Curaçao Cooking Class

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Curacao

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Discover the tastes and textures of Curaçao cuisine during a private cooking class in the capital of Willemstad. Alongside your instructor, learn about Caribbean cuisine and the different types of ingredients you can find on the island. Then, it's time to prepare several dishes, both traditional and non, so that you can enjoy a delicious lunch which you made.

Hear how recipes are handed down through the generations
Learn tips and tricks to recreate the food at home
Lunch is accompanied by wine, coffee, and tea
A private class means a personalized experience

Sample Menu

Main

Lionfish Ceviche

Main

Jerk Chicken

Main

Corn Tortillas

Main

Sweet Potato Salad

Main

Green Papaya Salad

Main

Funchi Fries

Dessert

Papaya Cake with Lime Cream

What's Included

Lunch

We end the class with a delicious homecooked lunch with various Caribbean dishes that we prepared during class.
Snacks
Coffee and/or Tea
Alcoholic Beverages
Soda/Pop

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Helmi Smeulders - Caribbean Chef
1 Djonoramarthaweg, Willemstad, Curaçao
My kitchen is located opposite the dentist behind the beige wall with pink flowers. Please park somewhere down the street, not at the dentist parking lot.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.9:30 am

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Yvette_J

I would highly recommend this excursion. This was one of my first excursions and it set the tone for understanding a bit more of history of the Curaçao food history . Hilma also gave us some insight on some other wonderful food restaurants and tourists places. I don’t think it hurt that I celebrated my birthday with the cook and another participant. One tip you will have fun cooking and learning so much about yourself after the class! Book it 💕

Reviews

4.9

based on 54 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Book it asap!

Yvette_J, Mar 2026

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you Yvette!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Never was able to appear...

Tina_H, Mar 2026

Never was able to appear due to island time, left when docked but bus left so took a taxi but was unfamiliar with area. Spent 350 dollars for excursion plus taxi and received absolutely nothing! A horrible experience with Viator. Very disappointed 😞

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear Tina, I’m very sorry to hear that you were unable to attend the cooking class and that your day did not go as planned. The full address of my kitchen, including a map link, is clearly provided on Viator as well as in the booking confirmation. We have successfully welcomed many guests using these same instructions. While I truly regret that you missed the class, transportation arrangements and timing on the island are outside of my control. As the experience itself did not take place, this review does not reflect the quality of the cooking class that so many other guests have attended and reviewed positively. Reviews are very important to small tour providers like us, and I would sincerely appreciate that being taken into consideration. Wishing you all the best in your future travels. Kind regards, Helmi

Just a wonderful experience in learning something new that tastes good.

David_S, Jan 2026

THIS was a fun day!!! Had so much fun making new foods that I hadn’t made before and tasting new foods I didn’t have a chance to try. My wife who doesn’t cook at all had the best time actually making food. I would fully recommend this to anyone whether they be just foodie eaters but especially to those who like me like the challenge of cooking something new. Helmi is a wonderful host and she will entertain you and teach you something new.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for the wonderful review. So happy to read that you enjoyed my class. Thanks so much David it was a pleasure cooking with you! Sunny regards, Helmi

Food lovers need to apply!

Gwendolyn_I, Jun 2025

This class is definitely for the foodie. Chef Helmi guided us in preparing the most wonderful meal. If you love to cook and want to try traditional Caribbean dishes you enjoy this class.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thanks so much Gwen! It was a pleasure having you in my class! Helmi

Exceptional

Payton_A, Jun 2025

This was one of the highlights of my vacation!!! Helmi was a fabulous host and teacher with the help of Riley, who was also great to meet and work with.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thanks so much Payton! It was a pleasure cooking with you and your daughter. Hope to see you again some day! Sunny regards, Helmi

A Culinary Curacao Adventure

DANTIONE_C, May 2025

This experience is definitely a class where you not only cook but learn about the different locally grown food options. We were able to select which of the menu options we wanted to prepare and followed the instructions. It felt daunting at first until you realized that the instructions were simple and easy to follow. If you had a question Helmi and Riley were there to assist. We made the Jerk Chicken, Ceviche and Mango Aioli. The kitchen was rustic and had all the tools you needed. While we were cooking drinking options were provided and the kitchen came alive. The class starts off with Helmi providing some background on her journey and culinary point of view so you learn a lot. Once all of the food is done you get the to sit around the table and enjoy it. This experience left our bellies and hearts full. We bought one of her cookbooks and can't wait to return home to try out some recipes. This is definitely an experience to try while in Curacao.

