Balinese Vegan Cooking Class in East Bali with Garden Tour

Sidemen brings a welcome change of pace to a cooking class: first you walk through an organic garden, then pick ingredients for a Balinese meal you’ll prepare yourself. The three-hour visit at Anandinii Organic Garden & Kitchen pairs a guided garden tour with traditional cooking in an open-air kitchen.

I like two things in particular: you harvest some of the ingredients instead of simply finding them laid out, and the meal makes a full lunch of several Balinese dishes, not a token taste. The green garden and hillside views give the meal a pleasing sense of place.

The main consideration is the location. Sidemen is a long drive from Ubud, about an hour and 20 minutes each way, and transport is not included. The garden tour may also be fairly brief, so book for the cooking and meal as much as for a detailed botanical tour.

• Pick produce in the garden: Your guided walk includes harvesting fruits and vegetables for the meal.
• Cook with traditional tools: Chefs introduce Balinese methods and utensils in an open-air kitchen.
• Expect a generous vegan menu: The sample dishes include curry, tofu, tempe, vegetables, rice, and a coconut-filled pancake.
• Plan for Sidemen’s distance: The meeting point is at Cepik Villa Sidemen, and you arrange your own transport.
• Choose a morning or afternoon session: Departures are listed at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• Check the final price: The supplied price information gives both US$38.19 and US$41.99 as starting prices.

A garden-to-table class in East Bali

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This is a hands-on cooking session with a garden visit attached, rather than a formal cooking demonstration where you watch a chef do all the work. You start among the plants, gather ingredients, and then use them in a vegan Balinese meal. For anyone who likes knowing where lunch came from, that small link between garden and kitchen is the class’s most appealing idea.

The setting is Anandinii Organic Garden & Kitchen in the Sidemen area of Karangasem Regency. The kitchen is open-air, and the meal is served amid the garden and views of nearby hills. That combination makes the outing feel tied to East Bali’s rural surroundings instead of taking place in a standard indoor classroom.

The class lasts three hours, including the guided garden tour, cooking, and lunch. The schedule lists a 9:30 a.m. departure with a 1 p.m. return, or a 2:30 p.m. departure with a 5 p.m. return. Those are useful windows to build around, but leave extra time for your drive. The tour itself does not include transport.

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Starting at Cepik Villa Sidemen

The stated meeting point is the reception at Cepik Villa Sidemen, in Banjar Tebola, Telaga Tawang. Arrive at least 10 minutes before the departure time you selected. The schedule is strict: late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable, and the conditions also say that arrivals five minutes or more after the start time are not eligible for a refund.

One point worth sorting out before you set off: the meeting point and cooking venue are not quite the same place. The cooking location is about 500 metres from the place shown in some promotional photos and is identified as Amandini. Confirm the precise handoff and directions with the operator before travel, especially if you are finding your own way by motorbike or car.

If you are coming from Ubud, budget about an hour and 20 minutes each way by car, based on the reported drive. That makes the class a substantial half-day outing, not a quick activity near central Ubud. The journey may feel worthwhile if you also want to see Sidemen, but it is a real cost in time and transport money.

Walking the organic garden

The class begins with a guided walk around the organic garden. Your guide points out exotic plants and explains their characteristics and health benefits, while you pick fresh fruits and vegetables to use in the kitchen. The walk gives you a practical introduction to the ingredients, rather than asking you to take a list of unfamiliar names on trust.

Keep expectations measured if your main interest is a long horticultural tour. The garden visit is described as guided, but the available detail does not suggest an extended botany lesson. One account of the experience found the farm walk limited in scope. I’d treat it as an engaging introduction to the produce and setting, not as the central attraction.

The harvest is the more distinctive part. Picking ingredients gives you a reason to notice how the meal begins, and it makes the cooking feel connected to the garden rather than staged as a separate activity. The exact produce will change with the season and what is available, so don’t expect the same basket or menu every time.

Cooking Balinese dishes without animal products

After the walk, the chefs guide you through cooking in an open-air kitchen. The class uses traditional Balinese methods and utensils, and no prior experience is needed. That beginner-friendly setup matters: you can join without knowing local techniques or having much confidence at the stove.

The sample menu offers a useful sense of the meal’s range. It begins with crispy deep-fried spinach and eggplant crackers, followed by tofu steamed with Balinese spices and wrapped in banana leaves. A wood-fired preparation of steamed rice with sweet potato anchors the meal, alongside Balinese curry with Siamese pumpkin, tofu, and tempe, plus mixed vegetables seasoned with Balinese spices and grated coconut.

Dessert is dadar gulung, an Indonesian rolled pancake filled with grated coconut. The sample menu is described as a four-course meal, though it includes several side and main dishes. The sensible expectation is a varied, shared-style feast rather than four small plated courses in a strict Western sequence.

