Sri Lankan Cooking Lesson in Bentota: Learn to Cook Rice & Curry

Join a small group to select fresh fish and veggies, then share the meal you cook together

A three-hour cooking class in Bentota where you learn to prepare Sri Lankan rice and curry dishes, choose fresh vegetables and fish at the local market with your instructor, and share the meal you've cooked at the end of the session. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Groups stay under six people. One day's notice required to book.

The experience

The class starts with a trip to Bentota Market, where you and your instructor pick out fresh vegetables and fish together. You choose what goes into the pot. This is not a demonstration where you watch from the side. You're handling the ingredients, learning which spices go where and why, and understanding the techniques that make Sri Lankan food work. The instructor walks you through the foundations: how the spices layer, how to build heat and flavor, what each step does to the dish.

You'll cook a full meal over the three hours, working through the preparation and the cooking itself. The class covers the classics (Sri Lankan rice and curry dishes), and by the end you'll have made something you can actually recreate at home. No experience needed. The instruction starts from the ground up. After everything is cooked, the group eats together, tasting what you've made while it's still hot.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't need to arrange transport. The class holds a maximum of six people, which keeps it hands-on instead of crowded. If you need seafood or meat beyond what the market offers, you can buy it on your own account before the class starts. Vegetarian options are available if you let the instructor know when you book.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• local guide and instruction.
• market trip to select fresh vegetables and fish.
• the cooked meal shared at the end.
• bottled water.
• all taxes and fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

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

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible

Operated by daytoursrilanka

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or directions to find the cooking school. The instructor collects you and brings you back, which settles the logistics if you're staying elsewhere in Bentota or arriving without a rental.

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Top questions

What exactly do I learn to cook in this class?

Sri Lankan rice and curry dishes. The instructor teaches you the spices, the preparation techniques and the cooking methods that make the cuisine work, so you leave with the ability to prepare a few dishes to a good standard at home.

Do I really go to the market, or is that just part of the description?

You go to Bentota Market with the instructor and pick your own vegetables and fish for the class. The instructor guides you through what to choose and why, so you're learning ingredient selection as part of the lesson.

Is the meal at the end included, or do I pay extra?

The meal you cook is shared free of charge at the end of the session. You eat what you've made together as a group.

How many people are usually in the class?

The maximum is six people per session, which keeps the class small enough for hands-on instruction and individual attention from the cook.

What if I'm staying in a villa instead of a hotel?

If you're renting a villa in Bentota, the class can be arranged there instead of at a separate location. Contact the instructor when you book to arrange this option.