Response from Host, May 2025

Thanks so much for your beautiful review. It was a pleasure spending a day in the kitchen with you!

Great time

Traci_H, May 2025

Helmi and Riley were excellent! We had a wonderful time hear her stories and cooking some awesome dishes.

Response from Host, May 2025

Very happy to read that you enjoyed my class. Thanks so much Traci!

Wonderful Experience

Andrew_T, Jun 2024

My wife and I had a wonderful time! It was a different adventure for us from what we typically do on vacation, but the experience was worth it! Helmi was a great hostess and her assistant helps guide the group to have a fun time. We have some great recipes to take home with us!

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thanks so much Andrew. It was a pleasure to welcome you in my cooking class!

Best Local Cooking Class We've Ever Taken.... and we look for them on every island!

Kimberly_N, Apr 2024

AMAZING!! Helmi does a great job of introducing foods that are local to the island, and goes deep on the lion fish (see pictures). Our experience had 9 people including Americans, Germans, and Nederlanders (local and expats) with a broad range of cooking capability. It was a very comfortable environment, with all activities being supported by Helmi and her sous chef (I'm so sorry I don't remember his name but we really enjoyed working with him!!). As more advanced cooks, we love taking local cooking classes when we travel, and this proved to be the best one yet! With many years of home cooking experience, it can be hard to learn a new skill and this class gave us TWO! Helmi supported us in the filleting of a lion fish (yes the spines are poisonous, but the meat is delicious), and I feel confident I could fillet fish again. We also made tortillas, which while seeming simple, we had never tried and left so inspired we purchased a tortilla press for home. The group was fantastic! Most people arrived in groups of 2, but one person didn't and it didn't slow anyone down. The space is well designed to support a large cooking group, and the dining and conversation at the end was wonderful. We left very full, and raving to everyone about what a wonderful experience we had. (We also took Helmi's advice and headed to a special spot to get some lion fish jewelry!) Handsdown a wonderful experience and would do it again if we return to Curacao!

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Wow thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review about your experience! So happy to read it was the best cooking class you've ever taken. Thank you!

Unforgettable

Marlene_V, Jul 2023

Amazing experience! We had a great time and learned so much. I will definitely be recreating the recipes at home.

An experience to remember!

Laurie_W, Oct 2022

We learned so much about island flavors and local cuisine. Had expert guidance and we always treated with dignity and respect. We also enjoyed the fruits of our labor with a phenomenal class luncheon that we prepared. We loved every minute!

Must do in Curacao

CAROLLYON, Feb 2020

Great class and chef. We made a lot of locally sourced dishes. There were 15 people from various countries in the class. Highly recommended. I booked several months in advance.

A great unique cooking experience.

Annemarie_V, Feb 2026

We really enjoyed the cooking workshop. The location is very cozy. We had a nice mixed group. First we got an explanation from Helmi about a local fruit and herbs. And the lime fish. Then we started working on the actual delicious recipes. After 1.5 hours of cooking, we sat at a full table with all our homemade dishes! Nice wine and homemade iced tea. Thanks Helmi for this top morning, we wouldn't have missed this for the world

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Response from Host, Feb 2026

Wat fijn om te lezen dat je zo hebt genoten! Dank je wel voor de mooie review!

Curaçao cooking experience

Barbara_M, Aug 2025

Great experience! We got to know the Curaçao products and how to prepare them in delicious dishes. An unforgettable day!

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Response from Host, Aug 2025

Fijn dat je hebt genoten van mijn kookles en dank je wel voor de 5-star review!

Wat was dit leuk, Helmi...

mary_a, Mar 2024

Wat was dit leuk, Helmi is een ster in vertellen over producten en daarna gewoon aan de slag met ieder zijn recept maken. Wat een sfeer om daarna alles met z’n allen op te eten als een grote Italiaanse familie. Ik heb genoten.