Market Tour and Hands-On Cooking Class Colombo

Overview

Available languages

English

French

5 hours

Mobile ticket

Rustic Cooking Class is the most reviewed, the first-ever Hands-On Cooking Class in Sri Lanka comprises a Local Market tour so you can have a complete Sri Lankan cultural and gastronomic experience. You will spend a lovely time and take back the knowledge to spice up your kitchen.

Additional Info

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions

Kindly WhatsApp us at +94756066645 to receive the specific meeting point for your booking.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

TRANSPORT • Airport Pick up : We will welcome you at the arrival (With Fully Conditioned Car : Enough for 2/3, Welcome Board, Express way Entrance) 38USD. • Hotel Pick Up : The Cost is Depend on the Millage. Please contact us for any assistance. KEY DETAILS • CITY : Colombo • MEETING POINT : Villa Ivy Crest • RECOMMEND : Couple/Familiy/Friends • LOCAL CASH NEEDED : Extra Beers (Other than 1) • ACTIVITY : Market visit, Clay-pot Cooking INCLUDED : • WELCOME REFRESHMENT • PERSONABLE TOUR GUIDE • 5 COURSE LUNCH/DINNER • RECIPES / CERTIFICATE TRIP ITINERARY Enjoy our freshly made fruit juice or a herbal drink, wander around our villa and get yourself refreshed & prepared for the tour while our experienced guide brief you about the agenda. Before Starting Market visit and cultural cooking tour Colombo, you will get the chance to select a menu for the preparation form our family recipes which works for everyone Similar to the palm technique used by Italians to measure spaghetti, we too have lots of such traditional techniques and tactics when it comes to home cooking which are not explained (or rather cannot be explained) in cook books or that sort of videos. Our chef is well aware of those tips and tricks, which are proven through generations, that makes your food tastier with a better aroma and color. He will get you involved in every step of cooking from cleaning to measuring to real cooking while giving you those tips associated with each step. We will take relatively a longer time than Europeans or Americans to prepare a meal but you will never regret the time you spent once you tasted the food. No matter where you are in, there are always certain manners to be followed in dining table. So, Eating like a local can be trickier than you might think. Every culture has its own food beliefs, traditions and etiquettes. Our first rule is to serve others before ourselves.

What‘s Included

Light refreshments

Buffet lunch

Professional guide

Bottled water

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Alcoholic drinks (Beers)

Drinks

Gratuities

Hotel drop-off

Hotel pickup

Options

Evening Class for the Dinner

Class Begins at 3.30 am with Evening local market visit to pick fresh vegetables, herbs and spices & a 3 hour fully hands on experience with every step of preparation & Cooking.

Morning Class for the Lunch

Class Begins at 9.15 am with Morning local market visit to pick fresh vegetables, herbs and spices & a 3 hour fully hands on experience with every step of preparation & Cooking.

Reviews

5.00

138 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

138

Fantastic culinary experience
debbiedF5015NE,,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I was lucky enough to book a culinary experience with Rustic Cooking Class in Colombo on my trip to Sri Lanka and I’m so glad I made that choice. I met the wonderful Nim at the markets who took me on a culinary food and culture experience , introducing me to a world of amazing ingredients I’d never come across before. Nim is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to food and he took the time to explain the fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices of Sri Lanka, how they were cooked and how they complemented each other. I learnt so much from him. Once we had decided on our meal options and bought the ingredients we took a tuk tuk to his wonderful home where we set to work preparing an authentic feast. Those dishes became my favourite meal in Sri Lanka which was a big call as I was in the country for a month and tried a lot of food! What I loved most about the experience was sitting on the verandah with Nim overlooking the lush gardens enjoying a beer and some great conversation. He’s such a lovely man and so knowledgeable on the food, culture and history of Sri Lanka. I highly recommend you do yourself a favour and book Rustic Cooking Class. It’s a fabulous authentic experience.
I had a great experience...
Silvana C,,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
I had a great experience with going to the local market and cooking local dishes. Nim is a wonderful person. I learned so much about vegetables, fruits and all the spices and even about real and fake cinnamon :) and we talked about so much more than cooking and Sri Lanka - it felt like an afternoon/evening with a friend. Thank you so much for your time and introducing me how to cook a delicious pineapple and chicken curry, coconut sambol and coconut roti.
Wonderful, authentic market tour and cooking class....Best EVER
KerrieJoyous16,,Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Amazing experience - as a solo traveller transport was organised by Tuk Tuk to the market location, about 40 minutes outside of Colombo. I was kept informed of the time and the details of the transportation. Met by Nim, who then guided us through an authentic local market - explaining local unusual fruit, vegetables and also about the importance of markets in the Sri Lankan lifestyle. We then was transported to Nim's lovely home where we participated in cooking - we made a wonderful Chicken Curry, a Jackfruit Curry, Pineapple and Banana Curry, along with Coconut Roti. Sitting on the verandah overlooking the lush garden, a cold drink (beer or water) with Nim telling us about Sri Lankan life, cooking, history and food. I really learnt so much. Nim is an excellent cooking guide, has great english, food and cultural knowledge and was great fun!!
What a wonderful day!
Road26833422338,,Oct 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My wife and I had a wonderful time! We met our guide and Chef, Nim near a local market. We spent about an hour learning about the various fruits and vegetables available. Then each of us in our small group of three chose the fruit or vegetable that would be the base of our curry. Once decided we walked about adding the various necessary ingredients to our basket. After, we rode to the home that was perfectly set up for a cooking class. We spent the next couple of hours making roti and our curries. Then we feasted… a wonderful, authentic experience!
Nim went above and beyond.
Scott H,,Sep 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
To add to yesterday’s review, we left our water cooler bottles at Nim’s, he organised a rider to come to our hotel Galle Face to deliver the water bottles. We thank him for the action of going that bit further.
Do yourself a favor do the cooking school.If you love cooking and chase flavor’s, upgrade your skill set at the school,
Scott H,,Sep 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A great day from start at the markets to finish driving away. Nim really impressed us in his sharing of his culinary knowledge and skills.
The Best and most Delicious way to discover Sri Lanka!
derekfJ4364FO,,May 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
In a trip full of highlights, this may have been the biggest of them all. It was fascinating to tour the market—learning about new vegetables, spices, condiments, fruits, and methods of preservation and preparation. Nim was an incredibly knowledgable and patient host, allowing our curiosity and appetites to guide our experience. Once we had gathered all the ingredients, we enjoyed a relaxed and intimate evening preparing our meal, talking about food, nutrition, Sri Lankan culture and history, and generally having a fantastic evening making a wonderful new friend. I'm convinced touring markets and cooking meals with local ingredients and local people is the absolute best way to experience a new place. Our time with Nim is proof of that. Thank you Nim!!!
A truly authentic experience
natholian,,Apr 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A truly authentic experience. We had a wonderful afternoon / evening with Nim, exploring the market, finding new vegetables we hadn’t heard of before, and then a really informative evening learning about Sri Lanka’s unique cuisine. Nim is also extremely knowledgeable and we had excellent conversations and felt like we were old friends by the time we left. Worth every penny for a really local experience!
Cooking with Nim. A fun half day cooking and learning the culinary delights of Sri Lanka with Nim.
Jane D,,Apr 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We enjoyed going to the market and learning all about the different fruit and vegetables native to Sri Lanka. We enjoyed cooking our curries with our chef and sitting down to lunch to hear more about this country. His knowledge and hospitality was boundless.
We recommend for service chill
damithb2025,,Jan 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We went to chill with my wife server supuni give us excellent food service .ffriendly and very good food tasty tthanks tem