Private Tour
Private Pre-Hispanic Cooking Class with a Mexican Grandmother
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Learn to cook a seasonal, traditional Mexican meal with a warm and delightful Mexican grandmother in her home! After you are picked up and driven to your host Isabel's beautiful home, she welcomes you in with a fresh margarita! Explore Isabel's garden and pick seasonal vegetables and herbs. Next, join Isabel in her open kitchen to learn to cook pre-Hispanic Mexican dishes from recipes passed down through generations of Isabel's family. Learn about traditional pre-Hispanic cuisine and ingredients (including the traditional three-sisters method of growing food) as you cook 3-4 dishes from scratch with Isabel in her kitchen. Isabel cooks seasonal, traditional dishes with a creative twist. Some of the dishes you may learn to cook depending on the season are nopales, ceviche, sopa de frijoles negros and pollo santo (chicken in green tomatoes, cilantro, and hoja santa - a traditional sauce) served with a side of corn, mushrooms and squash blossoms. You might even learn to make salsa picante in a molcajete (Mexican mortar and pestle)! You will end your meal with a simple but traditional dessert called ate con queso and memories that last a lifetime.
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
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Private cooking class and meal with your host Isabel
Alcoholic Beverages
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Cooking class and dinner
Pickup included
Cooking class and lunch
Pickup included
Reviews
31 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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.
An Extraordinary Experience
256nanw,Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an extraordinary experience. We highly recommend this personal cooking class presented in a private home. Isabel is quite knowledgeable and enthusiastic to share her interest in preparing healthy and traditional Mexican food. We began by picking tomatillos from her garden which became part of a refreshing appetizer. Then to the historical basics of the Mexican kitchen—onions, tomatoes, garlic, nopales and various fresh and dried chiles. We made a soup and a versatile meat dish, which we ate with blue corn tortillas. We felt right at home. Add a perfect recipe for blended Margaritas enjoyed on the patio. The class was a highlight of our visit to San Miguel de Allende.
Nourish your soul at Isabel’s table.
sarahhadzor,Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Isabel was a delight and her hospitality was top notch. This was such a joyful and soul filled afternoon. We all went home with new recipes and skills we can’t wait to try at home!
An Extraordinary Experience
Nan W,Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an extraordinary experience. We highly recommend this personal cooking class presented in a private home. Isabel is quite knowledgeable and eager to share her interest in preparing healthy food. We began by picking tomatillos from her garden, which became part of a refreshing appetizer. Then to the historical basics of the Mexican kitchen— onions, tomatoes, garlic, nopales and various fresh and dried chiles. We made a soup and a versatile meat dish, which we ate with blue corn tortillas. We felt right at home. Add a perfect recipe for blended Margaritas enjoyed on the patio. The class was a highlight of our visit to San Miguel de Allende.
Great experience
Koneflower2,Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the best time during our cooking class with Isabel. Her husband, Ric picked us up at our hotel and took us to their home, about 20 mins from our hotel. It was such a fun, hands-on experience for the entire family. We learned new recipes, along with some history of the food we were cooking and had an incredible meal together. We will make these recipes again and again and always treasure our memories of cooking with Isabel.
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