The best cooking classes in Melbourne

Add some spice to your weekly cooking repertoire at Free to Feed, a social enterprise founded by community worker Loretta Bolotin and her husband Daniel Bolotin. Classes are run by refugees and asylum seekers, and this opportunity provides many of them with their very first job in Australia. They come from destinations such as Syria and Sri Lanka, and are all passionate about teaching Melburnians how to cook authentic dishes at home – like Tamil curries or Iranian desserts. It's a welcoming, safe environment where stories are shared, recipes are passed on and memories are made. Head to the website for more info.

Cost: from $110.

This legendary cooking school and online academy is for serious chocolate and pastry connoisseurs. Participants are in the capable hands of the extraordinary Kirsten Tibballs, who you may recognise from MasterChef Australia as the queen of all things sweet and delectable. Macaron and French pastry classes fill quickly, so it pays to get in early. From financiers to choux pastries, there's a whole world of treats that you can learn how to make from scratch, either at the stylish HQ in Brunswick or from your computer at home. Beginners, intermediate and advanced learners are all welcome, with each class suited to different levels of ability.

Cost: from $199.

Brunswick Kitchen is an intimate cooking school that specialises in small-group classes (there’s a max of 12 people per session) for adults and children alike. At the helm is owner and chef Tracey Lister, who has more than 30 years of hospo experience under her apron and is the co-author of four cookbooks. Having lived in Hanoi for ten years, her expertise is largely grounded in Vietnamese cuisine, but she brings a wealth of general cooking knowledge, technique and experience to her hands-on classes. From preparing a Persian feast to mastering the art of making vegan gnocchi, there’s something to suit every taste bud. 

Cost: from $70. 

Have you been looking for ways to give back to the community? We have just the thing to help you do that: OzHarvest’s Cooking for a Cause workshops. Perfect for a team-building outing with your colleagues or a wholesome friend catch-up, the three-hour sessions run from Monday to Friday at OzHarvest’s headquarters in Port Melbourne. During them, you’ll chip in to make a nourishing meal that will be picked up by a team of food rescue drivers and delivered to charities that support those in need. You’ll also learn zero-waste cooking tips and tricks, plus a few mind-blowing facts that are guaranteed to make you reconsider your own habits.

Cost: from $205.

When Nellie Kerrison started the Relish Mama cooking school in 2009, all she wanted was to share her kitchen prowess with more people. Now, her labour of love includes annual culinary trips to Italy, and a wide range of classes covering everything from dumplings to barbecuing. Kerrison’s stress-free approach to cooking means that you won’t have to channel your inner chef at home – she’s more than happy to dish out advice based on what kitchen set-up you already have. Head to the Relish Mama website to book a class. 

Cost: from $205

When chef Ha Nguyen founded Otao Kitchen back in 2014, his goal was to celebrate the rich and varied cooking experiences and techniques of Melbourne's immigrant multicultural communities. He named the Richmond business after Ông Táo, the Vietnamese kitchen god who many Vietnamese people regard as a family member. Here, you can try an array of food experiences and classes across cuisines from Thailand, Japan, India, Korea, France and more. 

Cost: from $119

They say the best way to learn is by doing. Thankfully, the Centre for Adult Education’s (CAE) cooking classes are all about hands-on learning. Take part in comprehensive classes to master a new cuisine (they teach everything from French to Indian) or perfect your favourite recipes. You can even brush up on essential kitchen techniques, like basic knife skills and making your own bread from scratch. Head to the CAE website to browse your options. 

Cost: from $219

For more than 15 years, Spice Bazaar has been hosting popular cooking classes out of its Victoria Street venue in Seddon. These are hands-on and super fun classes that give you all the skills you'll need to recreate these recipes at home. Learn to make Spanish paella and tapas, Japanese dishes like okonomiyaki and yakitori, and so much more. 

Cost: from $180.