• Private Experience
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Learn how to cook traditional Greek dishes from a local chef during a private culinary workshop. Visit small local shops, pick the ingredients that you need and enjoy a hands-on cooking experience.

Destination

Chalandri, Greece

Category

Cooking Classes

Duration

3 hours

Cuisine

Greek

Available languages

English, Ελληνικά

Included

• Private guide
• Meals

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Melina.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at approximately Agias Varvaras, Chalandri to start your culinary journey.

   View on Maps

2. Example menu

   This is what our dinner could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. First course

   Stuffed boat-shaped cucumbers

4. Second course

   Youvarlakia - Greek meatballs made from beef and rice

5. Third course

   Tsoureki (traditional Greek Easter sweet bread) with ice cream

6. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the menu? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Kim🇺🇸 United States

19 June 2024

Melina was the best! She helped us plan a vegetarian menu and a birthday surprise well ahead of time. Her communication is great. We got a little turned around on the address and she was right there to help. This evening was like being welcomed into a Greek home. We will definitely be doing this experience again when we return to Athens. Make sure you are hungry because you you are in for a big feast.A great night of cooking!

Charlotte

27 May 2024

Melina was very communicative leading up to the cooking class. She gave us options for dishes to make and made sure we had all the information to get to her location. We enjoyed learning about her background and Greek cooking. In selecting dishes for us to consider, she accommodated a participant who had celiac disease and one who had a red meat allergy. She made sure that the dishes were safe for the whole group. We have nothing but great things to say about Melina! Great fun!

Wendy🇺🇸 United States

16 November 2023

Melina was warm and knowledgeable. We all learned something new to try at home and this made our time in Athens memorable. We appreciated learning and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Melina, thank you for your kindness.Cooking fun in Athens

Geraldine

29 October 2023

Melina and I discussed the menu that we would like to cook even we booked this experience. Melina is passionate about cooking ( you can find her on utube ) and her knowledge and experience shines through. My son and I are used to coking from scratch, but it was so good to learn how to improve. I have already incorporated her tips into my cooking, and what a difference. I would recommend this to others. We had a wonderful day with Melina. Inspiring frienfly Cooking Experience

Akhil🇸🇪 Sweden

30 June 2023

It was definitely best experience of our trip to Greece! Melina is so warm, kind and giving and has the energy that makes you feel like you’re at home from the get-go! You will love her anecdotes, her insight into Greek culture and definitely her cooking hacks! She made my mother’s 60th birthday really special ❤️The BEST HOST

Julie🇺🇸 United States

19 May 2023

We did the Greek cooking class with Melina and had such a great time! She worked with us to find a time that worked for us, changing our time when our travel plans changed out of our control. She worked with our food allergy issues and gave us a great experience. We would highly recommend cooking with Melina! Cooking with Melina

Bri🇺🇸 United States

16 May 2023

We were stunned as to how beautiful the Melina’s home was! And the cooking- was able to adjust easily with our dietary needs (gluten, garlic, onion and mushroom and etc- similar to FODMAP). Melina timing was flawless; she knew exactly that moments between cooking/eating that could use a story or culture topic to discus. And my friends were shocked afterwards of how lovely the meal was! I was too! It’s hard to eat-out with certain dietary needs, but this was a perfect idea (instead of always cooking at my home/hotel). We ended up taking most of our dessert home and it was gone by the next day! 😂🤗 Amazing Time with Friends!

Marc🇩🇪 Germany

21 March 2023

I had a wonderful cooking class with Melina. She was a terrific host and I enjoyed the experience very much. Melina customized the meal selection to only vegetarian options without any hesitation. I can only reccomend the cooking class to anyone visiting Athens.Wonderful experience

John🇬🇧 United Kingdom

18 November 2022

We had a superb time with Melina. She showed us how to cook local dishes and told us stories about Greece, its history, her family and her travels. A really interesting afternoon. I recommend it highly !! My 16 year old daughter also loved it. Ingredients were local and the meat was amongst the best I have ever had. Thank you kindly Melina.Wonderful afternoon with an amazing lady !

