Sri Lankan Cooking Class With Nilu Kandy( Free Pickup & Drop)

We had the best time and experience, absolutely a must go !🤍

The 30-minute transfer from downtown Kandy felt like a fun guided tour with someone knowledgeable about the local history and geography. By the time we arrived at the location, we had all become quite comfortable with each other. The facility, located in a simple rural village, is a converted private house used for experiential activities. Upon arrival, I was greeted with smiles by the lovely wife, dressed in traditional clothing, and her adorable daughters. The well-prepared cooking experience, conducted in a clean environment, proceeded smoothly and efficiently, with detailed explanations of the ingredients and cooking procedures, and was over in no time, accompanied by occasional laughter and enjoyment. How did it taste? It was the best meal I ate during my stay in Sri Lanka. 素晴らしい体験をありがとうございました またいつか戻って来ます

My husband and I did this authentic cooking course today at their beautiful home. It was the most amazing experience in a beautiful setting and they asked our dietary requirements and created a meal plan to suit. We walked through all the traditional dishes step by step and learnt how accessible the ingredients are at home to recreates the meal. The hosts were so kind, warm and friendly and they left us to eat what we cooked which turned out to be a huge delicious banquet ! I would highly recommend *****

This was a brilliant cooking class - family owned and the best food at the end that we have had so far. Firstly, a lot of the other cooking classes in Sri Lanka take you to a market beforehand, we just wanted to learn how to cook and therefore this class was ideal as we had more time to actually cook and they selected ingredients that you can find more readily available beforehand for us. The space to cook in was a brilliant outdoor kitchen on their property and it had a really nice family feel. The hosts are a couple and their children came and helped out too, teaching us food that their family eats and explaining the recipes behind it. The hosts had great English and everything was explained clearly and simply. The food at the end was amazing and we ate everything we cooked. The host then sent us the recipes and pictures etc so we could attempt ourselves again at home. 10/10 would recommend.

Had the most amazing experience with nilu and Janaka! Genuinely one of the best experiences we've had in Sri Lanka. The food is incredible, the hosts are lovely and knowledgeable and we walked away feeling like we could actually cook some Sri Lankan food at home!

The whole experience was super insightful from pick up to drop off we could not fault a thing. Incredibly friendly, helpful and welcoming to their home where we cooked and ate 10 different dishes all which were amazing and unique in their own way. A lovely introduction to Sri Lankan cuisine and life.

Long overdue review as we went last October. Obviously the food was delicious and we had a great tike. It was also very chilled atmosphere and welcoming. Nilu and Janaka were great host. We really enjoy cooking with Nilu, learn from her and have a lovely chat at the same time about Sri Lanka, and life in general. Thank you !

We were told that the experience was designed so that we could make all the dishes when we got home. This is absolutely right and our group of 8 were excited to replicate the delicious curries and sides that we created together

We had a great time! Janaka and Nilu were super great hosts. Nilu did the cooking demonstration, and Janaka explained in (practically native) English not only what was happening, but also helpful comments and context along the way (e.g., if you don’t have coconut back home, use this). They were super flexible with dietary preferences too. The best part of the whole thing is that you can totally make this at home without much fuss and no need for specialty ingredients.

A great experience with lovely hosts for whom nothing is a problem. We helped prepare a traditional Sri Lankan meal with ingredients that we could source from home. The kitchen and dining area had been specially built to cater for these events and worked well. I would thoroughly recommend this event

Absolutely recommended if you're in Kandy, this was totally worth it. They are the sweetest people, took us through the recipes and ingredients, and we had a delicious feast of some of the best Sri Lankan food of the whole trip. They went above and beyond by picking us up by car to bring us over, and even making a PDF of the recipe for us to remember everything. Now, just like they mention, they curate ingredients and recipe to be easy to find in any countries so that you an replicate once back home. This was a fun family day and everyone participated!

