Traditional Cooking Class in Oaxaca: Home-Cooked Meals with Minerva Lopez

Immerse yourself in the authentic flavors and traditions of Oaxaca with Minerva Lopez’s traditional cooking class. Learn to cook like a local in a small, intimate setting, using fresh, organic ingredients from the local market. Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or meat lover, there’s something for everyone. Join us for a unique culinary experience that goes beyond just a class.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • C. Monterrey 1370 - A warm welcome awaits you at my traditional wood-fired stove.\nAs an award-winning instructor in Traditional Oaxacan Cuisine and the recipient of the 1st Place prize at the Oaxacan Traditional Cooks Meet, I’m excited to guide you.\nOur journey begins with a stroll through Oaxaca’s largest market, where we’ll explore indigenous…
What's Included
  • Local Market Tour
  • Lunch
  • Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free menu option
  • Seasonal dessert
  • Seasonal fruit waters
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Snacks
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Beer or soda
Meal Options
  • House chocolate with bread - A chocolate drink is served accompanied with traditional bread
  • hand tortillas - Learn to make tortillas by hand on a clay griddle or pre-Hispanic stove
  • OPTION 1 Oaxacan Mole - available moles(10)
    you can choose 1 of them
    BLACK MOLE
    reddish
    chichilo
    green
    yellow
    yellow mixe
    stew
    nutty
    manchamanteles
  • Option 2…
Additional Information

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT:
IT IS NOT A RESTAURANT, I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF A CHEF
I am Minerva Lopez and I am a traditional cook from Oaxaca and I have more than 40 years of experience in pre-Hispanic and traditional cooking.
I invite you to spend a day at my house, with my family, my culture, it is an authentic experience where you will learn to cook as…

Location
Gral. Antonio de León 1
General Antonio de León
WE CAN AGREE ON A PLACE OF DEPARTURE OR THE ZOCALO OF THE CD OF OAXACA, IN FRONT OF THE CATHEDRAL. ALSO IN THE LESCAS CO TOURS OFFICE, THEY ARE FRIENDS OF MINE AND CAN WAIT IN THEIR OFFICE ANTONIO DE LEON NO. 1 LOCAL I IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN CONTACT ME BY CALL OR WHATSAPP +529512903409
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(174 Ratings)
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Alejandra_w
Jun 30, 2025
An amazing food experience- a must-do - An incredible way to learn about traditional Oaxaca mole cooking. We were first taken to a grand market to pick up the ingredients and learn about all the different varieties of peppers, nuts, etc. then, headed back to Sra. Lopez house where she taught all our group how to prepare every ingredient for the mole. Everyone is encouraged to participate and is made very enjoyable. In the end, we all enjoy a meal prepared by everyone that tastes amazingly. Our hosts are charming and go out of their way to make you feel welcome and to answer all questions. Would definitely come again!
Review provided by Viator
Julie_m
Jun 20, 2025
10/10 Culinary Journey in Oaxaca - Minerva warmly welcomed us and guiding us through a day that felt both deeply personal and authentically Oaxaqueño. We started with a visit to a local market, where we hand-picked fresh herbs, spices, and colorful produce. Over to her outdoor kitchen (which was stunning—open air, beautiful views, and full of warmth), we learned to prepare a mole meal from scratch. Every step was lead by Minerva, but hands-on and engaging. Even if you’re not an experienced cook, you’ll feel completely at ease. We prepped the food, cooked, sipped on mezcal, and ended the experience enjoying the meal we made together. It was more than a class—it was an immersive cultural experience and a beautiful connection to Oaxacan tradition. If you’re visiting Oaxaca, we highly recommend a cooking class with Minerva Lopez!
Review provided by Viator
Z7889bcmarisolc
May 24, 2025
A perfect afternoon - A great life experience, learn to cook from Master Minerva! Widely recommended not only for the delicious food but for the human quality of Master Minerva, Tania and Julio. We spent a perfect afternoon!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helder_c
May 14, 2025
Highly recommended! We... - Highly recommended! We started the day picking up fresh ingredients at a local market, very little tourists around. Minerva walked around and introduced the group to local spices, food, and drinks. On the way to her beautiful home we stopped to pick up freshly ground corn for the tamales we learned how to cook. Minerva walked us through the whole process aided by her daughter and crew. Her daughter treated us to a refreshing drink and we also tried Oaxacan chocolate milk.
Review provided by Viator
Kate_s
Apr 14, 2025
Book now - you won’t regret it. - Minerva is an accomplished, award-winning chef who has learned how to create a great experience for her guests. We met at the meeting place, were met by a translator who was from the US, met Minerva herself, and then jumped into a very nice van that drove us to a local market where we were the only tourists. We marveled as Minerva expertly navigated its sprawl, and were given the opportunity to see and taste our way through - buying up whatever we fancied along the way. We then got back in the van, made a pitstop to get our corn ground, and then drove to Minerva’s own home where we cooked and ate and cooked and ate. Minerva, her daughter, and her team were just excellent hosts. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Nicole_c
Apr 12, 2025
Our group really enjoyed... - Our group really enjoyed Minerva's cooking class! The outdoor cooking area is very relaxing surrounded by a garden. We were cooking a complicated mole recipe, so she had the whole group divide up responsibilities and take turns prepping and cooking different items to make up the dish. We really liked this arrangement because it gave us time to watch and relax, versus cooking the entire time. The stove is also very hot, so it worked out well to take turns. Would definitely recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Patricia_c
Apr 10, 2025
The. Absolute. Best. Cooking. Experience. Ever. - A perfect day. Annotated visit to the huge traditional central market. Minibus transport to Minerva’s beautiful home up in the hills not far from Monte Alban. Hands-on and thorough lesson where Minerva took us through selecting ingredients for and preparing her family recipe for black mole plus making corn tortillas. A mezcal moment. And we got to eat the delicious meal that we helped to create. A most satisfying day that I highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Heidi_m
Apr 8, 2025
This was just what we... - This was just what we hoped it would be! Minerva took us to the market to shop for the meal we were going to prepare. She is so knowledgeable and such a great teacher. Authentic cooking over an open fire and comal. It was a hands on experience and we learned so much!
Review provided by Viator
Heidinw3774xg
Apr 4, 2025
Lovely all the way 🌸 - Minerva is lovely! The class was very informative. The walk thru the market was fascinating. I am not a mole lover but I must say learning about it from a Master was delightful. And the mole was so delicious I am now a mole lover, at least this mole.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Febo2021
May 9, 2025
Poor customer service - Customer service gives much to be desired do not respond messages. There are better options that are more cordial and reflect the kind spirit of the people.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $107
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).