Because the menu depends on seasonal produce and availability, a specific dish is not guaranteed. That flexibility is part of cooking with what the garden and kitchen can provide, but it may matter if you have a particular food preference or allergy. The supplied information confirms the menu is vegan; it does not provide details about allergy accommodations, so ask the operator directly if you need them.

Lunch with garden and hill views

Once the cooking is done, you sit down to eat what you have made. This is the payoff of the class: a proper lunch in the same lush garden setting, with views of surrounding greenery and hills. Rather than rushing straight back after a demonstration, the schedule allows time to enjoy the meal as part of the experience.

The food’s appeal is not only that it is plant-based. The dishes use familiar Balinese seasonings and ingredients in different ways, from banana-leaf-wrapped tofu to grated coconut with vegetables. If you’re interested in how local cooking can work without meat, this is a more useful lesson than simply ordering a vegan dish from a restaurant menu.

The setting is also one reason to make the drive to Sidemen. The available account of the outing describes the area as beautiful, even though reaching it from Ubud took about 80 minutes each way. That is a fair trade if you want a rural day out; less so if you are choosing the class solely for the cooking and have limited time in Bali.

What the price covers, and what it doesn’t

The supplied price details differ: one gives a starting price of US$38.19 for the Balinese Vegan Cooking Class, while another lists a starting price of US$41.99. Treat either as a starting figure, not a guaranteed final total, and check the booking screen for your date and party size.

The class includes admission to Anandinii Organic Garden & Kitchen, an English-speaking guide and staff, lunch, cooking equipment, and ingredients. That is a solid package for a three-hour activity, particularly because it covers both the instruction and the meal. The menu is substantial enough that you should think of lunch as part of the value, not an extra stop to arrange afterward.

Transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, personal expenses, and tips are excluded. You’ll need to organize your own trip to the meeting point, and the drive can make transport the largest extra cost. The same price applies to all ages, and infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount.

Timing, clothing, and other practical details

Wear casual clothes and walking shoes. You’ll be moving through a garden and taking part in cooking, so this is not the moment for delicate footwear or clothes you’d rather keep pristine. Outside food and drinks are not allowed.

The activity is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible. If you have mobility needs, check directly with the operator before booking rather than assuming the garden paths and kitchen can accommodate them.

A mobile voucher is accepted, and the voucher is valid only for the date and time booked. Changes are generally allowed until 48 hours before the activity, with some exceptions for bookings made through particular passes, presales, freebies, or payment programs. For cancellation, the stated policy offers a full refund if you cancel at least 48 hours before the activity date, in local time. If severe weather or another unforeseen event leads the operator to cancel, you may be offered a new date.

Who should book this class?

I’d recommend this outing if you enjoy cooking, want a plant-based take on Balinese food, and are happy to spend part of the day getting to Sidemen. It suits beginners as well as confident home cooks, since the class is designed for people with no previous experience. The garden harvest and meal make it especially appealing if you like activities where you take part rather than simply watch.

It may be a weaker fit if you’re expecting a long, detailed farm tour, need included transport, or are staying in Ubud and want an activity close to your hotel. The drive is significant, and the garden walk may be modest. If Sidemen itself interests you, however, the class can give you a good reason to make the journey and spend time in a quieter part of Bali.

Book it if you want a hands-on vegan cooking lesson in a garden setting and can manage your own transport. Before paying, confirm the final price, the exact meeting arrangements, and which dishes can be prepared for your dietary needs.

FAQ

How long does the cooking class last?

The experience lasts three hours, including the guided garden tour, cooking, and lunch.

Where does the class meet?

The stated meeting point is the reception at Cepik Villa Sidemen in Banjar Tebola, Telaga Tawang, Karangasem Regency.

What departure times are available?

The listed departure times are 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Choose your time when booking and arrive at least 10 minutes early.

Is transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and transport are not included. You need to get to the meeting point by car or motorbike.

What is included in the price?

Admission, an English-speaking guide and staff, lunch, cooking equipment, and all necessary ingredients are included.

Is the class suitable for beginners?

Yes. No prior cooking experience is needed, and the activity is described as beginner-friendly.

What food is served?

The sample vegan menu includes spinach and eggplant crackers, spiced tofu wrapped in banana leaves, rice with sweet potato, Balinese curry with pumpkin, tofu and tempe, mixed vegetables with grated coconut, and dadar gulung coconut pancakes. The menu can change with the season and ingredient availability.

What should I wear?

Casual clothes and walking shoes are recommended.

Is the activity wheelchair- and stroller-accessible?

No. The activity is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 48 hours before the activity date, in local time. Changes are generally allowed until 48 hours before the activity, though some booking types are excluded.