together at once.

What if I have a dietary restriction or allergy?

Putu can accommodate vegetarian diets and work around allergies if you tell her when you book. Let her know what you need and she'll adjust the menu and ingredients ahead of time.

Does the price include getting to and from my hotel?

Yes, round-trip transport from Ubud hotels is included in the price. If you're staying outside Ubud, there's an additional charge for transport. Let Putu know your hotel name when you reserve so she can arrange pickup.

How long does the whole experience take?

The class runs about 5 hours total: roughly 30 minutes at the market, 1-2 hours cooking, and then time to sit down and eat the meal together.

What dishes will I learn to make?

You'll prepare 2-3 authentic Balinese dishes, which might include grilled eggplant with tomato, grilled fish with sambal, or a curry. The menu depends on what's fresh at the market that day and what Putu decides to teach.