Photo at Le Foodist by Olivia Hoffman
Paris and exquisite cuisine go hand in hand. When you think of France, croissants and baguettes likely come to mind — and for good reason! Parisians have mastered the art of transforming simple, fresh ingredients into unforgettable dishes, making the city one of the best places in the world to refine your cooking skills.
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Fortunately for visitors, you don’t need to speak French to immerse yourself in the world of French gastronomy. Across Paris, top-tier cooking schools offer hands-on classes (in English!) for travelers eager to unlock the secrets of French cuisine.
If you’re planning a trip to Paris and want to return home with new culinary confidence, be sure to book a class at one of our favorite cooking schools. And where noted, don’t forget to take advantage of our exclusive discount code!
La Cuisine Paris
Boasting views overlooking the Seine, La Cuisine Paris is a charming cooking school in the heart of the iconic Marais neighborhood, founded by American expat Jane Bertch*. Under the guidance of skilled French chefs and bakers, La Cuisine’s classes cover a wide range of culinary lessons, from crafting exquisite French pastries to mastering technical specialties to completing the preparation of a full 3-course meal after gathering ingredients at the local market. For those that prefer to simply sit back and eat, they also offer food and wine tours around Paris to discover the best cuisine the neighborhoods have to offer.
Over the years, La Cuisine has welcomed curious cooks and food lovers from around the globe. The convivial environment offers a splendid opportunity to master the quintessential staples of French cooking while forging genuine connections with fellow travelers. With such high demand for their classes, they have recently extended their space into the building next door, featuring a brand new 3-story kitchen!
Check out their extensive options and class schedule here.
Use the code MFCH2025 for 10% off any class at La Cuisine Paris!
*For a deeper dive into Jane’s inspiring journey of establishing and operating her cooking school in Paris as an expat, be sure to check out her memoire, The French Ingredient.
The Parisian Kitchen
For those who prefer a more intimate and personalized culinary experience with friends and family only, a class with Bénédicte Mesny of The Parisian Kitchen is a perfect option! Taught by a true Parisienne in her charming Parisian kitchen nestled in the cozy 17th arrondissement, Bénédicte offers both baking lessons with classic French patisseries as well as delicious lunchtime cooking classes paired with a local market tour.
Catering to private clients, the course is highly customizable to suit your group’s tastes. You’ll feel like a real French person for the day, simply making an exquisite yet uncomplicated meal – as the French do! Bénédicte demystifies the art of creating iconic French delicacies like soufflés and macarons in her apartment kitchen, ensuring you leave with the confidence to recreate these masterpieces at home.
Book a class by the end of April (for any future date) to receive 10% off! Simply mention MFCH in your email request to book.
Le Foodist
While traveling the world, Fred Pouillot learned that the best way to discover a new country was through its food. He believes that understanding the cultural perspective behind the ingredients is key to fully appreciating it. Fortunately, this ethos has absolutely been instilled in every cooking class at this cozy cooking school in the historic Latin Quarter.
Le Foodist’s highly informative classes will have you savoring every step of the preparation – from purchasing the items in the market, to sampling the cheese and wine, to chopping and sautéing the vegetables. You will leave the class feeling like a master of the French market and an expert of French food, uncovering insightful tips and tricks to add into your own cooking routines. By the end of the extensive course, the meal will feel extremely well-deserved – and you may even make a few new foodie friends!
Find all of Le Foodist’s highly informative and engaging offerings on their class schedule here.
Use the code MFCH for 10% off any class at Le Foodist!
Cook’n with Class
After working abroad in high end restaurants around North America, French Chef Eric Fraudeau returned to his home country in 2007 to start a cooking school to share his expert knowledge – in English! Cook’n With Class, located in the artistic Montmartre neighborhood, provides an array of culinary classes led by Eric and other experienced chefs.
The school offers a wide variety of courses that include hands-on experiences in cooking and baking including classes specifically catered to kids as well as fun themed courses like the Marie Antoinette Pastry Experience!
Check out the calendar of Cook’n with Class’s creative class offerings here.
École Ducasse
Learn the skills that have been passed down by the world-renowned Chef Alain Ducasse! The school offers a range of gastronomic courses to French speakers, but also caters to English speakers in four key categories: bistro cuisine, market & cooking, macarons, and grande cuisine. Located in the bourgeois 16th arrondissement, the École Ducasse was designed for amateurs who are serious about working towards a mastery of French cuisine. The professional chefs offer expert guidance and share the latest in French cuisine trends, helping you learn the best-in-class techniques.
The bright atmosphere is welcoming and simultaneously makes you feel like you are working in a Michelin-level kitchen! Classes in English are limited, so make sure to plan ahead.
Here are the class offerings in English.
As the beloved character Chef Gusteau from Disney-Pixar’s Parisian classic Ratatouille reminds us, “Anyone can cook!” So why not put that to the test on your next trip to Paris?