Ailsa🇬🇧 United Kingdom

23 September 2022

We booked with Melina quite some months ago and from the first message we felt as though we knew her. Her warmth radiated throughout from enquiry to finally meeting. We had a 3 course cooking experience the beginning of September to kick off our honeymoon. Melina kept in contact leading up to the booking to ensure everything was to our liking and to accommodate my gluten and dairy allergy. The day itself was fantastic, Melina is warm, bubbly and knowledgeable her passion for cooking is obvious and you can tell she loves passing on that passion. We created a delicious 3 course greek menu with her assistance, she is happy to lead but encourage us to take part and learn the skills needed. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and were made to feel like old friends reuniting. We can't wait to return to Athens and cook with Melina again, until then we will recreate the recipes at home Thank you so much Melina!Fantastic allergy proof Greek Experience

Tom🇬🇧 United Kingdom

24 August 2022

We had a brilliant day with Melina learning how to cook wonderful Greek food and I thoroughly recommend her course.Brilliant fun to learn something new

Heike🇩🇪 Germany

12 June 2022

My cooking afternoon with Melina was wonderful! She had a lot of hacks and tipps for me I will definitely try out. The three courses we prepared turned out great. We chatted, cooked, ate and laughed a lot together. I really enjoyed staying in her professional kitchen and being spoiled. Thank you so much, Melina. Highly recommended class!Lovely time in Melina‘s kitchen

Joselyn🇺🇸 United States

27 April 2022

My husband, myself and our three grandchildren participated in this wonderful cooking class with Melina. She was so accommodating. With three children it is difficult to reach the right cord each one had their own particular likes and dislike but Melina accommodated everyone! My grandson particularly liked the zucchini fritters, who would have thought! He is such a picky eater. In addition, we learned about the Mediterranean cuisine, the health benefits of cinnamon and had some great food. Thanks Melina for a truly unique experience! The Wells FamilyGreat Experience for Young and Old Alike

Sivan🇨🇦 Canada

26 October 2021

My experience with Melina was nothing short of amazing. She is incredibly warm and welcoming and made me feel right at home from the get go. She is wonderful to talk to, and has excellent recipes. I made an appetizer, a main and a dessert, all vegetarian. Everything was fresh and tasty. I was sad that the experience had to end. You won’t regret if you book. Fabulous Experience!

Tenee🇺🇸 United States

22 October 2021

I was late getting to the location because the Uber driver took me to the wrong location, but Melina understood and we had a wonderful time once I got there with memorable cooking and great conversation. Thank you so much Melina for a great experience and can't wait to try these recipes when I get home.Had a fun cooking class wuth Melina 🥰

Maggie🇺🇸 United States

6 October 2021

We had an outstanding experience with Melina. She is so kind and knowledgeable! We learned to cook a three course Greek meal and she also taught us so much about Greek culture and history- we loved it. Highly recommend!!!!Amazing experience for our final day!

Julie🇺🇸 United States

31 August 2021

We can’t say enough positive things about our cooking class with Melina! Within a few seconds of meeting her we knew we were going to have a great time and she did not disappoint. She gave us a number of options of dishes to make and even made two starters since my husband couldn’t pick just one. She took us shopping to a wonderful bakery to pick out bread for our dessert and treated us to some delicious sweets. We learned so many things about healthy Greek cooking that we can utilize back home in the US. Our feast at the end was spectacular! Throughout the hours we spent in her kitchen, she made us feel incredibly welcome, as if we were family. I could go on and on about what a delightful experience this was. I would recommend this class to anyone, regardless of cooking skill if you want a truly warm Athenian welcome:) Warm Welcome to Athens

Lion🇩🇪 Germany

28 August 2021

Melina was a super host. She was very friendly and accommodating and we could learn a lot about Greek culture and Greek food from her. The food we cooked was super tasty and it was very generous portions. We got the rest of the food with us and were able to eat more of it the next day. We had a great day with Melina and we can recommend this cooking class to everyone.Great cooking class with friendly host