Such a friendly family and warm, welcoming experience! We were picked up by Janaka (Nilu’s Husband) and taken to there home just outside the city in a lovely Village surrounded by greenery! Their outdoor kitchen was sooo nice and clean! During the class, Nilu and Kanaka introduced us to the ingredients we would be using and then demonstrated how to prepare and cook the dishes. They educated us on the rules/traditional methods of Sri Lanken cooking whilst simplifying the recipes so we would be able to recreate at home. At the end of the class, we got to eat the 7 dishes we had made together - they were DELICIOUS!! We were even treated to some fresh fruit that was grown in their garden (lots of the ingredients in the dishes were also from their garden). Overall, an amazing experience with two truly genuine and kind people who were more than happy to discuss all things cooking and Sri Lanka!

Highly recommend this cooking class. From the clear communication and friendly family welcome to the excellent demonstration and delicious food, we loved this experience. It was great to share it with others too.

What a memorable experience with Nilu and her husband Janaka. They welcomed us into their home (their daughters are adorable) and educated us about Sri Lankan cooking before getting our hands dirty with the prep. For the home cook, this is absolutely straight forward and gives you the ingredients and simple techniques to pull this off at home and make a spectacular Sri Lankan feast for your loved ones. Highly recommended.

We had a lovely time learning to cook with Nilu and Janaka. Their kitchen was a great setting, with very peaceful surroundings. I love that they use ingredients that are easy to get back home so we can easily replicate the dishes. The food was all delicious, Nilu was a great teacher and Janaka gave us some great tips for the rest of our trip as well.

This was one of the highlights of our trip! A 10/10 experience with Janaka & his wife Nilu! Janaka kindly picked us up from our hotel and took us to the cooking class where he told us some history on Kandy and his village. The cooking class itself was incredible, we learnt so much about Sri Lankan cooking and Janaka took images throughout which he sent us after. The food was amazing and we were sent a pdf with all the recipes so we can recreate these at home! Thanks for an unforgettable experience!

What can we say about Nilu and Janaka… they are the most lovely, kindest most warm family we have ever met and their love for food and hospitality is very clear to see. We were picked up by Janaka and taken to the family home where the kitchen is open air and overlooks the beautiful jungle they live by. Nilu showed us all the delicious ingredients and some that they grow themselves, and explained all the herbs and spices that were being used. We were shown how to make a chicken curry and then a selection of delicious vegetarian curries and side dishes, the love that Nilu has for all the ingredients is very obvious and she had the most beautiful aura about her and the way she was showing us how to cook Sri Lankan food. Janaka was so incredibly engaging and had lots of stories and we loved talking to him about his time in hospitality and about Sri Lanka in general . We would 100% recommend this experience to anyone, we got to eat all the delicious food and Janaka kindly dropped us back into Kandy. We will never forget this experience so thank you Nilu and Janaka, what a morning!

Cooking with Nilu has been one of my highlights of my trip. It started off with her husband Janaka picking me up and being very accomodating with my change of plans and location. Nilu’s just built a new kitchen and it has the most gorgeous view overlooking the jungle and coconut trees. She was an excellent teacher and tremendous cook - it was the best meal I have had in Sri Lanka! Nilu started off showing me for the first dish and then I got to have a go of everything and even try shredding coconut! It was a truly authentic Sri Lankan experience and they even informed me of how I can adapt the methods to use what I have at home. Nilu and Janaka are 2 very genuine, gorgeous people, with a beautiful family. They went above and beyond for the whole experience and even stopped off at Kandy view point on the way back to my hotel as I hadn’t gotten to see it earlier! I could not recommend this experience more.

My friends and I had the best time cooking with Nilu and Janaka at their outdoor Kitchen at their beautiful home. We learned how to make 10 different dishes which were all very delicious. Nilu’s class was very interactive, she got us involved in preparing and cooking everything. She used fresh ingredients and spices and gave us all the tips and tricks to make authentic Sri Lankan food. I recommend this cooking class of you’re looking for a fun activity to do when in Kandy! 🙂

We had a great time with Janaka and Nilu. The couple were incredibly welcoming to their lovely village just outside of Kandy. Nilu guided us through the process, and gave us a chance to contribute to the dishes along the way. We had enough food to feed an army, and it all tasted so good! We will use the PDFs at home to give it a try ourselves. Janaka went out of his way to drop us to our hotel and was happy to share lots of stories of his life in Sri Lanka.

