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 arrive to find a fixed menu or a crowded class. You choose recipes before the day, then spend the morning learning how Balinese food is built, from fresh herbs and spices to the right level of chili. I especially like the chance to taste ingredients before cooking and the way Novi adjusts heat to suit you.

I also like that this is a proper meal, not a quick demonstration. You prepare the food yourself, then sit down for lunch with Novi and plenty of time to talk. The main consideration is price: at $154 per person, it is a premium class, especially for one or two people, and transport is not included.

Key points

• Private class for one to four people: You get Novi’s full attention rather than sharing the kitchen with a large group.
• Choose recipes in advance: More than 200 recipes are available through Novi’s Bali Kitchen channel, with personal requests also welcome.
• Four relaxed hours: Classes generally run from 10 a.m. to about 2 p.m., with refreshments and lunch included.
• Hands-on cooking: You cut, season, cook, and taste the dishes yourself, with guidance on ingredients and technique.
• A flexible menu: Choose main courses based on vegetables, chicken, prawns, or pork, along with vegetable sides, sambal, rice, and dessert.
• Home or villa setting: Classes take place at Novi’s home or can be arranged at your private villa or another venue.

A private morning in Novi’s Balinese kitchen

Novi’s Bali Kitchen is designed for a small, personal cooking session rather than a standard group activity. Your booking is for one party only, with a maximum of four people. That detail matters. Cooking classes can lose their charm when several groups crowd around the same workbench, but here the pace and menu are shaped around you.

The class usually begins at 10 a.m. and finishes around 2 p.m. That gives you roughly four hours for introductions, refreshments, preparation, cooking, and lunch. It is a generous amount of time for a food class, and the relaxed schedule means you are not pushed from one recipe to the next.

You meet Novi in her home kitchen, where a large Novi’s Bali Kitchen banner marks the gate. A class can also be held at your private villa or another suitable venue, though you will need to arrange that in advance. Collection from your accommodation can be arranged when you book, but the transport cost is not included in the $154 price.

Choosing your menu before you arrive

The planning stage is one of this experience’s strongest features. Novi has more than 200 recipes on her YouTube channel, Novi’s Bali Kitchen, so you can look through the options before your class and choose the dishes that interest you most.

That gives you more control than a fixed-menu cooking lesson. You might focus on dishes you have already eaten in Bali, select a vegetarian menu, or ask to learn something new. Novi is also open to individual recipe requests, so it is worth asking before booking if you have a particular Balinese dish in mind.

The included menu is described as four dishes, with two main-course choices and two vegetable side dishes, plus dessert, sambal, and steamed rice. Main-course options can be vegetarian, chicken, prawns, or pork. Because the exact recipes are chosen in advance, the final menu will depend on your conversation with Novi.

I recommend deciding early if anyone in your party has strong food preferences. You can tell Novi how much chili you like and discuss the balance of meat, seafood, and vegetables before the class begins. One useful touch is the chance to taste ingredients before cooking. This helps you understand the flavors instead of simply copying a recipe.

Fresh herbs, spices, and practical kitchen skills

The class is not limited to watching Novi cook. You take part in the preparation and do the cooking yourself. That includes learning how to cut ingredients properly, combine the seasonings, and judge the heat level.

Balinese cuisine often depends on the relationship between several ingredients rather than one dominant flavor. Fresh herbs, spices, chili, and aromatics all need to work together. Novi explains what the ingredients are and how they are used, giving you a better chance of repeating the dish at home.

This is especially useful if you are unfamiliar with Balinese food. You may recognize the finished dish from a restaurant, but the class shows you the steps that produce its flavor. Tasting ingredients along the way also gives you a clearer sense of how the recipe changes during cooking.

The pace is intentionally unhurried. You have time to ask questions, correct your knife work, and adjust the seasoning. That makes the class a good fit for beginners, but it should also satisfy confident home cooks who want to understand authentic Balinese recipes rather than collect a quick souvenir recipe.

A menu built around mains, vegetables, and sambal

Your meal includes main courses, vegetable sides, steamed rice, sambal, and dessert. The choice of main course gives you a useful range of options. Vegetarians can build the class around plant-based dishes, while other groups can choose chicken, prawns, or pork.

The vegetable dishes are not just filler on the plate. They give you a chance to learn how Balinese meals balance a central dish with lighter, seasoned accompaniments. Sambal adds another layer. You can discuss the level of chili with Novi and set the heat to match your preference.

That flexibility is important because spicy food means different things to different people. If you enjoy heat, you can say so. If you prefer a gentler version, Novi can help you find the right level rather than leaving you with a sauce you cannot eat.

Dessert is also part of the session, though the exact recipe depends on the menu you choose. A homemade welcome drink is served on arrival, and refreshments are available during the morning. These small breaks help the class feel like a shared meal in a home, not a timed kitchen lesson.

Lunch is part of the experience

The class finishes at the table with the food you have prepared. Lunch is included, along with the ingredients and refreshments, so you do not need to plan another meal afterward.

I like this format because it gives the cooking a clear purpose. You are not simply preparing sample portions and walking away. You sit together, eat the results, and have time to talk about the dishes while they are fresh.

