Africa · COOKING CLASSES

The 15 Best Cooking Classes in Africa

26 tours  ·  from $24

A tagine takes three hours and most of that is waiting, which is why the good classes start at the market. The 15 below are clear about how much you cook versus watch, and which ones send you home with the recipes.

Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Class with Pickup - Pickup from your hotel or riad
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Marrakech, Marrakech Tours, Morocco Tours, Tour Reviews

Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Class with Pickup

1.Moroccan Cooking Class with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,862 reviews · 3 hours · from $31Our pick

Get picked up in Marrakech and head to Chouf l’Or restaurant for a three-hour Moroccan cooking class. Over mint tea, chefs such as Mourad, Amine, and Ahmed explain the menu before guiding you through salad, tajine, and cinnamon oranges. Eat what you prepare, meet fellow cooks, and return with a certificate.

“Had a great time with Chef Mourad. Would recommend to anyone. Learned several Moroccan recipes to try back home.”

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Marrakech: Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class & Market Visit - The Moroccan mint tea lesson
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Marrakech: Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class & Market Visit

2.Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class & Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,861 reviews · from $40

Join Kawtar, Khmisa, and their cooking team for a hands-on Moroccan food class in a Medina riad. Shop for fresh ingredients in a local souk, learn the mint tea ritual, prepare several salads, tagines, and dessert, then eat together. The class is shared, usually small, and recipes arrive by email afterward.

“This was an awesome activity to do in Marrakech! And the fact that we went out to buy the ingredients ourselves was a really nice touch. We learned lots from Kawtar and Khimsa. And we even got the recipes of the delicious food we prepared, which was nice. I would recommend!”

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Marrakesh: Moroccan Dishes Cooking Class with a Local Chef - Meeting Hassan and Ahmed near Bab Doukkala
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Marrakesh: Moroccan Dishes Cooking Class with a Local Chef

3.Moroccan Dishes Cooking Class with a Local Chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,615 reviews · 4 hours · from $47Top rated

Join Hassan and Ahmed for a four-hour Moroccan cooking class near Bab Doukkala. Shop for produce at a nearby market, learn the ritual of mint tea, then prepare tagines, salads, and other dishes as a group. The class suits English and French speakers, includes a meal and recipes, and costs $47 per person.

“A great afternoon of making delicious Moroccan food! The chef and gentleman that explained how mint tea was made, were both knowledgable explaining Moroccan cultures and traditions which was very interesting. Both had an excellent way of engaging with everyone and making you feel comfortable. Our chef had a great sense of humour and his jokes and manner with our group of 8 ladies for my 50th birthday will not be forgotten. A definite highlight of our weekend in Marrakesh!”

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Moroccan Cooking Class & Marrakech Market Visit with Chef Khmisa - Mint tea and the Moroccan welcome
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Marrakech, Marrakech Tours, Morocco Tours, Tour Reviews

Moroccan Cooking Class & Marrakech Market Visit with Chef Khmisa

4.Moroccan Cooking Class & Marrakech Market Visit with Chef Khmisa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,504 reviews · from $39

Meet Chef Khmisa and Kawtar at Bab Doukkala Mosque, then shop for fresh ingredients in a local souk before cooking Moroccan starters, a main course, and dessert in a traditional Medina house. The shared class includes mint tea, lunch, hands-on instruction, and vegetarian and vegan options.

“Enjoyed this cooking class very! Learned a lot about seasoning and cooking the Moroccan way. The food was delicious. Laila said she would send all the recipes, but I haven’t received them yet. Please send. :)”

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Half-Day Cooking Class with Local Chef Laila in Marrakech - The market lesson: produce before recipes
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Half-Day Cooking Class with Local Chef Laila in Marrakech

5.Half-Day Cooking Class with Local Chef Laila in Marrakech

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 952 reviews · from $34

Join Chef Laila and her family for a four-and-a-half-hour Marrakech cooking class. Visit a local market when the schedule allows, learn to judge fresh produce and Moroccan spices, prepare salads, tagine, and dessert, then share the meal. Vegetarian and vegan menus, allergy adjustments, morning and afternoon sessions are available.

