Authentic San Miguel de Allende Cooking Class in a Beautiful Home
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Visit a local home in San Miguel de Allende to learn the art of pre-Hispanic Mexican cooking from Isabel - a warm, dynamic and delightful Mexican grandmother (and former pediatrician) who loves to garden and cook! Isabel offers a private, authentic, hands-on Mexican cooking lesson in her home and garden that she designed herself. Isabel is incredibly passionate about pre-Hispanic cooking - in addition to learning about the culture and cuisine, you'll learn about the ancient milpa technique of farming (aka the three sisters method of growing food)! Vegetarians are welcome - just let Isabel know in advance. Isabel has fond memories of being in the kitchen with her mother who taught her to cook on pre-Hispanic clay grills and molcajetes. She is excited to create new food memories with her guests.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
What To Expect
Enjoy convenient pickup from your San Miguel de Allende hotel or Airbnb before heading to a local home for an authentic, hands-on cooking class. Be warmly welcomed by Isabel, who hosts guests in her beautiful home, while your cooking experience is led by her sister Michele or daughter Maria Jose, who share the same family recipes and traditions. Begin with a fresh margarita and snack, then explore the garden and learn about the “three sisters” method of growing corn, beans and squash. Step into the open kitchen to prepare 3–4 traditional pre-Hispanic Mexican dishes from scratch using seasonal ingredients. Depending on the time of year, you may cook nopales, ceviche, pollo santo with mushrooms and squash blossoms, and even make salsa in a traditional molcajete. End your San Miguel de Allende cooking class by enjoying the meal you helped prepare, followed by a classic dessert. This immersive culinary experience offers a deeper understanding of Mexican culture, ingredients and traditions, perfect for travelers seeking an authentic local food experience. Dietary preferences including vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free can be accommodated with advance notice.
Sample Menu
starter
Margarita or non-alcoholic agua de jamaica
starter
Nopales salad
Cactus, tomatoes, onion and cilantro in an oregano and vinegar dressing
starter
Fresh guacamole with chips
starter
Sopa de frijoles negros
Black bean soup topped with crispy tortilla strips
main
Pollo santo
Chicken or rabbit stewed in a green tomato, hoja santo and cilantro sauce served with corn, mushrooms and squash blossoms
dessert
Ate con queso
Options
Cooking class and dinner
Pickup included
Cooking class and lunch
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Private cooking class and meal with your host Isabel
Alcoholic Beverages
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
35 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
5 Stars!
Jakki J,May 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00A WONDERFUL experience. Isabel picked us up from our rental right on time and was an expert driver to her beautiful home a few miles outside town. She led us through the cooking class, starting with ingredients and the history behind them. We then proceeded to cook a beautiful and delicious meal together which we all shared around her dining table after a margarita lesson on her patio. A 5 star experience!! Definitely book this amazing class!
Heritage foods and a great lunch
chris c,May 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Isabel and her sister shared a fun afternoon with us in her home outside San Miguel. After picking us up at out lodging in town we learning about heritage foods of Mexico and how to prepare them. After the cooking and prep we had a great lunch!
Girls trip cooking class- Don’t think twice! BOOK it!
Rachel L,May 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Isabel, Rick and Michelle were all so great. The food was delicious and she was so great and showing us techniques as well as talking us through the recipes. It was such a fun time cooking and eating with them. Thank you for welcoming us into your home.
Fabulous cooking experience!
Ellen R,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a highlight of our trip to San Miguel. Isabel is an interesting and engaging person. She accommodated our need for a vegetarian meal perfectly. Isabel shared the history of the foods we cooked with and we made a lovely meal. Her home and gardens are so peaceful after the hustle and bustle of San Miguel. A few tips: Isabel lives out of town so be sure and arrange transportation with her ahead of time. The event was about 4 hours total and so worth the time.
Amazing Family Experience in SMA
John S,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had such a wonderful time with Isabela and her family. She picked us up and drove us about 30 minutes to her beautiful house in the country outside SMA which features an impressive garden and lovely grounds. The cooking experience was great fun: she’s a knowledgeable and patient teacher and we enjoyed learning and the hands-on experience of cooking with her. The food was wonderful and we truly loved it and the experience of dining with her family. Would highly recommend.
What a wonderful experience!
Art4faith,Feb 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a wonderful Valentine's day! My husband and I went to Isabel's home to cook and have a splendid lunch! Isabel is so welcoming, passionate about cooking and teaching and down to earth. She educated us about the foods of Mexican ancestors going back hundreds of years. We prepared a 4 course lunch with some ingredients that we were not familiar with, which was great. Our lunch was delightful and delicious. Everything we used was fresh and colorful, and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. We highly recommend this experience!
Isabel is capable and the food is beyond good!!!
RussellW145,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was really, truly, an awesomely unique experience and I very highly recommend it. Isabel picked us up, as well as drove us back, and that was such a bonus. She was on time, and a good driver. At her lovely home outside the city, she had everything prepped that needed to be prepped. She began with a short history of Mexican food and then we began to put the meal together. We started by making a tomatillo appetizer. Simple, but very tasty, with ricotta, tomatillos, serrano chile, cilantro, and salt, then tortilla soup, green sauce, and the main dish of nopal tlacoyos with puebla stye chicken. This had layers of refried black beans, pulled chicken, onions, sauce, shredded lettuce and sour cream on a cactus leaf. Yes, you eat the cactus leaf. It's OK! it tastes a lot like a green pepper. Yes, we made all this by ourselves under Isabel's gracious supervision. Although we didn't make a dessert, Isabel provided nuts, candied peaches, and some sweet square items. Her kitchen and premises are safe, and all the cooking items you need are there and ready to go. She has four very friendly dogs, and one very friendly husband, Rick, who returned from an appointment in time to have lunch with us. I have to admit, when I saw the prepped ingredients, I wasn't sure I'd like the result, but after putting everything together, I couldn't believe how good it was! I would do this activity again! Fun with comfortable surroundings. Isabel's English is good, and we wore aprons, washed our hands as needed, and stayed clean in a clean environment.
Warmly welcomed. Happy and sated.
lauriebQ9821EK,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a lovely time cooking with Isabel. We made a delicious traditional Mexican dinner at her beautiful country home. We felt very welcomed. The food was delicious.
Perfect outing for the day.
Climber31280774973,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a beautiful experience to get picked up in town and shuttled out to Isabel's private home for a delicious meal. We enjoyed our experience because Isabel is so charming and knowledgeable about what she is making. We would recommend the experience to anyone who enjoys a good meal with friendly hosts.
This was a fantastic...
Cara B,Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a fantastic experience! Isabel is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. She guided us through preparing a delicious vegetarian meal and provided transportation from/to our lodging. Isabel’s home is beautiful and we even got to spend some time with her adorable dog Nacho. This was truly a highlight of our trip to SMA. Highly recommend.
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