Woori🇫🇷 France

11 August 2021

What an amazing and beautiful experience ! We spent an unforgettable afternoon with Melina who greeted us with a sincere smile that made us feel instantly confortable :)) We discussed the menu and went to the local shops to buy fresh ingredients then cooked with Melina who’s an excellent teacher and super informative. We could learn so much about Greek cuisine and culture, her recipes are traditional but simple (even if we are not good at cooking at all, we are sure that we would be able to make them at home !) and very healthy and super tasty as well. Cooking with Melina was very funny, super interesting for sure but the best of the best for us was to share the lunch we prepared together. Spending time and talking about everything with Melina was a pure pleasure, at the end of the day, we felt almost like having a Greek mom who prepared a dinner box with all left overs :)) Melina literally made our Athens trip, words fail to express how excellent this experience, not a simple cooking class, just try it, you will never be disappointed :)) Much more than a simple cooking class !

Sandra

28 June 2021

My daughter and I had a wonderful afternoon with Melina. It was fun to go shopping for ingredients together in some local shops. Then followed some very happy hours cooking various dishes: spinach pie, stuffed vegetables, meat balls as well as sugar-free baklava. All very healthy and absolutely delicious. If you are interested in learning about Greek cooking, then don’t hesitate to book some time with Melina.Cooking with Melina

Robert🇩🇪 Germany

23 November 2019

Wir waren zu viert und hatten einen tollen Abend. Die Gerichte die wir uns aussuchen durften waren super lecker und wir haben viel gelernt. Wir können es nur jedem weiterempfehlen. Super Abend mit leckerem Essen

Sara🇺🇸 United States

9 October 2019

We so enjoyed our cooking class with Melina! She was warm, inviting, and we learned so much in our time with her. Would absolutely recommend for a fun and beautiful experience. She is such a delight! Such a wonderful cooking class experience!

Loata🇦🇺 Australia

17 September 2019

What a fantastic experience cooking & dining with Melina. So much fun learning how to cook traditional greek food. We discussed the menu & then went down to the local shops to buy our fresh produce. The food was so delicious & of course the wine too. This is a must to do while in Athens. Thank you Melina Delicious Greek food

Doron🇮🇱 Israel

14 September 2019

We had a wonderful time with Melina. We wanted to take a cooking lesson while we were in Athens, and with Melina we got everything we wanted and more. Melina met us at her house and was very friendly. She asked us what we would like to cook and suggested several options. After we decided on the menu, we went together to buy everything we needed. It was a great opportunity to ask her a lot of questions about choosing products such as meat and vegetables. Melina was very informative and a great teacher. She taught us everything we needed to know about the right cooking method for each dish, and was a great person to just talk to in general. The food we cooked together was delicious, and it seemed like cooking it was such a simple task with Melina explaining how to do things. We ate a lot! When you come to Melina make sure you come hungry. Also, we went home with all the left-overs. The whole experience with Melina was very instructive, interesting and tasty, and we had a wonderful time there.

Michelle🇺🇸 United States

12 September 2019

My wife and I had a great time with Melina and especially enjoyed meeting the owners of her market stops. Food was delicious and we can’t wait to re-make it at home!Loved it!

Annika🇩🇪 Germany

29 August 2019

If you want to experience something really special I absolutely recommend to join Melina for a cooking class. We feel like having a Greek mom now :) Totally perfect from the beginning to the end! Perfect Experience ❤️

Claudie🇺🇸 United States

28 August 2019

It’s rare to have such an enriching travel experience as our cooking class with Melina. A wonderfully, lively, generous person with a lovely sense of humor, she engages the interests of her group whatever age they may be. After checking with us about our food preferences and formulating a menu and a marketing list together, we set out shopping in Melina’s neighborhood for high quality fruit, vegetables, meat, bread sticks and little cakes. As we chatted while preparing our lunch with Melina, we learned about many local specialties. She advised us about preparation details to ensure that the meal would be delicious as well as healthy. Melina, who appears on a Greek cooking show, also told us stories about the origin of certain foods and shared some of her own experiences. Our entire 3-4 hours with Melina was both entertaining and informative and we very much enjoyed Melina’s warmth and skill as a teacher and ability to keep us involved and entertained at every step of preparation. Then, of course, we took a lot of satisfaction in the final, multi-course meal featuring ripe tomatoes stuffed with herb seasoned flower cheese, freshly made bread sticks, lamb balls in lemon, potato and carrot sauce and ice cream topped with raw honey and little cream-filled chocolate puffs. No mistaking, it was a great feast and a joyful afternoon in Athens we’ll remember with great pleasure. Claudie BenjaminWonderful Experience!