“This was a lovely experience made even better our hosts Hamsa and his sister. The meal was well organised and they were willing to give us choices around what we made and everybody in the group was encouraged to talk and get involved. The meal was absolutely delicious. Would recommend this to anybody wanting a fun activity and delicious food.”

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Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Class with a Local Family - The spice lesson before the chopping begins
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Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Class with a Local Family

6.Moroccan Cooking Class with a Local Family

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 668 reviews · 4 hours · from $33

Meet near Andalusia Restaurant and head into the Medina for a four-hour, hands-on Moroccan cooking class with chef Fatima, Yasser or their family team. You will learn about spices, prepare salads or briwat, cook a tagine, couscous or tanjia, and finish with dessert and the meal you made. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

“Yasser was really friendly & made the cooking lesson fun! It flew by. It was also lovely to do it with so many different people from around the globe! Would definitely recommend!”

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Cape Town: Malay Cooking Class and Lunch in Bo-Kaap - Meeting Faldela in her kitchen
Cape Town Tours, Cooking Classes, South Africa Tours, Tour Reviews

Cape Town: Malay Cooking Class and Lunch in Bo-Kaap

7.Malay Cooking Class and Lunch in Bo-Kaap

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 515 reviews · 2h 30m · from $49

Meet Faldela at 109 Wale Street for a 150-minute Cape Malay cooking class in Bo-Kaap. You will prepare dishes such as curry, rotis, and samosas, learn how spices like turmeric and tamarind shape the food, then eat lunch with soft drinks in a local home. Recipes are shared after class.

“Great experience learning about culture and Malay food. It was super interactive and everyone in the class got involved which made it fun!”

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Marrakech: Moroccan Cuisine Cooking Class in Local Home - Inside the Moroccan home
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Marrakech: Moroccan Cuisine Cooking Class in Local Home

8.Moroccan Cuisine Cooking Class in Local Home

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 508 reviews · 3 hours · from $24Best value

Join Abdo in a traditional home near Riad les Etoiles Berberes for a three-hour, hands-on Moroccan cooking class. You’ll prepare bread, tagines, salads, zaalouk, dessert, and tea, hear local stories, eat together, and take home the recipes. The class suits beginners and experienced cooks.

“Absolutely fantastic. Our guide (sorry I forgot his name) was BRILLIANT. Took time to talk a lot about the culture of Morocco. The food was excellently explained and it tasted fantastic. Thoroughly recommend this experience”

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Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Workshop at La Maison Arabe - What fills the three-hour workshop
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Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Workshop at La Maison Arabe

9.Moroccan Cooking Workshop at La Maison Arabe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 446 reviews · 1 - 3 hours · from $35

Meet at La Maison Arabe for a hands-on Moroccan cooking class led by a dada, a traditional cook, with translation in Arabic, English, or French. Choose a one-hour chicken tagine session or a three-hour class with salads, dessert, bread, tea, and cultural context. You cook at your own station, then eat what you made.

“The cooking class was a great experience and in my opinion a must.”

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Marrakech: Tajine Cooking Class in a Traditional Riad - Shopping for ingredients, including the chicken
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Marrakech: Tajine Cooking Class in a Traditional Riad

10.Tajine Cooking Class in a Traditional Riad

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 424 reviews · 4 hours · from $57

Meet your English-speaking guide outside Café France, shop for fresh ingredients in the medina, then cook chicken tajine, salad, and possibly dessert in a traditional riad. Guides such as Samira, Amina, Karima, and Sanae bring local food knowledge, Arabic tips, mint tea, and a recipe sheet to this four-hour class.

“It was one of the highlights of our stay in Morocco, Samira was a wonderful host/chef, we simply loved every minute of the morning from shopping together till enjoying our meal. Walking around/being together with a local person did open up completely new perspectives. Bravo and many thanks to her!!! Warmly recommended.”

