Casa Luna Cooking School

Casa Luna Cooking School was established in 1987 by Janet DeNeefe, the Australian-born restaurateur and founder of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. It is one of the island’s first cooking schools for visitors, and it still operates from the Second Honeymoon Guesthouse on Jalan Bisma, a few minutes’ walk from central Ubud.

Rather than a single class, the school offers a weekly programme of hands-on classes and food tours, each with a different angle on Balinese cuisine: market shopping, coffee growing, palm sugar and sea salt production, plant-based cooking and the island’s famous smoked duck. The school says it has been recognised among the world’s best cooking schools by The Australian newspaper.

What to expect

Classes explain the spice pastes and techniques at the heart of Balinese cooking, then move into hands-on preparation followed by a shared meal. Dishes you might cook include spiced fish in banana leaves, pumpkin curry, Balinese chicken satay, lawar and nasi goreng. The tours head out into the countryside or local markets to show where ingredients come from.

The classes are relaxed and social, with plenty of time for questions and tasting as you go. Teachers explain not just recipes but the role food plays in Balinese ceremonies and daily life, from temple offerings to the elaborate preparations for festivals.

Packages & prices

• Tuesday – Kintamani Coffee Tour (08:00–14:00, IDR 500,000); Market Tour (08:00–13:00, IDR 400,000).
• Thursday – Market Tour (IDR 400,000); Night Market Tour (17:15–20:30, IDR 400,000).
• Friday – Beginners Class (09:30–12:00, IDR 400,000); Night Market Tour.
• Saturday – Vegan Food as Medicine Class (09:30–13:00, IDR 450,000).
• Sunday – Palm Sugar & Sea Salt Tour (08:00–14:00, IDR 450,000); Smoked Duck Class (17:30–21:00, IDR 500,000).

Safety & requirements

Sessions need at least four participants to run, so book ahead and confirm the day before. Tell the school about allergies or dietary requirements; the vegan class is a good choice for plant-based cooks. Knife work and hot woks are part of the class, so take care and follow the instructor.

Tips

• Free pick-up is available for guests staying in the Ubud area.
• Guests staying at the guesthouse get 10% off.
• Pick the Smoked Duck Class to learn Bali’s famous ceremonial dish.
• Arrive hungry; you eat what you cook.
• Pair a class with dinner at Casa Luna restaurant on Jalan Raya Ubud.

The tours are a highlight in their own right. The coffee tour heads up to the Kintamani highlands, while the palm sugar and sea salt tour visits traditional producers, giving an insight into rural livelihoods that few visitors see. The night market tour is a fun way to try local snacks with someone who can explain what you are eating.

The school’s long history in Ubud means it is often recommended by hotels and guidebooks, so popular days can fill quickly in the high season. Check the schedule on the website and confirm availability before planning your day around a class.