This was one of our highlights on our trip to Sri Lanka. Janaka promptly picked us up from our hotel and took us to his lovely home where we met Nilu and started the cooking class. They took us through each meal with information and care and Janaka spoke brilliant English so gave us lots of tips for the next stage of our journey. We enjoyed the wonderful meal after cooking and they took us back to the hotel. A brilliant experience we will be recommending to friends!

Highly recommend this cooking class! My partner and I had an amazing time cooking with Janaka and Nilu. We learned all about Sri Lankan-style cooking, using ingredients and techniques that we can easily recreate at home. We made a variety of meat and vegetable curries, along with some delicious sides and a dessert. Everything was full of flavor, and the experience was fun, hands-on, and memorable. We’d definitely recommend it to anyone interested in learning authentic Sri Lankan cuisine.

It was such a great experience, Nilu kitchen is a great combination of family and love from the pick up, learning experience about the Sri Lankan culture to the meal. I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to have a tailored cultural experience.

We were lucky enough to have a private cooking class with Nilu, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience! We were picked up directly from our hotel and warmly welcomed into her family’s home. Together, we cooked around 10 different dishes – all incredibly delicious and authentic. Nilu and her husband were so kind and made sure to adapt the recipes so we can easily recreate them back home. The atmosphere was relaxed, fun, and full of laughter. We truly felt like part of the family. We can 100% recommend this class to anyone looking for a genuine, heartwarming, and tasty cooking experience!

This was hands down the best experience we have had in Sri Lanka so far, and it will remain one of the highlights of our trip. From the very beginning, both Janaka and Nilu welcomed us into their beautiful home with such warmth and kindness that we immediately felt like part of their family. They are not only wonderful hosts but also incredible teachers and storytellers, and spending time with them was an absolute joy. The cooking experience itself was fantastic! We had so much fun learning to prepare delicious Sri Lankan dishes using fresh ingredients. Every step of the way, they explained the traditions behind the recipes and shared tips that made it easy and enjoyable. What made it even more special was the way they connected the food to their culture, their community, and their personal stories. We didn’t just learn how to cook; we gained a deeper understanding of Sri Lankan life, values, and hospitality. Beyond the cooking, it was such a pleasure to sit and talk with them. We laughed, shared experiences, and truly felt at ease in their company. It was like spending the day with old friends, even though we had just met. Their generosity and genuine care made the whole experience unforgettable. This is an absolute must-do for anyone visiting Kandy. It’s more than just a cooking class, it’s a chance to meet amazing local people, experience authentic Sri Lankan culture, and take home not only recipes but also beautiful memories. We cannot recommend it highly enough, and we are so grateful to Janaka and Nilu for opening their home and hearts to us.

Amazing cooking class, definitely the best thing we did in Kandy. We were collected from our hotel by Janaka, taken to their beautiful outdoor kitchen and cooked a wide variety of delicious dishes with Nilu. Each step was explained to us by Janaka and we got involved with making many of the dishes. We sat down at the end to enjoy an abundance of food and can't wait to replicate it at home. Thank you for a wonderful experience, we will be recommending to any family/friends that travel to Sri Lanka.

We had the best time at the cooking class with Janaka and Nilu! They have the most amazing outdoor kitchen, we cooked more dishes than I could count and they made sure we understood the theory behind the flavours. Not to mention how delicious each dish came out, and they even shared the recipes with us to take home. We’d recommend this to anyone visiting Kandy!

