Cooking Class in Paris: Insider’s Recommendation For the Best Local Class
A cooking class in Paris is one of the best ways to get to know this amazing city. If you’re coming to France and not spending at least a third of your time eating delicious food, you’re probably doing something wrong.
But what if you could learn to recreate your favorite dishes right at home, without it being too complicated? That was my goal when I signed up for a cooking class in Paris and I’m glad I chose the course I did – it was the perfect day!
My family is French so I have pretty high standards when it comes to taking a class outside my aunt’s kitchen (no one tell her I took this class), but I wanted to actually learn classic French cuisine technique and have fun along the way. Even if you’re only in Paris for 3 days, I’d say this is a worthwhile activity to consider.
Here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right cooking class in Paris, if you can do it as an English-speaker, and what you can expect to learn.
Cooking Class in Paris: Quick Guide
Running short on time? Here’s a quick guide to planning the perfect Paris vacation, including a cooking class!
The Exact Cooking Class I Recommend:
- This class includes a market tour, all local ingredients, endless wine, and an amazing instructor. I loved it.
Where to Stay:
- Hotel de Londres if you want to be near the Eiffel Tower
- La Chambre du Marais for a trendy, local experience
- Le Meurice for true luxury
- Guide to the best neighborhoods in Paris here.
What to Do:
- 50+ things to do in Paris here (including restaurants!)
- Visit the Musée d’Orsay, see Monet’s Lillies at l’Orangerie, or the Louvre (with a skip-the-line ticket)
- Check out the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame
- See Le Crazy Horse Burlesque or a Seine river dinner cruise.
Choosing the Right Cooking Class in Paris
There are so many amazing things to do in Paris that any activity you choose has to be worth your time. These are the key criteria that I consider to be essential if you really want to learn how to cook, but still have an easy, fun day.
Why a Market Visit is Essential
I honestly love taking cooking classes, I take one in pretty much every new city I visit. It’s a lovely way to get to know local culture, local ingredients, and local people. That’s why I think it’s important to book a French cooking class that includes a market tour.
In our class, we visited a local market and learned about how to choose quality, organic ingredients, got a quick lesson on the history of French cheese (and tried five different kinds, what a fantastic way to start the day), and picked exactly which pieces of fish we wanted for lunch.
Talk about a farm-to-table experience! We went straight from the market into the kitchen, which made everything feel so real (and like I would know exact how to recreate it at home).
An Instructor That’s Talented AND Fun In Your Cooking Class in Paris
What instructor you get makes such a difference in the experience of the day. To be clear, any chef who’s teaching a cooking class will be talented, but will they be fun?
Our instructor, Frederick, was so knowledgeable and also so amusing! He spoke perfect English, explained the methodology behind every step in the process, and was funny and quippy along the way.
It felt like I was in the kitchen with a friend (who happened to be a very talented French chef). He made our day.
What You Can Expect To Make at a Cooking Class in Paris
We kicked off the day with coffee (thank god) and pastries before the market tour, where we tried fresh seasonal plums and 5 different kinds of cheese.
Our cooking class menu was entirely driven by what was in season from the market that day (again, an impressively high-quality experience!).
We made:
- Cauliflower soup with truffle oil (since soup is literally my favorite food, I was obsessed with this)
- Gratin Dauphinois (like scalloped potatoes)
- Salmon in a classic beurre blanc sauce (a French recipe I loved mastering) with glazed carrots and cucumber (I had never hard warm cucumber before and it was a class favorite)
- Tarte Tatin (my grandfather’s favorite! Just look at that caramel…)
There was, of course, French bread throughout the meal and wine flowed generously (now I know I love Muscadet, an easy-drinking French white wine).
How to Book The Exact Cooking Class In Paris I Recommend
I spent quite a while researching cooking classes in Paris. I love a reddit deep-dive, and word of mouth from my local friends. I ended up picking this small-group class (there were just 8 of us!) run by Le Foodist and I can’t recommend it enough.
We made great food, in a unique environment, with really nice people. Pretty much everyone else was a tourist, but that also made it a fun way to meet fellow travelers (if you’re a solo traveler in Paris, this is a great way to make new friends!)
I also highly recommend it as a romantic thing to do in Paris for couples. My boyfriend and I will definitely be recreating these recipes at home, and eating mouthfuls of beurre blanc sauce while we reminisce about our amazing trip to Paris sounds pretty lovely to me.
Unfortunately, lots of people know how great this company is, so you need to book in advance. Since they keep the classes small and are very well known, they tend to sell out a few weeks ahead! We snagged the last two spots in our class.
Is a Cooking Class in Paris Affordable?
This class runs just over $200, but considering it’s a complete half-day experience, includes multiple courses, and endless wine, it’s well worth the value.
That’s about the same as a nice dinner for two in Paris, but here you get a half-day activity + meal.
There are lots of classes that are more expensive, and some that are less expensive, but I think this is an activity where you want to pay a little more for quality ingredients, a knowledgeable instructor, and a small group.
Personally, I don’t want to be crammed in a kitchen with 25 people.
Cooking Class vs Baking Class in Paris
You can absolutely take a baking class in Paris (pastry is, after all, essential to France). The company I went with also offers a macaron class (a classic French dessert that I have tried for years to make on my own), or I can recommend this pastry class that takes you “behind the scenes” in an actual French bakery.
Cooking Class in Paris: FAQs
Yes! While it’s not necessary, a €10 – €20 tip per person is appreciated for their time. Especially if you take a class as thorough as the one I took.
Not at all! Classes are conducted entirely in English, though instructors can speak French with you as well!
This is what I love about a cooking class in Paris! All the things that have felt so hard for years, now suddenly seem easy. The instructor was there to guide us through every step and gave us plenty of breaks as well.
They usually run about €200 +. It depends where you go, but when you consider the amount of food and attention you get, plus the quality of the ingredients, it feels well worth it to me.
Final Thoughts on Taking a Cooking Class in Paris
A cooking class in Paris isn’t just about recipes; it’s about stepping into French culture, connecting with locals, and creating memories you can bring home (along with a few bottles of wine).
Whether you’re visiting for a long weekend or a full week, this experience is a perfect way to balance sightseeing with something hands-on and truly special.
If you’re planning your Paris trip, you might also enjoy my other guides:
- Best Arrondissement to Stay in Paris
- 3 Days in Paris Itinerary
- Things to Do in Paris
- Best Day Trips from Paris
- Paris Metro Tickets Explained
And if you’re visiting seasonally, check out:
For even more inspiration, I’ve shared guides on coffee shops, museums, unique shows like Crazy Horse, and even tips for navigating long-term stays with the Paris Mobility Lease.
No matter how you spend your time, adding a cooking class to your Paris itinerary is one of the best ways to make your trip unforgettable.
Cheers to your next adventure! 🇫🇷👩🍳
