Experience the Art of Cooking Authentic Balinese Cuisine

The best part of Novi’s Bali Kitchen is the private, made-to-order format. You do not get handed a fixed menu and shuffled into a large class. Novi lets you choose recipes before arriving, then teaches your small group how to prepare a Balinese meal in her home, or at your private villa or venue.

I like the chance to set the heat level to your taste, and I like that you do the cutting and cooking yourself. The relaxed pace leaves room for questions, refreshments, and lunch at the table. The main consideration is price: at $154 per person, this costs more than a standard group cooking class, especially for a solo participant.

Key points to know

• Private groups of one to four: Your booking is reserved for your own party, with no strangers added.
• Choose recipes ahead of time: Novi has more than 200 recipes on her YouTube channel, Novi’s Bali Kitchen.
• Four-hour home setting: Classes run from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with food and refreshments included.
• Authentic Balinese instruction: Novi teaches traditional dishes using fresh ingredients and explains how the spices work.
• Hands-on cooking: You cut, season, cook, taste, and adjust the dishes rather than simply watching.
• Lunch is part of the lesson: You sit down to eat the food you prepared, along with rice, sambal, and dessert.

A private Balinese kitchen from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Novi’s class begins at 10 a.m. and finishes around 2 p.m., so set aside a full morning and early afternoon. This is not a quick demonstration squeezed between sightseeing stops. The four-hour schedule gives you time to cook properly, talk with Novi, and eat without rushing.

Classes take place at Novi’s home, where a banner reading Novi’s Bali Kitchen marks the gate. She can also arrange a class at your private villa or another venue. That second option may suit you if you have a suitable kitchen and want the lesson to fit around your accommodation.

On arrival, you receive a homemade welcome drink. Refreshments are served during the class as well, which matters in Bali’s warm climate and helps break up the preparation work. The tone is relaxed but organized. You are there to learn, but nobody is watching the clock while you chop.

The home setting gives the class a personal feel. A friendly dachshund named Scotty may wander nearby, and a turtle called George has also made an appearance in the garden. These details are not the reason to book, but they add a little everyday Bali to the cooking lesson.

Choosing dishes from Novi’s 200-plus recipes

Before your class, you can discuss what you would like to cook. Novi has more than 200 recipes available through her YouTube channel, Novi’s Bali Kitchen, and she accepts personal requests.

The supplied meal includes two main-course choices, selected from vegetarian, chicken, prawns, or pork, plus two vegetable side dishes. You also prepare a dessert, sambal, and steamed rice. The description refers to four prepared dishes, while the included meal also lists dessert, rice, and sambal, so confirm the exact menu when you book.

This planning step is one of the strongest parts of the experience. You can choose dishes that match your interests rather than accepting a preset menu. If you prefer vegetarian food, want seafood, or simply want to learn a particular Balinese recipe, discuss it with Novi in advance.

You can also tell her how much heat you like. One couple asked for food that was spicy but not too spicy, and Novi adjusted the seasoning to suit them. That is useful because Balinese sambal can range from pleasantly warm to seriously hot. A private class gives you more control than a large group lesson with one fixed level of spice.

Fresh ingredients and the work behind Balinese flavor

Novi’s teaching focuses on the ingredients as well as the finished meal. You learn what goes into the dishes, taste ingredients before cooking, and practice cutting them correctly.

That hands-on approach helps you understand why Balinese food tastes different from a generic Indonesian meal. The recipes rely on fresh herbs, spices, vegetables, sambal, and carefully prepared seasoning. You are not simply following a list of steps. You are learning how the ingredients are handled and combined.

The class is especially useful if you cook at home and want to repeat the dishes later. Cutting technique, seasoning, and the right balance of heat can be hard to pick up from a printed recipe alone. Novi explains each part while you work, then lets you take responsibility for the cooking.

I also like that the class allows tasting along the way. You can see how a dish changes as it cooks, and you have a chance to adjust the seasoning before lunch. That makes the experience practical rather than decorative.

What the cooking session feels like

Expect to spend much of the morning standing at the work area, preparing ingredients and cooking several dishes. You take part in the work rather than sitting back while a professional produces everything.

The class can include a salad or vegetable side, a main course, additional vegetables, a dessert, and a drink, depending on the menu you select. The exact dishes are chosen before the class, so the rhythm will vary. Some recipes may require more preparation, while others may move quickly from chopping to cooking.

Novi’s style is friendly and patient. She explains the ingredients, shows you how to cut them, and gives you time to follow along. The small group size makes it easy to ask questions. For two people, in particular, the class feels more like a private lesson than a social cooking school.

That privacy is valuable for couples, families, and friends with different cooking skills. A confident cook can ask about technique, while a beginner can work at a comfortable pace. You also avoid the common problem of one person doing all the work while the rest of a large group watches.