It was truly an amazing cooking class. I’ve attended several cooking classes in Sri Lanka before, but this was by far the best experience. The location is away from the busy city, surrounded by nature, which makes it very relaxing. The kitchen has been recently renovated, so it’s spotless and beautifully designed, allowing you to cook while enjoying the natural setting. The curry is prepared with a minimal selection of spices, which makes it easy to recreate at home. Even those who don’t enjoy spicy food can still appreciate it (though they’re happy to adjust the level of spice if you like it hot). Some of the ingredients are freshly picked from their own garden, adding a wonderful freshness to the dishes. The explanations are very clear and logical. The host speaks excellent English and is always full of warm hospitality. You can even purchase an original-design apron, which makes a great souvenir. From the curry to the dessert and fresh fruit, everything was absolutely delicious. This is truly a highly recommended activity!

What an experience! If you're in Kandy make sure you book in for this excellent cooking class. The recipes were super tasty and a pdf is shared with you so that you can replicate at home! The food was delicious and many of the ingredients are home grown. Nuli’s outdoor kitchen is beautiful and can certainly accommodate a group up to 8! What’s more is that Janaka (Nuli’s lovely husband) picked us up from our accommodation in Kandy and dropped back. Thank you so much for an incredible morning cooking!

A great cooking class with Nilu and her husband. They are incredibly nice and you'll learn a lot! I would recommend them!

We thoroughly enjoyed this cooking class with Nilu & Janaka. We created some delicious dishes together and they explained everything so clearly and even gave us a pdf after with all the recipes! The setup was also so beautiful, with a great outdoor kitchen that had ample space for our group of 6. I would definitely recommend this class to all looking to try some Sri Lankan cooking!

If you're in Kandy make sure you learn some new skills with this wonderful cook! Easy, super tasty recipes that you help prepare, eat and can replicate at home! 🤤 A lot ingredients they also grown themselves which makes everything super fresh. Plus you get picked up from your accommodation in Kandy and dropped back by her lovely husband Janaka, he also does day trips out to Sigirya, Minneriya National Park and Polonnaruwa!

We had SUCH an amazing time with these guys! Honestly the best thing I've done on holiday I a long time. We arrived in the morning and were welcomed by Nila, her husband and lovely kids - then it was right down to the cooking. We learned a lot about Sri Lankan cuisine, how to cook everything, how it's unique to this beautiful island - all within the stunning surrounds of their home and garden. They are so friendly and we chatted a lot about all sorts of topics too. The conversation was always fun and interesting. Then we had lunch, which was DELICIOUS. Can't wait to try cooking everything ourselves when we're back home.

Our cooking class with Nilu was an absolute highlight of our visit to Sri Lanka. It was amazing to be welcomed into Nilu’s home, which was so tranquil and relaxing. Most of the ingredients, including the cinnamon, are grown on the property which made it more special. The recipes were so simple to follow, and we cooked an absolute feast. We can’t wait to try these recipes ourselves when we get back to Hong Kong. Amazing experience - can’t recommend highly enough!

We had an amazing experience with the cooking Class. We were welcomed very lovely by Janaka and Nilu. We prepared several dishes, mainly curries. Our hosts took a lot of time to explain everything in great detail. After preparing the food, we enjoyed a very delicious lunch. We can recommend this experience with 100% confidence!

We loved the cooking class. The pick up from the Hotel was great. We learned so much about making curry’s. The communication was also very easy. Thank you so much Nilu and Janaka! If you have the opportunity to go to the cooking class, do it!!! :)

Nilu and Janaka were wonderful hosts, and this experience was one of our favourite in Sri Lanka. From an easy hotel pick up, insight into everyday Sri Lankan life and of course new skills learnt and delicious food - this experience had it all. They were even able to cater to dietary requirements including coeliac (gluten free). We recommend this to all who travel to Kandy!! Thank you Janaka and Nilu!