The setting also sounds distinctly home-based. A small dog and a turtle named George may be around the garden and kitchen area. These animals are not part of the formal program, and their presence may not suit someone who wants a strictly controlled culinary school setting. For most people, though, they add to the informal character of the morning.

If you prefer a quiet, highly polished restaurant kitchen, this may feel too casual. If you like personal contact and a little household charm, the relaxed setting is a major advantage.

Why the small group matters

A maximum of four people changes the way the class works. You have more time with Novi, and each person can take an active role in preparing the food. In a large class, it is common to watch someone else handle the key steps. Here, you can expect to cut, mix, season, and cook rather than simply stand at the edge of the action.

The private format also works well for couples, families, or a small group of friends. It can make a birthday or special occasion feel personal without turning the class into a formal event. One couple used the experience as part of a birthday celebration, and the warm, friendly teaching style suited that purpose.

For solo visitors, the cost deserves careful thought. The $154 price is per person, so the private format is most compelling when shared by a small group that values personal attention. You are paying for a four-hour private session, the ingredients, refreshments, lunch, and a menu shaped around your preferences. That is fair value for a special occasion or serious food enthusiast, but it is not a budget cooking lesson.

Home kitchen or private villa

The usual setting is Novi’s home, but the class can also take place at your private villa or another venue. This flexibility is useful if you are staying outside the easiest area for the meeting point or want the class to fit into a villa day.

Ask about the venue and transport when booking. A car can be arranged to collect you from your accommodation at the appointed time and return you after the class, but this service is not included in the stated price. If you arrange your own transport, look for the large Novi’s Bali Kitchen banner outside the cooking school gate.

The meeting details matter because this is not an activity where you should simply turn up at a hotel lobby. Confirm the pickup plan, venue, and start time ahead of your class.

Language, pace, and teaching style

Novi teaches in English and Indonesian. The style is relaxed but professional, with no need to rush through the recipes. You can ask about ingredients, cooking methods, cutting technique, and seasoning as you go.

The personal format also lets Novi respond to your palate. If you like food spicy but not painfully hot, say so. If you are trying to avoid a particular main ingredient, discuss it before the menu is settled.

This flexibility is one reason the experience feels more useful than a standard cooking demonstration. You leave with a clearer idea of how to make the dishes suit your own kitchen and taste. Still, you should remember that the exact recipes are not fixed in the basic description. The quality of your session depends partly on making good menu choices with Novi before arrival.

The $154 question

At $154 per person, this is expensive compared with a large group class in Bali. The price becomes easier to justify when you count what is included: four hours of instruction, all ingredients, a welcome drink, refreshments, a full lunch, and a private booking for up to four people.

You are also paying for customization. You can choose recipes in advance, request particular dishes, select your main-course style, and adjust the spice level. That is useful if you have already taken a general Balinese cooking class and want something more personal.

The value is strongest for a couple or small group celebrating something, or for anyone who cares more about private instruction than the lowest price. It is weaker if you simply want an inexpensive introduction to Indonesian food and do not mind cooking alongside strangers.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the class for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms make it easier to fit the class into a changing Bali schedule.

Who should book Novi’s Bali Kitchen

I would recommend this class to you if you want to do the cooking yourself, care about fresh ingredients, and prefer a private setting. It is particularly well suited to food-focused visitors, couples, families with up to four people, and anyone who wants to bring a few Balinese recipes home.

It also suits people who enjoy conversation and a slower morning. The class is not designed as a quick stop between sightseeing appointments. Give it the full four hours, arrive ready to cook, and leave room in your day for lunch.

You may want to choose another option if you are watching your budget, dislike chili, or prefer a large culinary school with a fixed menu and a highly structured schedule. Also remember that transport is extra unless you make separate arrangements.

Should you book this Balinese cooking class?

Book Novi’s Bali Kitchen if you want a private, friendly lesson where you choose the menu and prepare a proper meal from start to finish. The strongest reasons are the small group size, Novi’s personal guidance, the range of recipes, and the chance to adjust the food to your taste.

Think twice if $154 per person feels high for a cooking class or if you would rather spend the morning sightseeing. For a special occasion or a small group that values authentic home cooking and personal attention, the price can make sense. For a casual, low-cost introduction, it is more than you need.

FAQ

Where does the cooking class take place?

Classes are held at Novi’s home. The class can also take place at your private villa or another venue by arrangement.

How long is the class?

The class lasts four hours. It generally begins at 10 a.m. and finishes around 2 p.m.

How many people can join?

Each booking is private and can include between one and four people.

Can I choose the recipes?

Yes. You can choose recipes before the class from more than 200 options on Novi’s Bali Kitchen YouTube channel. Novi also welcomes personal recipe requests.

What main courses can I choose?

Main-course options include vegetarian dishes, chicken, prawns, or pork.

What food is included?

You prepare two main courses, two vegetable side dishes, one dessert, sambal, and steamed rice. Lunch, refreshments, a welcome drink, ingredients, and the cooking lesson are included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You eat the meal you prepare during the class, and lunch is included in the price.

What languages does Novi speak?

The class is available in English and Indonesian.

Is transport included?

No. Transport is not included in the price. A car can be arranged to collect you from your accommodation and return you after the class when you book.

Can I cancel the class?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.