Best Kid-Friendly Cooking Classes Around the World

(Yes, They Actually Let Kids Near Knives and Fire)

Hey traveling foodie families! If your kids think “cooking” means pressing buttons on the microwave, these hands-on classes will turn them into tiny chefs who brag about making their own dinner. We’ve taste-tested our way around the planet so you don’t have to. Here are the absolute best ones that welcome kids with zero eye-rolling from the instructors.

1. Paris, France – Le Foodist “Kids-Only Macaron Class”

• Location: Latin Quarter, Paris

• Age: 6+

• What they make: Rainbow macarons from scratch (shells, ganache, the works)

• Why it’s magic: The chef speaks perfect English, the kitchen looks like a pastel dream, and every kid leaves wearing a paper chef hat and carrying a box of 30 perfect macarons they’ll guard with their life.

• Approx cost: €95/child (adults can join for €120 or just drop off and go drink coffee for two hours).

2. Bangkok, Thailand – Baipai Thai Cooking School “Little Chefs” Half-Day

• Location: Quiet residential area (they pick you up from hotel)

• Age: 5+

• Menu: Pad Thai, spring rolls, mango sticky rice (and they get to pound their own curry paste with a giant mortar)

• Bonus: Market tour first where kids pick the freshest herbs and freak out over durians.

• Cost: ~$55/child, $75/adult. Best value on the entire list.

3. Florence, Italy – Mama Florence “Pizza & Gelato for Families”

• Location: Cute apartment kitchen overlooking the Arno

• Age: 4+ (yes, really)

• Hands-on: Stretch pizza dough, crank the gelato machine, eat everything hot.

• The gelato portion alone is worth the flight. They teach the real custard-base method, then let kids invent flavors (Nutella-swirl and “unicorn” were big hits).

• Cost: €90/child, €110/adult including wine for parents.

4. Tokyo, Japan – Buddha Bellies “Sushi Rolling for Kids”

• Location: Central Tokyo

• Age: 6+

• What happens: They dress kids in tiny happi coats, teach perfect rice fanning, then let them roll inside-out California rolls and nigiri.

• The chef is a former kindergarten teacher—patience level: saint.

• Cost: ¥9,000/child (~$60), includes green-tea tiramisu dessert even picky eaters inhale.

5. Mexico City, Mexico – Auberge Cooking School “Tacos & Chocolate”

• Location: Coyoacán (Frida Kahlo neighborhood)

• Age: 5+

• Menu: Hand-pressed tortillas on a comal, three salsas, and grinding cacao beans on a metate for real drinking chocolate.

• They end by making (and smashing) their own piñata filled with the candy they just created. Chaos level: perfect.

• Cost: ~$65/child.

6. Barcelona, Spain – bcnKITCHEN “Paella Party for Families”

• Location: Born district

• Age: 6+

• Giant outdoor paella pan, rabbit/chicken/seafood version (or veggie), sangria for parents, fresh lemonade for kids.

• The chef lets kids throw the rice from a height “for luck” – instant legend status.

• Cost: €75/child, €95/adult.

7. Cape Town, South Africa – Andulela “Cape Malay Curry & Koeksister Class”

• Location: Bo-Kaap (those colorful houses!)

• Age: 7+

• Kids learn to fold samosas, make fragrant curry, and braid koeksisters (syrupy doughnuts).

• Walking tour of the neighborhood first—history + rainbow photo ops.

• Cost: ~$50/child.

8. New York City – Taste Buds Kitchen “Around-the-World” Series

• For when you want the experience without the passport.

• Weekly rotating countries: Japanese gyoza, French crêpes, Mexican street tacos, etc.

• Age: 2–teen (they split classes perfectly). Drop-off available.

• Cost: $45–$65/child per class.

Pro Tips From Parents Who’ve Done the Apron Circuit

• Book the earliest morning slot—fewer meltdowns, cooler kitchens.

• Feed them a small snack before; the smelling-to-eating lag is torture.

• Bring a reusable container; leftovers are inevitable and priceless on the flight home.

• Let them wear the chef hat on the plane. Just accept it.

The best souvenir we ever brought home? A kid who now reads recipes for fun and yells “Behind!” when carrying hot things to the table.

Which country’s class are you booking first? Tell us below—we’re already hungry for the next session.

Bon appétit & safe travels, The ExploreWithYourKids.com family

PS - Don't forget, we offer customized trip itineraries built to your specifications! Trip length, destination, budget, family size, and preferences are all taken into account when designing your trip. Hotels, restaurant recommendations, things to do, what not to miss, interesting food dishes in that area and much more are included in your personalized itinerary. Click here for more information.