Top 10 Workshops & Classes in Malaysia

1.Batu Caves and Sari Experience with Batik Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 181 reviews · from $54Our pick

Spend about four and a half hours with an English-speaking guide such as Sasi or Wilson, combining a hands-on batik workshop with Batu Caves. You can wear a sari for photos, climb to the temple, taste Indian sweets and teh tarik, and return to central Kuala Lumpur by air-conditioned vehicle. Comfortable shoes and modest clothing are essential.

“We had an amazing trip! Sasi was very informative, sharing stories and history of each stop. He was funny, kind and a great tour guide! Would definitely recomend seeing the Batu caves through this tour!”

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2.LaZat Malaysian Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · from $130

Start at Pasar Besar Taman Tun Dr. Ismail with a light roti canai breakfast and a guided look at Malaysian ingredients. Then travel to LaZat Cooking School for a hands-on, full-course class with your own burner, utensils, mortar and pestle. Classes suit beginners and experienced cooks, run about five hours, and welcome ages 16 and up.

“What a great day out, sadly I was the only one there which made it a wonderful private tour for me but the operators would do well with a group as well. Tour of the market showed me the authentic shopping and everyone was very welcoRead more”

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3.Malaysia Cooking Classes With Local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · from $59

Join Fizah, an experienced home cook, for about three hours in her Kuala Lumpur home. Prepare nasi lemak, sambal, accompaniments, and a local dessert, or confirm other dish options before class. You’ll cook, eat together, learn family techniques, and take home recipes.

“I had a great afternoon of cooking, very knowledgeable and great conversation. Also very knowledgeable regarding places to visit whilst in Malaysia and happy to share this information. Highly recommend.”

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4.New Malaysian Kitchen Cooking Class and Garden Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · from $150

Spend four hours at Sara Khong’s family home, about 20 minutes from central Kuala Lumpur, learning five Malaysian dishes in a small group of up to six. Start with flower tea and a tour of the garden’s 50-plus edible plants, then cook in a real Malaysian kitchen and eat together. A recipe booklet helps you repeat the dishes at home.

“This was such an amazing experience! Sara is a fantastic host and teacher - she was easy to talk to and made all the dishes we were cooking very approachable. My husband and I had a great time and are excited to be able to cook our own Nasi Lemak at home now!”

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5.Market Visit & Private Hands-on Cooking Class at Daun Senja

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · from $130

Start at Taman Suntex at 8am with Patricia and Kingston, visit a local wet market, enjoy breakfast at a food stall, then cook a three-course Malaysian meal in a private home lesson for up to five people. Choose from nasi lemak, chicken curry, roti jala, chicken pong teh, and other classic dishes.

“The most incredible experience in Malaysia. Patricia is such a kind, funny, knowledgeable and humble soul - with two beautiful daughters. We will be forever grateful for taking us into her home and allowing us to film the whole experience. The local market and area is so different to central KL - it's calmer, slower and more peaceful. We could not see any other tourists there - a truly authentic experience. The people in the local market were incredibly friendly and kind. I would highly recommend this cooking class: the food we cooked was amazing, the company was amazing and the whole experience was authentic. Patricia and her family really…”

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6.Batik Coloring Workshop by myBatik

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $16Best value

At myBatik in Kemensah, Kuala Lumpur, you’ll fill a pre-waxed 20-centimeter cloth using traditional Malaysian batik techniques. Choose a design, mix colors, and take home your finished piece. Sessions run daily, and instructor Emilia is praised for her patient, warm teaching when she leads the class.

“We had the most wonderful time creating our Batik designs. Emilia is an incredible artist and the kindest, warmest, and funniest person. She was extremely patient with us, taking photos and videos to help us remember this special experienRead more”

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7.Batik Bag Painting Workshop by myBatik

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · from $42

At myBatik in Ampang Jaya, you’ll learn wax-resist batik and paint a 34-centimeter calico cotton bag from start to finish. The private 90-minute workshop includes materials, an apron, gloves, a demonstration, and a certificate. You can also visit the batik gallery and Green Tomato Cafe afterward.

“My granddaughter and I had a wonderful experience. We came away feeling that we actually knew about this craft. The teacher had excellent equipment to assist us in experiencing all the facets of batik decorating. We enjoyed the surroundiRead more”

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8.Malaysian Hands-On Cooking Class : Masala Medley

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $66

At Masala Medley in Kuala Lumpur, you prepare four dishes from scratch at your own station: pakora, chicken curry, basmati rice, cucumber pachdi, kesari, and masala chai. Instructor Rene guides beginners through spice handling and home-style techniques in a small class above a bakery on Jalan Imbi.

“A privilege to attend. The instructor is very knowledgeable about Malaysian cuisine and culture. And the menu was excellent, filling, and well organized. It’s a hands on experience that I highly recommend to any individual, couple, or group.”

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9.Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 3 hours · from $50

Spend three hours cooking Sabah dishes with local chefs such as Auntie Cindy, Auntie Winnie, or Chef Bonny. You will learn about ingredients, food traditions, and cooking methods, then eat your meal for lunch. The class runs from 10am to 1pm, with hotel pickup from downtown Kota Kinabalu.

“Warm, welcoming, local family, who taught us how easy it is to cook authentic healthy foods. Thank you Aunty Connie, we enjoyed spending time with your family 😊”

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10.Malaysian Cooking Class with Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 5h 30m · from $149

Meet your guide at TTDI Wet Market at 8:30 AM, learn how Malaysians use fresh herbs and spices, then transfer to LaZat Cooking for a hands-on three-course lunch. Daily menus change by ethnic tradition. Saadiah often teaches Saturdays, including nasi lemak and chicken rendang.

“Saadiah was a star of a teacher! We had such a nice time learning to cook Nasi Lemak and Chicken Rendang. Saadiah told us so much about her life, her history and culture. It was a delicious, well earned lunch that we all got to enjoy together. I would 100% recommend this class, especially if you're able to get Saadiah as a teacher (usually Saturdays). We also had some lovely roti canai at the market in the morning. We've had a lot of roti in KL but that has been our favorite so far!”

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