Experience the Art of Cooking Authentic Balinese Cuisine

Novi’s Bali Kitchen is a private cooking class for one to four people, not a crowded demonstration with a quick taste at the end. You choose recipes before arriving, then work through the ingredients, cutting, seasoning, and cooking with Novi, a Balinese cook who teaches in English or Indonesian. The class runs from 10 a.m. to about 2 p.m., with lunch made by your own hands.

I like the freedom to set the menu, especially if you want vegetarian food or a particular level of spice. I also like the home setting, where refreshments, a garden, and the occasional appearance of a dachshund or turtle add a personal touch. The main drawback is the $154 per-person price, which is high for a Bali cooking class, though the private format and generous meal make the cost easier to justify for a small group.

Key points to know before booking

• Private format: The booking is for one to four people, so you are not sharing the cooking station with a large class.
• Recipes chosen in advance: Pick from more than 200 recipes on Novi’s Bali Kitchen or discuss a personal request.
• Four-hour home class: Arrive at 10 a.m. and finish around 2 p.m., with refreshments and a full lunch included.
• Several parts of the meal: Prepare two main-course dishes, two vegetable sides, sambal, steamed rice, and one dessert.
• Flexible location: The class can take place at Novi’s home, your private villa, or another private venue.
• Pickup can be arranged: Transport is not included, but a car can collect you and return you if arranged during booking.

A Balinese cooking class built around your menu

The best reason to choose Novi’s Bali Kitchen is control. You do not simply arrive and accept a fixed menu. Before the class, you can select recipes from more than 200 choices on Novi’s YouTube channel, Novi’s Bali Kitchen. You can also ask about a particular dish.

That matters because Balinese food covers a wide range of tastes and ingredients. You might want a vegetarian meal, chicken, prawns, or pork. You might prefer gentle heat or a properly fiery sambal. The class is designed to adjust to your wishes rather than force every booking through the same menu.

For a small group, this makes the cooking more useful. You can ask why a spice is used, taste ingredients before they go into the pan, and get help with the right way to cut them. You also have more room to take part in the cooking instead of watching someone else do the skilled work.

The class is also a good choice if you have already eaten plenty of standard restaurant versions of Balinese food. Novi uses fresh ingredients and traditional recipes, giving you a closer look at how the food is made in a Balinese home setting.

Arriving at Novi’s home near 10 a.m.

Classes begin at 10 a.m. and finish at about 2 p.m. Novi provides a homemade welcome drink when you arrive, with more refreshments served during the morning. That small detail sets the tone: this is meant to feel like a relaxed visit as well as a lesson.

If you arrange transport in advance, a car can collect you from your accommodation and return you after class. The ride is not included in the $154 price, so ask about the cost when booking. If you make your own way there, look for the large Novi’s Bali Kitchen banner on a stand outside the cooking school gate.

The setting is Novi’s home, and the informal details are part of its charm. A small dachshund called Scotty has appeared during a class, and a turtle named George has wandered through the garden. These animals are not the point of the experience, but they add to the home-kitchen feel. If you are not comfortable around animals, mention that when arranging your visit.

Choosing two mains, vegetable sides, and dessert

The stated menu includes two main-course dishes, two vegetable side dishes, one dessert, sambal, and steamed rice. The main courses can be vegetarian, chicken, prawns, or pork. In practice, the menu can be discussed ahead of time, so you should settle the exact dishes before the class rather than assume a fixed combination.

The food planning is one of the strongest parts of this experience. If you like Indonesian food but need to avoid a particular ingredient, ask before booking. The supplied information does not promise a specific allergy program, so dietary needs should be discussed clearly in advance.

You can also set the heat level. One pair asked for food that was spicy but not too spicy, and Novi adjusted the seasoning to suit them. That is useful in Bali, where a dish described as mild can still have a serious kick, and where sambal is often treated as an essential part of the plate rather than an optional garnish.

Expect to work with fresh herbs and spices, and to taste ingredients before they are cooked. You will learn through doing: cutting, combining, seasoning, and cooking the dishes yourself. The pace is not rushed, leaving time for Novi to explain what each ingredient does and how the finished food should taste.

The cooking itself, from cutting board to stove

This is not a short cooking demonstration followed by a prepared lunch. You take part in the main work. That makes the four-hour duration worthwhile, especially if your goal is to recreate the dishes at home.

The class covers practical skills that are easy to miss when you only eat Balinese food in restaurants. You can learn how ingredients should be cut, how spice mixtures are combined, and how to judge seasoning before the food is served. Novi also explains local spices and traditional dishes as you cook.

The private format helps here. With only one booking and a maximum of four people, you should have regular access to the preparation and cooking. A larger group might offer more social energy, but it would make it harder for every person to handle each stage. Novi’s class is better for people who want to leave with usable cooking skills.

