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Authentic San Miguel de Allende Cooking Class in a Beautiful Home

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Group discounts
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Discover the rich traditions and techniques of pre-Hispanic Mexican cooking during a 3-hour, private cooking class and meal with a warm and wonderful Mexican grandmother in her home kitchen. Isabel is incredibly passionate about pre-Hispanic cooking - so get ready to make salsa picante in a traditional molcajete and prepare a meal alongside your host that features the "three sisters". Enjoy the personal experience of a private class so you can learn every step of the recipe, practice your Spanish or just enjoy Mexican hospitality at its very best. When you are done cooking, sit down to share a hearty meal followed by a traditional Mexican treat.
  • 3-hour, private cooking experience in San Miguel de Allende
  • Learn the basics of pre-Hispanic Mexican cuisine
  • Prepare a meal with a local
  • Vegetarian meal option available
  • Family friendly

Sample Menu

Starter

Margarita or non-alcoholic agua de jamaica

Starter

Nopales salad

Cactus, tomatoes, onion and cilantro in an oregano and vinegar dressing

Starter

Fresh guacamole with chips

Starter

Sopa de frijoles negros

Black bean soup topped with crispy tortilla strips

Main

Pollo santo

Chicken or rabbit stewed in a green tomato, hoja santo and cilantro sauce served with corn, mushrooms and squash blossoms

Dessert

Ate con queso

What's Included

  • Private cooking class and meal with your host Isabel
  • Private transportation
  • Alcoholic Beverages

    Meeting and Pickup

    You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

    Pickup points

    Select a pickup point

    Pickup details

    Please include your San Miguel de Allende pick-up location when making your booking or at least 3 days before your experience.

    or

    Meeting point

    • 37893 Presita de Santa Rosa, Gto., Mexico

      Please meet your host Isabel at her home in the Presita de Santa Rosa community, northwest of San Miguel de Allende. Exact address can be found in your ticket upon booking confirmation.

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    What To Expect

    1

    San Miguel de Allende

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
    • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    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

    Ellen_R
    This was a highlight of our trip to San Miguel. Isabel is an interesting and engaging person. She accommodated our need for a vegetarian meal perfectly. Isabel shared the history of the foods we cooked with and we made a lovely meal. Her home and gardens are so peaceful after the hustle and bustle of San Miguel. A few tips: Isabel lives out of town so be sure and arrange transportation with her ahead of time. The event was about 4 hours total and so worth the time.

    Reviews

    5.0
    based on 35 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

    5 Stars!

    Jakki_J, May 2026
    A WONDERFUL experience. Isabel picked us up from our rental right on time and was an expert driver to her beautiful home a few miles outside town. She led us through the cooking class, starting with ingredients and the history behind them. We then proceeded to cook a beautiful and delicious meal together which we all shared around her dining table after a margarita lesson on her patio. A 5 star experience!! Definitely book this amazing class!

    Heritage foods and a great lunch

    chris_c, May 2026
    Isabel and her sister shared a fun afternoon with us in her home outside San Miguel. After picking us up at out lodging in town we learning about heritage foods of Mexico and how to prepare them. After the cooking and prep we had a great lunch!

    Girls trip cooking class- Don’t think twice! BOOK it!

    Rachel_L, May 2026
    Isabel, Rick and Michelle were all so great. The food was delicious and she was so great and showing us techniques as well as talking us through the recipes. It was such a fun time cooking and eating with them. Thank you for welcoming us into your home.

    Fabulous cooking experience!

    Ellen_R, Apr 2026
    This was a highlight of our trip to San Miguel. Isabel is an interesting and engaging person. She accommodated our need for a vegetarian meal perfectly. Isabel shared the history of the foods we cooked with and we made a lovely meal. Her home and gardens are so peaceful after the hustle and bustle of San Miguel. A few tips: Isabel lives out of town so be sure and arrange transportation with her ahead of time. The event was about 4 hours total and so worth the time.

    This was a fantastic...

    Cara_B, Nov 2025
    This was a fantastic experience! Isabel is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. She guided us through preparing a delicious vegetarian meal and provided transportation from/to our lodging. Isabel’s home is beautiful and we even got to spend some time with her adorable dog Nacho. This was truly a highlight of our trip to SMA. Highly recommend.

