Top Hotels with Cooking Schools
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By Avery Carmichael
From sushi rolling in Kyoto to pizza-making in Tuscany, learning a local cuisine is a meaningful and delicious way to immerse oneself in a destination. Read on for Indagare’s favorite cooking programs worldwide.
Contact Indagare to plan a customized trip, including a lesson at one of these schools.
For a Beginner’s Bootcamp: The Biltmore Estate
A Jazz Age icon that attracted the likes of Babe Ruth and Al Smith to its annual Golf Tournaments, the historic Biltmore Estate operates a lauded culinary academy. Work alongside the hotel’s executive chefs during a three- or four-day Adult Bootcamp, with a focus on “mise en place” and foundational culinary techniques.
For the Freshest Flavors of Tuscany: Castiglion del Bosco
Rosewood’s Castiglion del Bosco is a Tuscan dream, known for its delicious wines and wealth of family-friendly activities. La Canonica Cooking School, housed in a former priest’s home on the property, emphasizes farm-to-table dishes and hands-on tutorials. Start in the estate’s organic garden before moving to the kitchen for pasta, pizza and trattoria-style cooking lessons. There’s even a mixology-centered offering.
For the Environmentally-Conscious Chef: Ballymaloe House, Ireland
Vine-covered Ballymaloe House in East Cork is located on a 100-acre organic farm and embraces all aspects of its sheep and cattle farm roots. At the Ballymaloe Cookery School, students are encouraged to think critically about reducing food waste and the ethics of global food consumption, all while working with solar-powered energy sources to prepare farm-to-table dishes. Courses are taught on farm-friendly topics like fermentation, beekeeping, butter-making and more.
For Luxe Southern Comfort: Zero George
Charleston’s Zero George Hotel flawlessly marries traditional architecture with a contemporary aesthetic. Cooking courses are hosted in the property’s 200-year-old Carriage House on Mondays and Saturdays, during which guests prepare inventive, southern-inspired dishes with the assistance of James Beard Award winners.
For the Epicurean Adventurer: Four Seasons Chiang Mai
The Four Seasons Chiang Mai is a peaceful Thai oasis surrounded by lush rice fields. The property’s superb cooking school is a surefire hit for anyone hoping to learn more about the art of Thai cooking. For a full-day experience, begin with a visit to the colorful local market, perform a Thai house blessing and prepare a host of dishes unique to the area using ingredients from the on-site garden.
For Traditional Moroccan Cuisine: La Maison Arabe
La Maison Arabe, located in Marrakech’s pink-walled medina, is a lovely boutique property with an excellent cooking school. Led by a dada, or traditional Moroccan chef, the small, private cooking courses center around preparing fresh, healthy meat and vegetable tagines, plus Moroccan salads and desserts.
For Classic New England Dishes: White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection
White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection is Kennebunkport, Maine’s most
charming location for a weekend getaway. Guests learn how to prepare classic comfort food, which in Maine means plenty of freshly caught lobster and seafood.
For Wine Aficionados: Villa San Michele
Villa San Michele’s Cookery School, perched atop a hill overlooking the whole of Florence, offers the chance to prepare traditional Florentine dishes paired with incredible wine. Work with the property’s Executive Chef to prepare a menu focused on pasta, risotto and soup, while learning about wine pairings from the hotel’s sommelier.
For Advanced Multi-Course Mastery: Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons
Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons, just 30 minutes outside of bustling Oxford, feels like a countryside journey back in time. The Raymond Blanc Cookery School, named for the property’s Michelin-starred chef, dives into the intricacies of multi-course cooking and hones in on elements like sauces and stocks.
For Refined Americana: Blackberry Farm
The rustic but refined Blackberry Farm is an aspiring chef’s haven, with a baker, cheese maker, forager, butcher and sommelier. Guests can take part in one of the property’s daily cooking demonstrations, including a three-course lunch with a whiskey theme, or spend a day shadowing one of the property’s chefs.
For Kid-Friendly Instruction: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
One of Kyoto’s most lauded properties hosts a variety of child-friendly cooking courses. During the flexible and creative courses, children prepare maki sushi rolls and traditional Japanese sweets.
For Michelin–starred Tutelage: Farmhouse Inn
At Sonoma’s off-the-beaten-path wine country hideaway, guests can take part in a private, full-day lesson in the Farmhouse’s Michelin-starred kitchen, working alongside a chef as they prepare and cook a three-course dinner.
Contact Indagare to plan a customized trip, including a lesson at one of these schools.