The relaxed pace also means you are not pushed from one task to another. There is time to sit, talk, and enjoy refreshments. That suits the Balinese style described for the class, though anyone looking for a brisk, tightly timed workshop may find the slower rhythm less efficient.

Lunch is the reward, not an afterthought

Once the food is ready, you sit down and eat what you have prepared. Lunch is included, as are the ingredients and refreshments. The meal gives the class a clear payoff: you have not just learned about Balinese food, you have made a complete spread.

The combination of mains, vegetable dishes, rice, sambal, and dessert should leave you with a broad sense of how a Balinese meal comes together. It is also helpful to taste the dishes immediately after cooking, while the methods and ingredients are still fresh in your mind.

The menu can vary, so do not book expecting a specific dessert or side dish unless you have agreed on it with Novi beforehand. One class included a salad, main dish, sides, dessert, and a drink, showing how the final meal can be shaped around the chosen recipes.

I especially like that the lunch is part of the teaching rather than a separate restaurant stop. You can compare the finished food with the ingredients you tasted earlier and see how chopping, heat, spice, and cooking time changed them.

Why the $154 price may make sense

At $154 per person, this is not a budget activity. If four people book together, the private setting becomes more cost-effective per group than booking alone, but it remains a premium class compared with a standard shared cooking workshop.

The price includes the cooking instruction, all ingredients, welcome drink, refreshments, lunch, and the full four-hour session. You are also paying for a private booking, menu choice, and direct time with Novi. For people who care about personal attention and want to choose the food, those extras have real value.

Transport costs extra. A car can be arranged from your accommodation, but confirm the charge before you agree to it. That is the only notable add-on identified for the experience.

I would see the price as good value for a couple, family, or group of friends who will make active use of the private class. It is harder to justify for a solo cook unless the personal menu, home setting, and one-to-one attention are central to your plans.

Who will enjoy this most

This class suits you if you want to cook rather than simply watch. It is especially good for:

• Couples seeking a private morning activity
• Families or friends traveling in a group of up to four
• Vegetarian cooks who want to plan their menu
• People who care about spice level and ingredient choice
• Home cooks who want techniques they can repeat
• Anyone interested in Balinese food beyond restaurant menus

It may be less suitable if you want a cheap group class, a late start, or a quick one-hour introduction. The four-hour session takes up most of a morning and early afternoon, and the price is aimed at people who value privacy and customization.

The home environment is another consideration. You get warmth and personality, but not the polished feel of a large cooking school. For me, that is a plus, but it depends on what you want from the day.

Timing, language, and practical details

The class starts at 10 a.m. and usually ends around 2 p.m. Check the available date and start time when booking, since the stated duration is four hours and availability may vary.

Novi teaches in English and Indonesian. The class is private, with a minimum of one person and a maximum of four. You can arrange for the class to take place at your private villa or another venue, although you should confirm the practical details directly before relying on that option.

Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the class for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Bali schedule is still changing.

The experience currently carries a 5 out of 5 rating from six ratings, and the strongest pattern is clear: people value Novi’s friendly manner, the relaxed pace, the chance to choose dishes, and the fact that they do the cooking themselves. Those are the features to focus on when deciding if the price fits your plans.

Should you book Novi’s Bali Kitchen?

Book this class if you want a personal, hands-on introduction to Balinese cooking and you are willing to pay for a private experience. The recipe choice, adjustable spice level, fresh ingredients, full lunch, and direct instruction make it more useful than a quick demonstration.

I would book it for two to four people, especially if you have a dish in mind or want a menu that suits your diet. Ask about transport, exact recipes, and any dietary restrictions before confirming. If your priority is the lowest price, choose a shared class instead. If you want a relaxed morning in a Balinese home, with food you help create from start to finish, Novi’s Bali Kitchen is a strong choice.

FAQ

Where does the cooking class take place?

Classes are held at Novi’s home. The class can also take place at your private villa or another private venue if arranged in advance.

How many people can join the class?

Each booking is private and is for between one and four people.

How long does the experience last?

The class lasts about four hours. It begins at 10 a.m. and usually finishes around 2 p.m.

What food will I prepare?

You will prepare two main-course dishes, two vegetable side dishes, sambal, steamed rice, and one dessert. The main courses can be vegetarian, chicken, prawns, or pork.

Can I choose the recipes?

Yes. You can choose recipes before the class from more than 200 options on Novi’s Bali Kitchen YouTube channel. Personal recipe requests can also be discussed.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch, all ingredients, a homemade welcome drink, and refreshments during the class are included.

Is transportation included?

No. Transport is not included in the price, but a car can be arranged to collect you from your accommodation and return you after the class.

What languages does Novi speak?

The class is available in English and Indonesian.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve-now, pay-later booking is also available.