Phuket Thai Cooking Academy

Small Group Cooking Classes Near Kathu Waterfall

Phuket Thai Cooking Academy is located in Kathu, about 5 km from Patong. Classes are held in a modern, air-conditioned kitchen on a hillside overlooking a lake near Kathu Waterfall. Groups are capped at 14 guests, creating a structured but interactive learning environment that’s still more personal than many high-volume cooking schools in Phuket.

Each student has their own cooking station, and most importantly, you choose the exact 4-dish menu you want to learn. Unlike many other Phuket cooking schools where everyone cooks the same set menu, here you customise your experience based on your preferences.

What to Expect

Both morning and afternoon Thai cooking classes begin with a guided local market tour. Your instructor walks you through a traditional Thai market, explaining herbs, curry pastes, produce, and essential ingredients used in authentic Thai cuisine. It’s an excellent introduction to Thai food culture, especially if you’ve never visited a Thai wet market before.

Back in the kitchen, you cook 4 dishes from a menu of 17 options in the Thai Cooking Foundations class. Popular choices include Pad Thai, Tom Yum Goong, Green Curry, Massaman Curry, Som Tam, Chicken Satay, and Mango Sticky Rice. Because every student selects their own dishes, you see a wide variety of recipes prepared during the class — not just your own.

The beginner class runs approximately 3.5 hours. You eat everything you cook, and takeaway containers are provided for leftovers. All recipes are sent via a web link after class.

Classes and Prices

Phuket Thai Cooking Academy offers three main class formats:

Thai Cooking Foundations – 2,200 Baht per person
3.5-hour session. Choose 4 dishes from 17 options. Morning and afternoon classes run daily. This is the most popular class for visitors to Phuket.

Thai Cooking Masterclass – 3,200 Baht per person
4-hour session. Includes 12 premium menu options and goes deeper into traditional techniques and curry paste preparation. The Masterclass also features higher-end ingredients such as duck, prawn, and crab, offering a more refined Thai culinary experience.

Private cooking classes, vegetarian classes, and corporate team-building events are also available.

All classes include free hotel pickup from Patong, Kathu, Kata, Karon, and Kamala. For guests staying elsewhere in Phuket, a 400 Baht surcharge per person applies for groups of under three guests. Credit card payments carry a 3% processing fee, so cash is recommended.

Good to Know

The kitchen features glass walls and full air conditioning — an important detail in Phuket’s tropical climate. The academy has been operating since 2015 and is affiliated with Bangkok Thai Cooking Academy. Classes are taught in English and Chinese.

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