Santika grew up in Bali, and has worked in various restaurants in Indonesia and overseas. He started his career as a sous chef and worked his way up to become executive chef. He went on to work and live in Turks and Caicos island and even won awards while he was there. Then 10 years later in 2016, Santika decided to come back to Indonesia and start something on his own. So he opened a homestay for travelers along with his wife, and now enjoys teaching them how to cook local Balinese food. He is excited to share his knowledge of traditional Balinese cuisine from his home kitchen, during this fun cooking class in Bali.
When we asked Santika why he would like to become a Traveling Spoon host, this is what he had to say, “I want to share our cooking experience with everyone around the world, especially authentic Balinese cuisine. I want Balinese cuisine to be a part of the culinary world, something that every family can do at home.”
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
Cooking experience:
(2-9 guests)
Join Santika for an authentic Balinese cooking class in his charming home, nestled in Pesalakan village, just 20 minutes from Ubud. After being picked up from your central Ubud hotel, head to Santika's kitchen surrounded by rice paddies to learn to prepare traditional Balinese dishes using fresh local ingredients. You will have your own work area with a chopping board, motor and pestle and stove, so you can cook along with Santika. After the 1.5-hour cooking class in Ubud, enjoy the delicious meal you've helped prepare before returning to your Ubud hotel. A few dishes that you might try are sate ayam (chicken skewers) served with bumbu kacang (peanut sauce), sambal tomat (tomato sambal) or sambal matah (Balinese salsa), tempe and kacang manis (soybean cake) or tum babi (steamed spiced pork) or urab campur (mixed vegetable salad) or pulung-pulung ayam (minced chicken balls) and nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice) or nasi sele (sweet potato rice). End your meal with a dessert such as dadar gulung (sweet pancakes filled with fresh coconut and palm sugar) or lak lak (rice cakes served with fresh coconut and palm sugar).
Immerse yourself in Bali’s culinary traditions with this unforgettable experience. Perfect for food lovers, cooking enthusiasts, and anyone looking to immerse themselves in authentic Balinese culture and cuisine in Ubud.
Market visit: (2-5 guests) Experience the authentic flavors of Bali with Santika on this guided local market tour in Ubud. After being picked up from your central Ubud hotel, head to a vibrant local market where you’ll discover traditional Balinese ingredients like cassava, ferns, lemongrass and a variety of bananas. Learn about the spices and produce that define Balinese cuisine, and even purchase seasonal items to use later in your Ubud cooking class. Next, journey to Santika's home amidst the rice fields for a hands-on cooking class. Here, you’ll prepare and enjoy traditional Balinese dishes using the fresh ingredients you bought at the market, immersing yourself in Bali's rich culinary heritage.
Notes:
Prices include round-trip transport from Ubud hotels that are located in the city center (only if your hotel is within the 10km radius from Santika's home in Pesalakan Village). Please be sure to include your hotel name on the reservation form so your host can arrange for your pick-up. If you are staying outside of central Ubud (beyond the 10km radius) there will be an additional charge for transportation.
Santika can accommodate a lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan meal on request, if informed in advance. Please note that Santika also runs a homestay, so even though there maybe other guests on the property, your Traveling Spoon cooking class will be private.
Languages spoken: English and Indonesian
Cozy, fun, educational, and delicious food!- marti May 23, 2026
Great experience. We were picked up from our hotel, taken to Santika's cooking school and homestay outside Ubud, to prepare, cook and eat a 3 course Balinese family meal. He is a very professional and friendly teacher, has travelled the world and is able to answer any question about Bali, not just about cooking. Highly recommended, find him on site.- peter February 05, 2026
The class was fun and Indonesia meals delicious. Chef Santika was a bit out of the way, but they picked us up at our hotel in Ubud and made it easy for us. Recommended!- Vick August 23, 2025
Such a fun experience! We learned the fundamentals of Balinese cooking from a master chef, in a beautiful setting. My children enjoyed as well!- Anita July 02, 2025
It's hard to describe the amazing experience we had with Santika - from the techniques we learned to the delicious meal we made, the experience was a major highlight of our trip. The stand out was learning one of his mum's recipes - best meal we've had in Bali. You also get to cook everything yourself which is a huge plus. Santika's experience is great and this comes out in the way he teaches - we've walked away with some top level cooking advice beyond cooking Indonesian/Balinese food.- Hanson June 16, 2025
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