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Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Class with Market Visit and Meal - Morning market visit: the most distinctive part
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Marrakech, Marrakech Tours, Morocco Tours, Tour Reviews

Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Class with Market Visit and Meal

11.Moroccan Cooking Class with Market Visit and Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 347 reviews · 4 hours · from $57

Spend four hours cooking in the Medina with local instructors such as Leyla, Kaoutar, Bouchra, and Fatiha. The 10:30 am class includes a short market visit, while the 4:30 pm class goes straight to the kitchen. Prepare tagines, salads, starters, dessert, and tea, then eat together in a Moroccan salon.

“This cooking class was the highlight of our trip to Morocco. We absolutely loved how attentive the ladies were, and the food was incredible. My daughters are still asking me to make the recipes again at home. 10000% recommend this class to anyone!!!”

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Marrakech: Atlas Mountains Cooking Class with Berber Family - Choosing vegetables at a local market
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Marrakech: Atlas Mountains Cooking Class with Berber Family

12.Atlas Mountains Cooking Class with Berber Family

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 299 reviews · 7 hours · from $54

Travel from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains with a small group of up to 10. Shop for vegetables, then cook tagine, couscous, and bread with a local grandmother such as Yemna or Yamina. Guides including Ibrahim, Badr, Ismail, and Abdulaziz explain Amazigh culture before you eat a three-course lunch in the family home.

“The trip was very authentic and the scenery was incredible! The guide and the family were all very friendly and nice and wanted us to really enjoy the experience! Highly recommend this trip to anyone who loves cooking and not very touristy more authentic attractions.”

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Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience - The history and hospitality add real value
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Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience

13.Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 236 reviews · from $57

At Pahari African Restaurant in Salt River, Caleb and Florence guide you through sadza, chicken stew, beef bones, greens, chakalaka, and sugar beans. You will hear how the dishes developed, help prepare the meal, and eat together in the African home tradition. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

“Have taken many different cooking classes all over the world and found that this was one of the best ever.,Florence and Caleb and staff provided the history of the food we cooked and interacted with the class. It was a great mix and the African Cooking Experience has to be recommended hiighly.”

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Fez: Souk Tour and Traditional Home Cooking Class - Preparing tagine, pastilla, salads, and more
Cooking Classes, Fez Tours, Medina & Souk Tours, Medina & Souk Tours in Fez, Medina & Souk Tours in Morocco, Morocco Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Fez: Souk Tour and Traditional Home Cooking Class

14.Souk Tour and Traditional Home Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 186 reviews · 3h 30m · from $65

Spend 210 minutes with Yassine and Amal at Dar Sunrise in Fez’s old medina. Begin with mint tea, choose dishes such as tagine, couscous, pastilla, or zaalouk, shop for ingredients in the nearby souk, then cook and eat together. Vegetarian menus are welcome, recipes are provided afterward, and groups are limited to 10.

“lovely evening, learning to cook a little from the moroccan kitchen with some amazing people and it was very tasty at the end. Such a nice and welcoming home to become a part for the time you are there and any future visits”

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Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Class for vegetarians and vegan - Meeting Yasser and Chef Fatima
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Marrakech: Moroccan Cooking Class for vegetarians and vegan

15.Moroccan Cooking Class for vegetarians and vegan

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 156 reviews · 4 hours · from $30

Meet Yasser or Chef Fatima near Andalusia Restaurant, then cook in a family home in the Medina. You’ll learn Moroccan spices, prepare salads or briwat, vegetable tagine or couscous, and dessert, then eat together. Vegan, vegetarian, and allergy needs are accommodated, though some classes include separate meat dishes.

“This was one of my favorite activities I did in Marrakech. It was really fun to learn all about the spices and cooking techniques. I had a really great time, one quick thing to note is that my class was mixed so there were also people cooking meat. That may be important for some vegans/vegetarians to note, but we were able to keep our distance to focus on our veggie tagine and all the sides were vegan. Overall an amazing experience in a great space.”

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