Zainab🇬🇧 United Kingdom

26 June 2019

Cooking with Melina was an exceptional experience! I often travel and join cooking classes, but this stood out for me! Melina instantly made us feel at home... she has a warmth about her that makes you comfortable and relaxed. We were a group of three and requested a vegetarian menu which Melina was very accommodating and gave us options to chose from rather than just giving a set menu. It was wonderful to see similar ingredients used in my culture be used in a different way- Greek style. We shopped for the ingredients together in her local neighbourhood and they were fresh and organic which made a world of difference in quality and taste. We used ingredients from various regions of Greece which she explained. The food was delicious and plenty and conversation flowed throughout. It felt very natural being around Melina and we shared stories of our history, family and experiences which made the whole afternoon fly by with ease. It was an absolute pleasure meeting and learning from Melina and I would highly recommend taking classes from Melina. Thank you Melina for welcoming us to your home we look forward to seeing you in London one day. Lots of love, Zainab, Sophie & Miklos xxx A unique experience!

Julie🇺🇸 United States

5 June 2019

Melina is just a joy! We had an amazing time shopping at the local bakery, butcher and grocery store right in her neighborhood. And then back to her home for great conversation, cooking and eating together. We would do it again in a heartbeat just to see her again!A cultural treasure!

Bertram 🇩🇪 Germany

28 May 2019

Highly recommend this Greek cooking class. Totally professional but still so totally welcoming, It felt like visiting a great friend, we went shopping for organic ingredients first for the menu choice we had decided. Then returned to her house, just a short walk away and she offered us a choice of healthy homemade cool drinks. The favourite was cinnamon. Totally focused and organised she invited us to wash our hands in the connected bathroom and then had aprons laid out for us on our return to the preparation area. We started first with the dessert, halva pudding, then the main course, which was stuffed zucchini, peppers and eggplant ( she cooks very animal fat free and so we learnt new methods to make tasty dishes in a healthy way). Then Entree, which we chose organic avocado with a local organic sheep/goats cheese. As the food was then prepared, we sat together and enjoyed it with Melina, she was very communicative whilst preparing the food, giving instructions and tips. Whilst enjoying the food we learnt some more about her and it was so interesting to hear. It was clear she loves her cooking. She has a career in cooking and appeared often on a Greek TV program. Has her own book also. With our meal we enjoyed local specialty organic red and wine wines. All too soon the evening came to a close. We recommend meeting with Melina at 4-5pm. We enjoy earlier eating, it was at around 7pm when we sat down to eat. Everything we didn’t manage to eat was packed in tak-away boxes for us to eat later. In rounding off, Melina is a true representative of her country and even brought out the map of Greece to tell and show us the different regions and islands where the products she uses come from and gave us some interesting tips on special islands to visit in Greece. Thank you Melina ........from Germany and Australia ❤️A very memorable cooking class in Athens!!

Samuel🇺🇸 United States

25 May 2019

Melina was an absolutely wonderful host, i can’t say enough how much fun we had and how much we learned. There was never a dull moment, as Melina shared her vast knowledge of Greek culture as we cooked. Her ingredients were fresh and local and the food neither of us had tried before. We can’t wait to copy her recipes for our families back home. The best part of the evening, however, was melina’s infectiously good attitude and humor.An amazing experience of food and culture

Justin🇬🇧 United Kingdom

19 May 2019

Melina was a lovely warm person and a great host, we learnt a few new cooking tips as well as an interesting insight into the myriad of produce and their origins. I would really recommend this as an alternative night out in Athens.Great Evening !!

