Beirut: Lebanese Cooking Class & Family Meal with Tania
Cook Lebanese Food in a Family Kitchen, Then Eat What You Made
You step into a Beirut family kitchen to learn to cook five authentic Lebanese dishes from scratch (such as mezza or mloukhieh, kibbeh labniyeh and dessert), then sit down and eat them together. The lesson includes local arak tasting, Lebanese coffee, homemade jams, and all beverages. It's a private, hands-on experience with Tania's family in their traditional home.
Step-by-step itinerary
Authentic Lebanese cooking and meal
- Meet host Tania and family
- Learn to make five Lebanese dishes
- Cook traditional mezza or mloukhieh
- Prepare kibbeh labniyeh meatballs
- Prepare dessert with the family
- Chat about Lebanese culture and cuisine
- Listen to Tania's father explain arak making
- Eat traditional meal together
- Drink Lebanese coffee with jams and fruits
What’s included
Your visit includes a private, hands-on cooking lesson where you prepare five authentic Lebanese dishes in the family kitchen, a traditional homecooked meal featuring what you've made, Lebanese coffee, homemade jams and fresh fruit from the family garden, 1–2 glasses of local arak with an explanation of how it's made, all non-alcoholic beverages, and gratuities. The experience is private to your group only.
Times
- Every day 11:00
Before you book
Operated by Traveling Spoon
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The experience
The smell hits you first: garlic and fresh herbs filling a small kitchen in the outskirts of Beirut, where Tania or her mother is already moving between pots, their hands moving the way hands move when they've done this a thousand times. You're not watching from a stool. You're in there, sleeves rolled, learning to roll kibbeh by hand and to make mezza or mloukhieh the way it's supposed to be made. Five dishes in all, each one from the family's own recipes: the way Lebanese cooking actually works.
An agronomist specializing in food safety, Tania has a deep knowledge of Lebanese food and ingredients, and in her family's kitchen she's the person who knows how things go together. Her mother has been cooking these meals her whole life. Her father, a retired butcher who takes his meat very seriously, is part of the visit too. He keeps a garden on the outskirts of Beirut where he grows fruit and vegetables, and most of the family's produce comes from it. He'll also explain how he makes arak, the Lebanese national drink, while you're working. There's no script here, no "and now we do this step." The family talks while they cook. You ask about Lebanese food, about Beirut, about what it means to eat this way. The conversation moves to the same rhythm as the cooking.
When everything is ready, you sit down together and eat what you made. The meal ends with Lebanese coffee, homemade jams from the family's fruit, and fresh fruit from the garden. It's a private experience. Just you and the family in their home, no group, no schedule beyond the natural pace of cooking and eating together. If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, let them know when you book, and they'll adjust. Vegetarian options are available too.
Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to learn Lebanese cooking from people who actually cook it every day, not in a classroom. The experience is unstructured and moves at the pace of cooking and eating together, with time to cook five dishes and sit down as a family.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, French and Arabic.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.
What if Tania is traveling? Who teaches the class?
If Tania is away, her mother or brothers host the class instead. The cooking, recipes, and family experience remain the same.
Is the meal vegetarian?
The standard menu includes meat dishes like kibbeh labniyeh. Vegetarian options are available: advise at booking if you need one.
What's included in the price?
All taxes, fees, the private cooking lesson, the homecooked meal, non-alcoholic beverages, 1–2 glasses of local arak, Lebanese coffee, homemade jams, and gratuities.
Is the home wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Every area and surface is accessible by wheelchair. The experience isn't advised for anyone with a spinal injury. Infant seats can be requested in advance.
Can I bring dietary restrictions or allergies?
Yes. Mention any allergies, food restrictions or cooking preferences when you book, and they'll accommodate you.
Do I need cooking experience?
No. The class is hands-on and designed for all levels. Tania's family will guide you through each dish.
Beirut: Lebanese Cooking Class & Family Meal with Tania
3h · EN · FR +1
from US$ 100 per person
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