Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT:
IT IS NOT A RESTAURANT, I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF A CHEF
I am Minerva Lopez and I am a traditional cook from Oaxaca and I have more than 40 years of experience in pre-Hispanic and traditional cooking.
I invite you to spend a day at my house, with my family, my culture, it is an authentic experience where you will learn to cook as I learned, as if it were with mom!
Our groups are small which makes for an intimate, family experience
The market that we visited is the largest in Oaxaca and it is not touristic, where the locals go to buy our fresh and organic ingredients, here it is possible to adapt our menu to your tastes
There are vegan, vegetarian and meat lovers options.
At home away from the city in a small town, our outdoor wood stove is the best place to cook.
Everything we will eat is prepared at home
MORE THAN A CLASS IS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF FLAVORS AND KNOWLEDGE
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
We will welcome you to my wood stove. I am a teacher of Traditional Oaxacan Cooking and winner of 1st Place in the Meeting of Traditional Cooks of Oaxaca. First I will take you for a walk through the largest market in Oaxaca, you will get to know endemic and local foods and products, this is where we will buy our fresh and authentic ingredients. I will teach you how to prepare from scratch a Mole Negro or Mole Coloradito, Green, Yellow and/or as well as Nixtamal to prepare tortillas, memelitas and empanadas, without forgetting our Molcajete Sauces, as some authentic Oaxacan dishes (ASK FOR THE AVAILABLE MENU FOR THE DATE YOU RESERVE, THERE ARE SEASONAL DISHES, VEGETARIANS, VEGANS TOO) During the cooking class we will drink local fruit drinks and eat quesillo and Grasshoppers while we prepare our dish TO CHOOSE At the end of the cooking class we will taste our dish made with a rich Mezcal and you can take the prepared products with you.
starter
House chocolate with bread
A chocolate drink is served accompanied with traditional bread
starter
hand tortillas
Learn to make tortillas by hand on a clay griddle or pre-Hispanic stove
main
OPTION 1 Oaxacan Mole
available moles(10) you can choose 1 of them BLACK MOLE reddish chichilo green yellow yellow mixe stew nutty manchamanteles
main
Option 2 Experience with corn
2 different sauces are prepared with endemic chilies and tomatoes Quedillas with pumpkin flower and cheese memelitas yellow mole
main
OPTION 3 OAXACAN TAMALES
The black mole tamale is prepared in banana leaf and two more to choose from -green sauce -slices of chili -bean -sweet
main
OPTION 4 DISH OF YOUR CHOICE
ASK ABOUT THE SEASONAL INGREDIENTS AND DISHES
dessert
Typical Seasonal Dessert
Native or exotic fruits that we buy in the market, seasonal desserts Example roasted bananas Corn dessert (nicoatole) Oaxacan sweets
seasonal dessert
dishes to choose
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free menu option
Seasonal fruit waters
Local Market Tour
Air-conditioned vehicle
mezcal cocktail
Snacks (cheese, grasshoppers, etc)
Beer or soda
196 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Debbie D,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
Minerva is an accomplished cook who is well known in the community. Our translator Amy was excellent sharing with group many cultural aspects of not only preparing mole but also life in the local area. The setting is Minerva’s lovely garden and outdoor cooking area. (outside of town about 20 min.)


worldexplorer53,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
we were 4 adults, all foodies and experienced cooks, who totally enjoyed this excellent hands on class to learn the techniques and components for creating a delicious molé. This is a family presentation passing along what they have learned growing up in their family. this class would appeal to a person at any level of kitchen skill. we all learned and appreciated the sharing of ideas.
Ana H,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
This was an unforgettable and unique experience and we are very grateful for senora Lopez welcoming us in her kitchen. We opted for the corn experience and enjoyed making salsas, mole, tortillas, empanadas, and memelitas. The food was some of the best we’ve had on our whole Mexico trip! Senora Lopez is very kind, patient, and knowledgeable. We are also so grateful to Amy, the expert translator, who explained many things to us, including some of the historical context behind Oaxacan cuisine. She was very friendly and kind, as was the rest of the team. Thank you senora Lopez, Amy, and the whole team! we recommend this experience to anyone who is in Oaxaca and is curious to learn more about some of the most traditional regional dishes.




Susan M,,Dec 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
This experience was perfect- lots of hands on cooking with local foods. Very authentic cooking methods and catered to our vegetarian needs. Word to the wise - bring an appetite! You will not leave hungry! Best ever!
Devanshu P,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
Minerva offers a lot of different classes. This one was specifically for mole negro. You start with going to a local market which is an experience unto itself and then get a really warm welcome to Minerva's home where you're guided through the whole process. It's a great experience and I'd definitely sign up again for one of the other classes when I'm back in Oaxaca. Amy translated everything for English speakers like me and the snacks and cocktails provided by Tanya (Minerva's daughter) are great as well! 100% would recommend.
M F,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Minerva’s cooking class was a highlight of my time in Oaxaca. The meeting point for pickup was easy to find, and the experience started with a guided visit through Oaxaca’s largest market that truly caters to locals. Having an English translator made everything easy to follow and added a lot of context while shopping for ingredients. From there, we went to a lovely home to cook. Our menu was mole negro, which is both labor and ingredient intensive. Minerva walked us through each step with care, explaining the process and the purpose behind it. The result was incredibly delicious and made the effort feel worthwhile. If possible, I recommend booking with her directly on Instagram, especially if you are interested in a specific menu. The experience felt personal, well organized, and thoughtfully executed.



Stephenie L,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
Wonderful experience! Minerva does a fantastic job of catering to your dietary needs and the provides a full experience.
J2026ZNvivianb,,Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Book on instagram instead of TripAdvisor!!! Fantastic class - such a beautiful spot and Minerva is lovely. 100% would recommend if you book on instagram its much better for her and youll be able to make requests if needed!!

Jennifer M,,Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
Minerva was knowledgeable and a very gracious hostess. Translator Amy made sure no detail was missed. The market and masa stop were educational and fun!
stienv2015,,Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
We learned mole making from Minerva Lopez. She is a chef who can cook incredibly well and with great passion! We recommend everyone who would like to do a cooking workshop in Oaxaca to do so at Minerva Lopez!!!
Operated by Minerva Lopez