Sitting down to eat your own Balinese lunch

After the cooking is finished, you sit down and eat the meal you prepared. The lunch includes your selected main courses and vegetable dishes, along with dessert, steamed rice, sambal, and refreshments.

This final meal is more than a pleasant ending. It lets you judge the balance of flavors while the instructions are still fresh in your mind. You can ask why a dish tastes a certain way, how to change it next time, or what to serve with it at home.

The food is the part most likely to make the class memorable. The combination of fresh herbs, carefully adjusted spice, and food prepared by your own hands gives lunch a sense of reward. Even a simple vegetable dish can feel special when you know how it was built.

Allow time to sit and talk. The class is designed to be relaxed, and lunch is not meant to be rushed. If you have a busy afternoon appointment, leave a generous gap after 2 p.m.

Why the small group size matters

The class accepts one to four people per booking, and the group remains private. That is the key difference between this experience and a typical cooking activity with a large mixed group.

With four people, the class works well for a small family or group of friends. With two people, you get plenty of direct attention and can share the work. A solo booking is possible, but the $154 per-person price is harder to justify unless you place a high value on personal instruction and a bespoke menu.

A private group also makes recipe choices easier. You do not have to compromise with strangers who want a different level of spice or a different type of food. If your group includes one vegetarian, one seafood lover, and one person who prefers mild dishes, talk through those needs with Novi before confirming the menu.

The private format may not suit someone looking for a cheap, social activity with lots of other visitors. This is a quieter and more personal class, with the focus on food and conversation rather than meeting a crowd.

Price, transport, and practical value

The price is $154 per person. All ingredients, the welcome drink, class, refreshments, and lunch are included. That makes the cost easier to assess because there are no separate food or ingredient charges during the lesson.

Still, this is a premium cooking class. You are paying for a private booking, a flexible menu, a four-hour lesson, and direct time with Novi. If you compare it with a large group class, it may look expensive. If you compare it with a private food lesson and a full lunch for up to four people, the price is more reasonable.

Transport is not included in the price. A car can be arranged to collect you from your accommodation at the appointed time and return you after the class. Arrange this when booking rather than assuming a transfer is already included.

The meeting point is marked by the large Novi’s Bali Kitchen banner outside the cooking school’s gate. Ask for the pickup cost and exact arrangements in advance, especially if your accommodation is outside the local area.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the class for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. The class is offered in English and Indonesian. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed.

Who should book Novi’s Bali Kitchen?

I would choose this class if you care about learning recipes you can repeat at home. The chance to select dishes, control the spice, and do the preparation yourself gives the lesson lasting value.

It also fits couples and small families who prefer a private experience. Birthday outings work well here, especially since the schedule leaves time for conversation and a proper meal. The class suits food lovers who want traditional Balinese flavors without being rushed through a standard menu.

It may be less suitable if you want a short activity, a low-cost group class, or a sightseeing tour with several stops. This experience stays in and around the kitchen for four hours. The reward is food, instruction, and time with a local cook, not a list of attractions.

You should also be comfortable with a home setting. It is not a polished restaurant meal or a staged show. The friendly dog and garden turtle may add charm, but the setting is personal and informal.

Should you book this Balinese cooking class?

Book it if you want a private, relaxed lesson with a menu chosen around your tastes. Novi’s friendly instruction, fresh ingredients, adjustable spice, and hands-on method are the strongest reasons to go.

At $154 per person, the value depends on your group size and priorities. For two to four people who want a personal class and a full lunch, it is a fair splurge. For one person on a tight budget, a group class may make more sense.

Before paying, send Novi your preferred recipes, dietary needs, spice level, group size, and transport request. If the menu matches what you want to learn, Novi’s Bali Kitchen offers a useful and enjoyable way to spend a Bali morning.

FAQ

How long does the cooking class last?

The class lasts four hours, usually from 10 a.m. until around 2 p.m.

How many people can join one booking?

Each class is private and accepts between one and four people.

Can I choose the recipes?

Yes. You can choose recipes before the class, and Novi has more than 200 recipes on her YouTube channel. Personal recipe requests can also be discussed in advance.

What food is included?

The meal includes two main-course dishes chosen from vegetarian, chicken, prawns, or pork, two vegetable side dishes, dessert, sambal, steamed rice, and lunch. Confirm the exact number and menu of prepared dishes when booking.

Are ingredients and refreshments included?

Yes. The price includes all ingredients, a homemade welcome drink, refreshments during the class, and lunch.

Is transportation included?

Transportation is not included in the class price. A car can be arranged to collect you from your accommodation and return you after the class, with arrangements made when booking.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the class for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.