Private Tour
Private Egyptian Cooking Class in Cairo with a Local Family
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Enjoy a private and authentic Egyptian cooking class in a local's home. You can expect a delicious, homecooked Egyptian meal, insights into the local culture and culinary traditions, along with memorable conversations. For your hands-on Egyptian cooking class, learn how to cook two dishes from scratch - either an appetizer + main course or a main course + dessert.
- Private Egyptian cooking class in Cairo with a local family
- Learn to cook traditional Egyptian meals using family recipes
- Get introduced to the aromatic and flavorful spices used in Egyptian cooking
- Your meal will be served with a traditional welcome drink and dessert
- Get insight into the local culture, ingredients and culinary traditions
- Somaya can offer a vegetarian meal, on request
- If you choose the market tour, get a guided tour of a local neighborhood market, to buy ingredients for your cooking class
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Menu may vary depending on the season
If any travelers in your party have any allergies, dietary restrictions or cooking preferences please advise at time of booking - vegetarian option is available.
Private, personalized experience
If you choose the optional transport tour, please include your hotel name and address when booking
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
This is a unique opportunity to visit the home of a local and explore traditional culture and cuisine. All the recipes you will be cooking in this Egyptian cooking class comes from Somaya's grandmother kitchen. Start the class with an introduction to the aromatic and flavorful spices used in Egyptian cooking. Then for your hands-on cooking class, learn how to cook two dishes from scratch - either an appetizer + main course or a main course + dessert. Learn to make mahashi (vegetables stuffed with meat and rice) and shorbet lesan el asfour (Egyptian noodle soup) or sahlab (milk pudding). While you cook, Somaya will introduce you to local ingredients, share stories and tips and tricks to make a delicious Egyptian meal. After cooking, sit down with the family to share the meal you helped prepare. If you choose the market tour, meet Somaya at her home and then walk together to the local market in Manial. The Souq El Ghamrawy is a neighborhood street market where they sell fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. Walk through the busy market where locals usually shop, and learn about the local produce while you interact with the vendors and buy a few ingredients for your cooking class.
Sample Menu
starter
Egyptian noodle soup
main
Mahashi (vegetables stuffed with meat and rice)
dessert
Sahlab (milk pudding)
What‘s Included
If you choose the market tour option, you will receive a guided tour of the Souq El Ghamrawy market
Private hands-on cooking class with your host Somaya
Homecooked Egyptian meal
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
Cooking + lunch with Somaya
Market + cooking + dinner
Market + cooking + lunch
Cooking + dinner with Somaya
Reviews
35 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Good
weigengq2025,,Dec 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We couldn’t find the location, Somaya came to pick us up. We met her mom and sister, and they are very nice and friendly. Their apartment is lovely and we had a room tour. Then we tried to make Gollash, which is a traditional Egyptian dish made in oven. They shown us a local market nearby when the Gollash was in the oven. I enjoy the lunch with the family so much because of the food and our conversation. Overall, it is a very local and enjoyable experience! I recommend you to take it if you want to know more about local life and food.
Authentic & thoughtful!
tristangC131QM,,Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simsim & Cookie were the greatest hosts! We had such a pleasant, thoughtful, and informative experience. We stayed for a little over 2 hours, had a delicious authentic dinner, talked about Egypt and America. I couldn’t recommend more!
A heartwarming experience
delshivas,,Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Somaya and her family are incredibly kind and welcoming. They open their home to share authentic Egyptian recipes, warm conversation, and cultural insights. A truly special and memorable experience.
Great Egyptian cooking and cultural exchange 💕
W7918NTkb,,Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a wonderful family you are! We really enjoyed getting to know you and sharing cultural insights. The food is outstanding! You are great cooks and we will always remember this delicious and fun afternoon in Cairo. Your friends, K and S
Highly recommended!
Q2575PRalexanderm,,Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We attended the cooking class together and it was great! We were welcomed totally nice and felt very welcome by the whole family. Since it was my birthday that day, I was even surprised. We would do it again immediately and can definitely recommend it 👍
Great cooking class!
Helen H,,Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a great experience! This was a highlight of our trip to Egypt- cooking an authentic meal with 3 lovely, intelligent and vibrant women in their home. The meal was delicious and a great opportunity to learn about the culture in Egypt. This is a not to miss experience!
Amazing cooking experience with a friendly family
vali juri,,Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was amazing! The family was really friendly and showed us how they lived and we were offered drinks upon our arrival. Then we went to the market where they showed us what you can buy and what you should watch out to when buying fruits, vegetables and meat. Back at home we cooked Falafel and Shakshuka and then shared the meal together. The food was really good and we enjoyed the stay a lot. I would definitely recommend it to everyone.
Never miss it. This experience will make your life enriched.
kyoungsookk2025,,Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a wonderful experience it is ! Must try, never miss it. It will fill up with your life with a rich story. If someone hesitates because of price, I would dare to say that it is worthy to spend. Thank you so much, Somaya & Maram.
Live & Learn from the locals
NorlynP,,Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Looking for something unique . Spend time with this family . The culture and experience of being in their home is something you will not find with a traditional guided tour . It’s also a chance to ask questions about life in Cairo . Mom’s small kitchen is cozy and the food satisfying and plentiful . I enjoyed the stories of each piece of furniture … don’t ask to use a cup from the beautiful wall unit ! It’s not been used since soon after the wedding . ( a great story ) We went both ways with Uber , very inexpensive . Our host made the ride easy by talking to the driver . Look forward to you day “living like a local “
Home cooking from the heart
Sailor-blue,,Sep 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My daughter and I had the incredible opportunity to be welcomed into a regular Egyptian home to learn how to cook popular local dishes. Somaya and her family were incredibly warm and friendly, making us feel right at home. Somaya speaks perfect English, which made everything easy and engaging. Her mother generously shared the secrets of traditional molokhia, from the unique ingredients to the magical “TSHHH” sound as the garlic hits the pan — a true sensory experience! We also prepared mahshi (stuffed vegetables), which was both delicious and fun to make. Somaya even took us on a tour of the local market, where the neighborhood shops for fresh vegetables and meat. It was an authentic glimpse into everyday Cairo life, far from the tourist crowds. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to step off the beaten path and dive into Egyptian culture through food and family. Would you like a shorter version for Instagram or a caption?
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