Learning to Cook Like a Local at Ubud

On our third day in Bali, we began the morning with an unforgettable experience at Subak Cooking Class in Ubud. I had booked the activity online, and it came with convenient two-way transfers, along with a guided tour of a local market and nearby rice fields—setting the scene for a deeply cultural and hands-on culinary adventure. The entire class turned out to be a highlight of our trip. Not only did we learn how to cook a variety of traditional Balinese and Indonesian dishes, but we also had the opportunity to meet and interact with fellow travellers from all over the world, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Subak Cooking Class was incredibly well-organised. The local chef walked us through each step with clear, engaging instructions and took the time to explain every ingredient we used. Although it was a fairly large group, he had several assistants who offered support throughout the session, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. Some of the dishes we made included Sate Lilit, a Balinese-style satay made with minced meat and spices, and Tempe Goreng, a crispy fried soybean cake that's a local favourite. Cooking these dishes from scratch gave us a deeper appreciation of Balinese cuisine—and tasting our creations was the perfect reward.