    Response from Host, Nov 2025

    Thank you so much for sharing this lovely review. We are thrilled to hear that your time with Isabel was such a standout moment during your visit to San Miguel de Allende. She loves creating warm and welcoming experiences for her guests and it is wonderful to know that her guidance, hospitality, and delicious vegetarian menu all made an impression. It sounds like the added touches, including the ride from your lodging and a visit with little Nacho, helped make the day even more memorable. We are grateful you chose to spend part of your trip with one of our hosts and even more grateful that it became a highlight. Thank you again for the kind words and recommendation. We would love to welcome you on another Traveling Spoon experience in the future.

    An Extraordinary Experience

    Nan_W, Oct 2025
    This was an extraordinary experience. We highly recommend this personal cooking class presented in a private home. Isabel is quite knowledgeable and eager to share her interest in preparing healthy food. We began by picking tomatillos from her garden, which became part of a refreshing appetizer. Then to the historical basics of the Mexican kitchen— onions, tomatoes, garlic, nopales and various fresh and dried chiles. We made a soup and a versatile meat dish, which we ate with blue corn tortillas. We felt right at home. Add a perfect recipe for blended Margaritas enjoyed on the patio. The class was a highlight of our visit to San Miguel de Allende.

    Very relaxed, but great...

    Jeffrey_S, Oct 2025
    Very relaxed, but great exposure to the prehistoric flavors that make Mexican food so unique. Isabel can work with novices as well as experienced cooks and she provides wonderful perspectives on how each ingredient enhances the flavor of the others.

    An authentic meal that you would only find in someone's home

    Jennifer_D, Apr 2025
    Isabel warmly opened her sweet home to us. She picked us up at our hotel and told us about local culture and history. Then, we cooked an authentic meal that you would only find in someone's home rather than a restaurant in Mexico. We learned techniques that we will bring home to our own kitchens. We loved our time with Isabel! Thank you!

    Response from Host, Apr 2025

    Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a special time with Isabel. Our mission at Traveling Spoon is to create meaningful, authentic food experiences that truly connect travelers with local culture – and it sounds like your time with Isabel captured that perfectly. We’re so glad you were able to learn new techniques and enjoy a home-cooked meal that reflects the heart of Mexico. We hope we have the chance to serve you on your future travels!

    Highlight of our trip

    Lauren_H, Sep 2024
    This was such a lovely experience! An absolute highlight of our trip to San Miguel. We were picked up at our hotel promptly, had a wonderful time cooking a huge meal, and we really enjoyed ourselves. Would highly recommend!

    Delicious and cozy experience

    Christene_M, Sep 2024
    Everything was perfect. Isabel was an amazing host and we felt like we weren’t just taking a class- we were cooking with a dear family member. Everything was delicious!

    Make this experience a priority

    Ashwini_R, Jun 2024
    When I originally booked this experience, I had no idea it would be one of the most memorable of our trip. Isabel is one of the most remarkable women my family and I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with. She not only welcomed us into her home and prepared a lovely meal for us to enjoy but she shared so much about her life and experiences. We sat down (after learning great cooking techniques) to one of our best meals in Mexico with Isabel and her friendly husband . She included our teen boys in the experience too and they had a great time. Don’t miss out on this experience! It was 100% worth it. We will never forget it or Isabel.

    We loved Isabel

    Carol_S, Mar 2024
    What a fun and memorable experience. Isabel was so hospitable and informative. She picked us up right on time and took us to her beautiful home where learned the recipes and techniques of old Mexico. Using modern methods, of course! Isabel and the food were fascinating and delightful. I highly recommend this treat!

    Una clase de cocina bien organizada y comida deliciosa.

    Margarita_S, Nov 2024
    Aprendimos a elaborar un menu mexicano tradicional compuesto por arroz rojo, pollo en mole, pollo en salsa verde con hoja santa, y ensalada de nopales. Todo quedó muy rico. La anfitriona Isabel es puntual, tiene gran experiencia en la cocina y un trato alegre y amable. Lo disfrutamos y recomendamos ampliamente.
    Likely to Sell Out

    From $115.00

    per person

    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 58 days in advance.

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