Cook Authentic Sri Lankan Dishes with a Local Family in Nilaveli
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
What sets our activity apart is the authentic, personal connection you’ll experience by cooking side by side with a local Sri Lankan family in our home—not in a studio or restaurant.
You’ll learn time-honored recipes passed down through generations, use fresh ingredients from our garden or local market, and discover the heart of Sri Lankan hospitality.
This isn’t just a cooking class—it’s a cultural exchange, a shared meal, and a warm invitation into our everyday life. You'll leave not just with new skills, but with new friends.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
What To Expect
Join a local Sri Lankan family for an unforgettable hands-on cooking experience in Nilaveli! You’ll be warmly welcomed into our home, where you’ll learn how to prepare traditional Sri Lankan dishes using fresh, local ingredients. We’ll start by introducing you to the spices and cooking techniques that give Sri Lankan cuisine its rich flavors. Then, you'll cook step-by-step with your host—making favorites like rice and curry, hoppers, roti, or dosa. As we cook, you'll hear stories about local culture, food traditions, and family life. Once everything is ready, we’ll sit down together to enjoy the delicious meal you helped prepare. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned cook, this is a fun, relaxed, and authentic experience that connects you with real Sri Lankan hospitality.
Sample Menu
main
Rice and Curry (Vegetarian)
Fragrant rice served with a variety of flavorful vegetarian curries made from fresh local vegetables, coconut milk, and traditional spices
main
Hopper String Hopper Pittu Coconut Roti Dosa
Hopper, string hopper, pittu, coconut roti, and dosa—iconic Sri Lankan staples made from rice flour and coconut, served with spicy sides.
main
Rice and Curry Fish or Chicken
Learn to cook Sri Lankan Rice and Curry with your choice of fresh fish or chicken, served with flavorful sides and traditional spices.
main
Rice and Curry Seafood
Sri Lankan Rice and Curry with Seafood: A flavorful mix of fresh fish, prawns, lentils, vegetables, and aromatic spices cooked the local way
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Cook equipment and incredints
Coffee and/or Tea
Meals
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Options
Rice and Curry Vegetarian
Vegetarian Class Duration: 4 hours: Food Preparation, Cooking Experience & Dining
Rice and Curry Seafood
Duration: 4 hours: Food Preparation, Cooking Experience & Dining Seafood : Fish, Prawn, Cuttlefish, Mud Crab
Rice and Curry Chicken
Duration: 4 hours: Food Preparation, Cooking Experience & Dining
Hoper String Hooper Dosa Roti
Duration: 5 hours: Food Preparation, Cooking Experience & Dining Hooper Class : Coconut Roti, Dosa, String Hooper, Hopper
Kottu Roti Class
Kottu Roti Class : Make Kottu Roti and Curry's Duration: 4 hours: Food Preparation, Cooking Experience & Dining
Reviews
2 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing experience learning how to cook the best curry in the world!
OanaMaria B,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00My husband and I had an incredible cooking experience with Nimali, and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip. We started at 4:00 PM and spent the afternoon learning how to prepare an authentic Sri Lankan black chicken curry from scratch. Nimali was an amazing host—warm, welcoming, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. Cooking together with my husband made the experience even more special. One of the most fascinating parts of the class was learning about the different spices used in Sri Lankan cuisine. Nimali taught us how to make our own curry powder, explaining the perfect combinations of spices and how they create the unique tastes and flavours that make Sri Lankan curries so delicious. During the class, we took our time preparing and cooking five different curries, learning traditional techniques and gaining a real appreciation for the art of Sri Lankan cooking. The best reward came at the end of the course when we sat down and enjoyed an absolutely fantastic dinner made from everything we had prepared together. We would wholeheartedly recommend Nimali and this wonderful experience to anyone visiting Sri Lanka. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn authentic cooking from such a passionate and talented teacher. Thank you, Nimali, for your hospitality, kindness, and patience in teaching us how to prepare what must be the best curry in the world! We will cherish this experience and the memories we made for years to come.
Most enjoyable and informative cookery class.
Uniconst,Feb 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We cooked a whole load of seafood, prawns, cuttlefish, crab and fish. We were shown how to make coconut cream, two types of curry powder etc. etc. Our hosts were super friendly and we had a great cookery lesson followed by a great dinner, which we had helped to cook of course! This was really relaxing and enjoyable. Very highly recommended.
From €15.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by Cook With Nimali At Nilaveli