Tour operator
Casa Luna Cooking School
Janet DeNeefe's cooking school, founded in 1992 as Ubud's original, teaching hands-on Balinese classes in the gardens of Honeymoon Guesthouse on Jalan Bisma.
Paon Bali Cooking Class
A Balinese cooking class in a family compound in Laplapan village, combining a market visit, a walk through the rice fields and a hands-on lesson in Balinese spice pastes.
At a glance
- Type
- Cooking class with market and rice-field visit
- Area
- Laplapan, Ubud, Indonesia
- Official site
- paon-bali.com
Good to know
- Morning and afternoon classes
- Market visit
- Vegetarian menu
- Recipe book
Why we recommend it
Paon Bali is a Balinese cooking class run in Laplapan, a village in the Petulu area of Ubud, on Jalan Raya Laplapan. The class is built around cooking in a Balinese household setting, with an explanation of how a family compound is laid out and lived in, rather than in a purpose-built school. It was founded by Puspa.
There are two sessions a day. The morning class starts at 8.30am and includes a visit to a traditional Balinese market to see the produce, spices and offerings on sale. Both morning and afternoon classes, the latter starting at 3.30pm, include a walk through the rice fields, where the hosts explain how rice is grown and how the subak irrigation system shares water between farmers, and an introduction to the layout of a Balinese family compound and the rhythm of family life.
The cooking itself is hands-on, and it begins with the ingredients: the hosts explain the ingredients on the table before anything goes into the pot. The lesson starts with the base sauces that underpin Balinese cooking, base gede and base rajang, which are then used across many of the dishes. From there the group prepares a full Balinese meal, which recent participants say runs to around nine dishes, including dishes such as yellow chicken curry and gado gado, before sitting down together to eat what they have made. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus are available, and everyone takes home a free recipe book.
Classes can be booked through the booking page on Paon Bali's website or by WhatsApp. Visitors have reported that the hosts can collect guests from their hotel in Ubud if they do not have their own transport, but confirm this when booking. The class ends with a shared meal, so there is no need to plan lunch or dinner afterwards.
Paon Bali suits couples, families, groups of friends and solo travellers, and it works well early in a trip, since the techniques and ingredients make the food you eat for the rest of your stay easier to understand. The afternoon class is a good option for anyone who prefers to keep the morning free for sightseeing.
Paon Bali Cooking Class FAQs
Where is Paon Bali?
On Jalan Raya Laplapan in Petulu, Ubud, in Laplapan village.
What times are the classes?
Morning classes start at 8.30am and afternoon classes at 3.30pm.
Does the class include a market visit?
The morning class includes a visit to a traditional Balinese market.
What do you learn?
Balinese base sauces such as base gede and base rajang, then a full meal of Balinese dishes.
Is there a vegetarian option?
Yes. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus are available.
Do I get the recipes?
Yes. Every participant receives a free recipe book.
Who founded Paon Bali?
It was founded by Puspa.
How do I book?
Through the booking page on the website, by WhatsApp or by email to [email protected].