The 8 Best Workshops & Classes in Malaysia

1.Batu Caves and Sari Experience with Batik Workshop

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

Spend four and a half hours visiting Batu Caves, trying on a traditional sari, painting a small batik piece to keep, and tasting Indian sweets with teh tarik. English-speaking guides such as Sasi and Wilson lead the outing, with hotel pickup offered in central Kuala Lumpur.

“We visited the Batu caves today with sasi who was our guide. It was just the half day tour but it was a good experience. Sasi was super friendly and knowledgeable about the history and tour. He was very welcoming. We enjoyed it and would defo do a trip with sasi again.”

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2.LaZat Malaysian Cooking Class

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

Start at Pasar Besar Taman Tun Dr Ismail, explore Malaysian ingredients, enjoy a light roti canai breakfast, then cook a full-course meal at LaZat Cooking School. You’ll work at your own station with a burner, utensils, and mortar and pestle, and take home a recipe book.

“This cooking experience was certainly beyond our expectations. It began with a punctual pick up from our hotel. Next came the market visit where we had breakfast and learnt of the names, smells, textures, tastes and looks of the ingredieRead more”

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3.Malaysia Cooking Classes With Local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · from $59

Spend about three hours in Kuala Lumpur cooking nasi lemak and a local dessert with Fizah, a warm home cook who teaches family recipes, explains Malay food culture, and welcomes only your private group. You will prepare rice, sambal, accompaniments, and the final meal yourself.

“Had such a great time at Fizah’s Malaysian cooking class! She was super lovely and a really great teacher - made everything easy to follow and fun. I felt so welcome in her home, and she was really thoughtful about my allergies, which meant a lot. The food was amazing, and the whole experience felt really personal and relaxed. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to try something local and hands-on!”

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4.New Malaysian Kitchen Cooking Class and Garden Tour

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

Sara Khong welcomes you to her family home about 20 minutes from central Kuala Lumpur for a four-hour cooking class. Sip flower tea, tour a garden with 50 edible plants, prepare five Malaysian dishes, and share the meal with her family.

“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 a local market, except Mondays, with a Malaysian breakfast before cooking in Patricia and Kingston’s home. Your private group of up to five prepares three dishes, such as Nasi Lemak, Chicken Pong Teh, or Roti Jala, then eats together with wine or beer.

“We had a perfect morning and very authentic experience! The market was very nice and the food was delicious. We can 100% recommend this cooking class.”

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6.Batik Coloring Workshop by myBatik

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

At myBatik near Kuala Lumpur, you’ll paint a pre-waxed 20-centimeter cloth, learn wax-resist dyeing, mix colors, and take home your finished batik. Emilia may guide the session, and the center also has a gallery, gift shop, and café.

“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

Spend 90 minutes at myBatik in Ampang learning wax-resist batik from an instructor, then design and paint a 13-inch calico cotton bag. Your fee covers materials, apron, gloves, demonstration, certificate, and the finished bag. Private sessions are available by appointment.

“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.Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours

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

Spend three hours cooking Sabah food with Auntie Cindy, Auntie Winnie, Chef Bonny, or another local instructor. You will learn about jungle garlic, bunga kantan, lemongrass, and local cooking traditions, then eat the meal you prepare. Hotel pickup is included from downtown Kota Kinabalu.

“Absolutely delicious! Loved our intimate cooking experience. Learned a lot about local cuisine and had a chance to taste a wide variety of flavors.”

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