Isaac🇺🇸 United States

12 May 2019

I say surprise not that I was surprised I liked it. No, I didn’t even know I was going to do it! My husband surprised me with a private cooking class because he knows how much I enjoy cooking and we both love Greek cuisine. We do, however, have personal restrictions so cooking with Melina was a perfect evening. She gave us a menu that we perfect for us and offered alternatives. Melina was a very gracious hostess who was more like a distant cousin. She invited us into her home with open arms and a warm heart. First we were given a little personal background. Being that my husband has Greek in his family, the conversation flowed as much as the food and drink. Our menu included spinach and cheese patties, vegetarian stuffed vegetables and a semolina halva. The ingredients were fresh and organic with an eye on healthy versions. And delicious of course. I didn’t know there were three types of halva in Greece. Melina also served lemonade, cinnamon infused water and red and white wines made for generations by her friends family. Everything was planned with care. And or course we helped cut and stir and learned some tricks along the way. After everything was done, we sat down together to eat and discuss everything from politics and culture to gardening and traveling. The conversation flowed as did the time. I would highly recommend this class as a taste of whAt Greek life should really be. Thank you Melina for making a wonderful memory and a new friend. Greek Cooking Class with Organic Products

La-Vaughnda🇺🇸 United States

24 April 2019

We had a wonderful time with Melina cooking a traditional Greek meal. She was very warm and welcoming and knowledgeable about culinary history and healthy eating tips and substitutions. The food was really delicious (and the red wine especially) and there was more than enough left over for us to take back to our Airbnb to finish later. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone!Fun time cooking

Drew🇺🇸 United States

11 April 2019

This was one of the highlights of our trip! Melina delivered everything she promised and more. What we loved was the recipes she offered were more home-style dishes and not the cliche Greek dishes. We shopped at her local butcher, baker, grocer, and green grocer where they all knew her and made us feel like we were regulars too. Not only did she teach us how to make the dish, but also gave us the history behind the dishes, where they came from, showed us we could alter them for our own tastes, and involved us in every step of the process. We highly recommend adding this experience to your Greek trip! P.S. Melina, we are baking bread this weekend and using the black basil! A Personal Cooking Experience

Nicole🇺🇸 United States

11 November 2018

From the start of my booking with Melina to the end, everything was AMAZING! This trip is a girls getaway and a month before arriving in Greece I reached out to Melina. We live in the states, and I had no problems communicating with Melina as far as the date and time I was requesting. We really enjoyed our time shopping with Melina and learning how to cook a healthier version of traditional Greek foods. She also gave us a great selection of different dishes to cook. She really made us feel like family and I HIGHLY recommend booking with Melina.Great girls time

Catherine🇺🇸 United States

9 November 2018

Wonderful experience. She taught us a lot. Very knowledgeable about her ingredients and so nice. I will cherish our evening with her and the memories Like an old friend

Virginia 🇳🇱 Netherlands

4 November 2018

Being in Athens for three days, this evening was absolutely an highlight! The too kind hospitality, Melina’s great sense of humor and the fascinating stories about the history of Greek food and local development of cuisine, combined with her clearly expert cooking lessons made this an unforgettable experience. We have not only learned how to cook a delicious three course Greek dinner, but also received a lot of very practical tips on how to (still) cook and eat healthy in a ‘modern’ rushed life. In addition to that Melina dedicated a lot of time and gave us the feeling that we were not in a rush. This made the journey even more pleasant. Whenever we have the opportunity to come back to Athens, we’ll definitely sign up again for part 2 of the course... I hope there is one. Thank you, Melina for the learning experience. Bram and Virginia. The real Greek experience!!