Such a wonderful experience! The pickup by Nilus husband went smoothly and the drive to the location was filled with interesting consversations about Sri Lanka. His English is excellent! The location is super cozy and in the middle of peaceful nature. The Two made sure we feel comfortable and explained the cooking process in detail while answering all our questions. We were really happy we booked this course and it was one of our best experiences in Sri Lanka! :)

Wow, what an incredible experience!! We were picked up at our hotel by Janaka (who is probably the kindest person you will ever meet) and brought to his family home, where we met his lovely wife, Nilu, and children. We had advised them ahead of time that we preferred vegetarian cooking, so we made 8 incredible vegetable-based dishes. Nilu started by explaining the different spices and ingredients, then showed us how to cook each dish. They picked ingredients/dishes that we can find at home, so we can actually make them ourselves in the future! They grow a lot of ingredients on their land, so everything is fresh and healthy. We felt so welcomed into this lovely family and would 100% recommend this experience to anyone travelling through Kandy!

Firstly, a massive thank you to Nilu, Janaka and family for the best cooking class we have ever done (we’ve done a lot) from start to finish everything was perfect. The Sri Lankan cooking style and methods was brilliantly explained and easy to follow, you will be excited to take these new skills back home. Janaka kindly picked us up and dropped us back off after our cooking class which was a bonus. To top this amazing experience off, the variety of dishes and food Nilu taught us to create was absolutely INCREDIBLE - the best food we have eaten by a mile so far in Sri Lanka. Thank you SO much, Jessie and Lewis.

Fantastic cooking course, ended up making the best Sri lankan food we have had so far. Really lovely family, would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat, cheap as chips too

I have taken countless cooking classes on my travels, and I have to say this is one of my best experiences. The great customer service started right away with Nilu contacting me to make my hotel pick up easier for me. Her husband arrived at my hotel early and we travelled to their home just outside of Kandy. After a delicious welcome drink we started with an introduction to Sri Lankan spices and then moved on to making nine dishes, poppadoms and a delicious Sri Lankan dessert. So many fragrant spices and herbs were blended together with fresh vegetables and chicken to make the best Sri Lankan food I have had on my trip. Nilu really made making these tasty exotic dishes easy to make and I am looking forward to recreating this meal back home and impressing my friends. When it was time to leave the class, I asked if I could be dropped off at the train station to get a ticket printed. Not only did Janaka take me to the train station he also went inside and made sure that I was able to get a window seat for the train trip to Ella. This was a perfect day and I highly recommend this cooking class.

We took part in traditional Sri Lankan cooking with Nilu at her beautiful house. Janaka and his lovely family were so welcoming and warm. We learnt to cook a variety of delicious curries, salads and a dessert. We were welcomed with the cheeky smiles of their children and aromas of fresh herbs in their garden. This is the best experience of a homey life in the luscious Kandy. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn how to cook from the mother of Kandy and the intimate knowledge of Janaka! 10/10! Thankyou

The cooking class was super nice! We cooked in an open kitchen together with Janaka and his wife. He translated into English. You don't have to know perfect English to be able to follow along. Janaka explains every single step, what the differences are in the spices and, for example, in the different types of coconut milk. It was very harmonious, was a lot of fun, and the meal afterwards was fantastic! You get the recipes as a PDF, but rewritten so that you can recreate them with ingredients that are available in our supermarkets or Asian grocery stores. We are still raving about the evening even now, half a year later! Highly recommended!!

A wonderful cooking class, with good tips so that the dishes can also be recreated in Europe. Thank you very much

Great welcome, delicious, traditional cooking, with perfect English translation, a wonderful family moment, thanks to Nilu and her whole family for their hospitality.

Great time shared with Nilu and her husband for an exciting cooking class, if you are in Kandy don't hesitate!

It was a great evening, absolutely recommended. Niju and Janaka are super nice and personable, and the food was very delicious.

By far the best thing we did in Kandy ! We were lucky that nobody else had booked the course that night and there were only two of us. In general, a maximum of 8 people are possible. We were picked up by our AirBnB although it was just outside Kandy and taken there again. The food tasted fantastic and every step was explained. The two were also just human super likable!! We can only recommend it to anyone who likes to cook and wants to learn more about Sri Lankan cuisine!