Private Nepali Cooking Class & Market Tour near Patan

4.83

(12 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“Try this one,” our guide Esther grinned, handing me a tiny green chili at the vegetable stall. The market was already buzzing, even though it was barely 9am—vendors calling out prices, the clack of scales, and that earthy smell of fresh coriander everywhere. I’d never seen so many types of lentils in one place. We chatted with a woman selling tomatoes; she laughed when I tried to pronounce “alu tama” like a local.

Back at Esther’s kitchen, sunlight spilled through the window onto her worn wooden table. She showed us how to fold momo dumplings—my first few looked more like squished parcels than anything else, but she just smiled and said everyone starts that way. The steam from the thukpa broth fogged up my glasses while we stirred in ginger and garlic. There was something comforting about rolling out dough together, sharing stories as we worked.

Lunch felt almost like a family meal. We sat cross-legged on floor cushions, scooping up dal bhat with our hands (Esther insisted it tastes better that way). Outside, you could hear distant temple bells from Patan Durbar Square mixing with the sounds of street vendors. It wasn’t just about learning recipes—it was about feeling at home in someone else’s kitchen for a few hours.