Suzanne🇨🇦 Canada

26 October 2018

Myself and 4 of my colleagues had an amazing experience cooking with Melina one evening. Our cooking ability ranged from beginner to advanced yet we all learned so much. Not only was Melina extremely informative but also so hospitable. After eating in restaurants for several nights it was a delight to cook together a proper and nutritious homemade meal. From picking out the recipes we would make and buying the ingredients to preparing and enjoying the meal all together, our time with Melina felt like we were visiting with family. I thoroughly would recommend this cooking experience to anyone!Highlight of our time in Athens

Laura 🇨🇦 Canada

2 October 2018

I booked Melina for a private cooking class with Melina while I was visiting Athens and it was amazing! My husband is vegetarian and I am vegan so and Melina designed a custom 3-course meal catering to both our needs. The food was amazing and Melina is very knowledgeable in cooking with organic, whole foods. She also incorporated traditional Greek foods as much as possible and it was a magical experience. She’s also so nice and friendly to chat with we felt like family! Melina is the best!

Marisa

24 September 2018

Our experience with Melina was amazing! She was a great storyteller, cook and hostess. She was very attentive to any food restrictions and came well prepared with meal recommendations. Everything was delicious and she was extremely hospitable. We would highly recommend and certainly return next time we are in Greece. Thanks Melina. Marisa Heavenly Food Coma

Ann🇬🇧 United Kingdom

21 September 2018

Melina is an expert in Greek cuisine but also extremely easy to get on with, even though you have to cook your 3 course dinner before you can eat it!Relax and enjoy cooking with Melina

Stessy 🇺🇸 United States

20 September 2018

Melina's class was very refreshing. She is very knowledgeable and experienced in the culinary industry and even have her own cooking book. We learned a lot of great receipes and a lot about greek cusine. I would highly recommend this class, it is a must if you are visiting athens. Great Class

Edna🇦🇺 Australia

15 August 2018

Melina is such a great host and her cooking class is excellent. This is one of the best ways to be immersed and to learn about the Greek culture. Melina has a very hollistic approach and mixes gastronomy, culture, health, life experience and a lots of wisdom. Thanks to Melina for sharing her expertise, for all her teachings and for the great and fun time. This is an unforgettable and truly enriching experience. Great experience!

Vicki🇺🇸 United States

2 August 2018

Eight of us very much enjoyed our evening of visiting the local market and preparing food with Melina. She was delightful and welcoming! We ate until we were stuffed and there was still more food available! Melina was extremely knowledgeable about local foods, at one time being a host of a television cooking show. She was fun and funny, delighting us with her wit and humor as we cooked. My only suggestion is that the facility was not very comfortable. We cooked and ate around the island. When we have done this type of cooking prior, there was a table set in a separate room to dine on, rather than eating on paper plates around a tall island. Delightful Evening!

Erin🇺🇸 United States

21 July 2018

Melina was amazing...This personal hands on experience was the highlight of our time in Greece!! Not only did we learn how to cook authentic Greek dishes, Melina also taught us about the history of the land when food was grown. It was an awesome experience that we would recommend to everyone! Definitely do this!!Amazing!!

Flavie🇫🇷 France

19 July 2018

We meet Mélina for one famous cooking teaching lesson. She was very kindly, suitable, friendly. We make amazing recipies with the smile and shearing experiences. We hardly recommand Melina for anyone who want cook traditionnal recipies and have a nice Time. Thanks again Melina! Your french team Flavie and Yoann Amazing experience

Amber🇺🇸 United States

13 July 2018

Melina was an excellent host, cooking with her was the highlight of our trip to Athens! She was wonderful to spend an evening with. Melina is very knowledgable about cooking and gave us a lot of knowledge about the region and history of Greece with the different products we used. You must book this experience! Thank you Melina. - Amber and AaronWonderful culinary experience!

Deborah🇺🇸 United States

13 July 2018

Cooking with Melina was one of the highlights of my trip to Greece! I enjoyed shopping for fresh ingredients, choosing from meal options, cooking and eating! Melina was amazing! She demonstrated Classic Greek recipes with a healthy twist and gave so much information about Greece! I would highly recommend Cooking with Melina to anyone who wants a taste of Greece!❤️❤️❤️Amazing Experience

Huey🇸🇬 Singapore

14 June 2018

Wonderful experience with Melina. She is very warm and friendly and tough us many things about Greek culture and food. Highly recommend it!Greek Cooking Class with Organic Products