In this story:
- Best for: Pleasing the whole team
- Best for: The health-conscious workforce (vegan-friendly)
- Best for: Laid back laughs (pescetarian-friendly)
- Best for: Something different
- Best for: Picky eaters (can be gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian-friendly on request)
- Best for: Creating a family feel
- Best for: High energy, light-hearted fun
- Best for: The party people
Picture this: Your whole team is at cooking classes in Melbourne, learning new skills, fostering meaningful conversations and nibbling on tasty meals cooked by them. What does this sound like? One of the best work Christmas party ideas ever! Cooking classes tick all the boxes: team building, fun, affordability and a format that suits all personality types. Food is a universal love, and learning how to make your own meals in a laidback, casual atmosphere makes the final product all the more delicious.
If you're eager to get your team more involved, engaged and actually having a good time at the end of year celebrations, cooking courses are the answer you're searching for. In fact, there's a reason they're one of the best things to do in Melbourne. Cooking has traditionally brought people together, whether that be families, friends or colleagues, through the process of making a meal from scratch and reaping the rewards at the end.
With many teams working remotely or hybrid throughout the past few years, these Melbourne workshops are a great way to encourage your team to socialise and bond in a safe way. The best part? At these top cooking schools in Melbourne, when the cooking comes to an end and the dishes are plated up, you’ll all have the chance to sit down and enjoy a delicious meal and get to know some people you might not usually get to speak to.
Still not sold on the idea? Well, science says that cooking has a whole host of benefits to your workforce other than just enjoying a delicious meal at the end of it. According to HuffPost, cooking for others can help with bonding, boost self-esteem and confidence and can even present an opportunity to engage in accidental mindfulness, making it a much more fulfilling Christmas party than downing a few drinks and awkwardly mingling. Here’s a roundup of some of the best cooking classes in Melbourne for your work Christmas party in 2025.
Best for: Pleasing the whole team
Dumpling Cooking Class
Cost: $125
Location: Abbotsford
If you're after something simple, yet extremely delicious, you can't go past dumpling making. The process is fun, simple and hands-on, with plenty of time to socialise and chat with colleagues. Being one of the more popular cooking classes in Melbourne, these delightful pockets of savoury goodness truly speak for themselves. Steamed, pan-fried or deep-fried, it's impossible not to drool over these goodies, especially when they've been mixed and folded by you and your colleagues!
Best for: The health-conscious workforce (vegan-friendly)
South-East Asian Plant-Based Cooking Class
Cost: $172 - $180
Location: Hawthorn
If health, wellness or ethical consumption are key values in your workplace, treat your team to a plant-based food party. This South-East Asian cooking class Christmas party with Steph Schall tackles classic dishes with a plant-based twist. This class is a great entry point for anyone embarking on a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle and it may even convert some die-hard meat-eaters. Over the course of the session, your team will not only learn how to prepare delicious South-East Asian dishes like Thai Pad See Ew and glazed mushroom Banh Mi but they’ll also sit down at the end in a casual, family-style meal setting, the perfect opportunity for some team bonding and a boost in workplace wellbeing.
Best for: Laid back laughs (pescetarian-friendly)
Seafood Cooking Class
Cost: $240
Location: Berwick
If your staff love the iconic Australian tradition of fresh seafood at Christmas and are looking to have a few drinks, cook up some simple but delicious food and just unwind and enjoy each other’s company, then this is the class for you. Located at Berwick VIC, this class will cover everything from rubs to marinades and will have everyone getting hands-on with a pair of tongs. The session starts with a hands-on demonstration and culminates in an epic seafood feast accompanied by a glass of wine.
Best for: Something different
Lebanese Classics Cooking Demonstration Class
Cost: $60
Location: Murrumbeena
If your workforce is always looking to try new things, they’ll love this authentic middle eastern cooking class. Your team will learn how to make traditional rice, garlic chicken and tabouli as well as sample some Lebanese coffee, tea and sweets, before taking a tour through the on-site gourmet grocery store. This class is a great option because it’s a fun fusion of demonstration and hands-on prep time so if anyone doesn’t want to get involved they can sit back and enjoy the class, and the delicious feast at the end!
Best for: Picky eaters (can be gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian-friendly on request)
Italian Cooking Class
Cost: $165
Location: Richmond
Who doesn’t like Italian food? If you’re catering to lots of different tastes and dietary requirements and you want to be sure that there’s something for everyone, opt for this classic Italian pizza, risotto and pasta making class. After settling in with a drink on arrival, the team will dive right into making their own dough and learning to cook with fresh garlic, olive oil, cheeses and cured meats to create homemade sauces and fresh pizza and pasta (or risotto and gnocchi for the gluten-free amongst you). At the end of it all, you'll sit down to enjoy a delicious and traditional Italian family feast - our cooking class parties are a must do in Melbourne!
Best for: Creating a family feel
Greek Feast Cooking Class
Cost: $150
Location: Moorabbin
Focusing on family-style Greek cooking, this in-depth class with The Hellenic Odyssey is all about using food to bring people together, creating a sense of community and reflecting on the way food evokes emotions and memories. The menu for the day is based on the Mediterranean diet so come expecting lots of olive oil, fresh salads and grilled protein. Your team will create hearty home-style dishes they may never have heard of and at the end, they’ll sit down and break bread together. What better way to celebrate the end of another year! This class is perfect for small teams to create an intimate and home-style feel.
Best for: High energy, light-hearted fun
Gnocchi Masterclass and Lunch
Cost: $105
Location: South Yarra
Fast-paced, fun and delicious, this hands-on gnocchi making class will have your team rolling up their sleeves and kneading dough like there's no tomorrow! They’ll be led through the entire process from making the gnocchi dough, right through to cooking the sauce before sitting down and enjoying the spoils of their toils alongside some coffee and other refreshments. Spend some quality time with your colleagues in the kitchen sharing stories and exchanging cooking traditions.
Best for: The party people
Cocktail Making Class
Cost: $65 for three cocktails
Location: Prahan
If you can’t picture your workplace getting behind a few hours in the kitchen and think they'd rather learn how to mix, muddle and stir your way to deliciousness, try this cocktail making class at the buzzy Mofo Lounge. This fun class will kick off with a glass of wine and a dips platter so that everyone has a chance to catch up and mingle before the cocktail making session gets serious. Everyone will have the chance to make and drink three signature cocktails, and at the end of the class everyone can sit down for an epic cocktail tasting with each other.
Read on to find out why cooking classes in Melbourne are good for your health and your bank account.
References
1) Huffingtonpost.com.au
4k followers
Runs regularly
Abbotsford
1 to 60 guests
$99 - $298
