Home Cooking With Greek Family

Home Cooking with Greek Family, 2 hours 30 minutes, rated 5 across 33 traveller reviews.

Overview

Dora and her family have been inviting travellers into their actual home in Thessaloniki for nearly 10 years, and this 2 hour 30 minute experience is built around that table. You cook alongside the hosts, then sit down and eat what you made with them, drinks included. The centrepiece is the family moussaka recipe, which has been passed down and prepared for well over a century, alongside a Greek salad and dessert.

Many of the fresh ingredients come from the family's own garden in their village outside the city, with other products from local producers they trust. The meal comes with ouzo, tsipouro and Greek wine, plus a bougatsa or cheese pie, and the experience finishes with a Greek dance lesson. Reviewers regularly describe being treated like family. The home has also welcomed chefs working in Michelin-starred environments, as well as BBC and CNN teams who came to document the family's cooking and hospitality.

The group is capped at 9 travellers. It suits anyone who wants to cook, eat and share the table with a local family in their own home. The venue is wheelchair and pushchair accessible and sits near public transport.

What's Included

Included

Dinner (Full dinner Moussaka+Greek salad + dessert+ greek ouzo + tsipouro + greek wine + Greek pie mpougatsa or cheese pie)
Greek dance lesson

Not Included

Private transportation

Itinerary

Meet at Porto Palace HotelThe meeting point is Porto Palace Hotel, 26is Oktovriou 65, Thessaloniki 546 28. The listing asks for a WhatsApp message to be sent 24 hours before the meeting.
Cook with the familyGuests join Dora and her family in their home kitchen to prepare the family moussaka recipe and the accompanying dishes, hands on.
Sit down to dinnerThe full meal is shared at the family table: moussaka, Greek salad, dessert, a Greek pie such as bougatsa or cheese pie, with ouzo, tsipouro and Greek wine.
Learn a Greek danceA Greek dance lesson rounds off the experience, which reviewers repeatedly mention as a fun finish.
Return to the meeting pointThe activity ends back at the Porto Palace Hotel meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what to know before booking, from the listing and from what travellers have written afterwards.

Getting there. There is no private transportation, so guests make their own way to the Porto Palace Hotel meeting point. The listing says it is near public transport. Remember to message the host on WhatsApp 24 hours before the meeting, as the listing requests.
Food and drink. The full dinner is included: moussaka, Greek salad, dessert, a bougatsa or cheese pie, plus ouzo, tsipouro and Greek wine. Reviewers describe the food as delicious, and one reviewer wrote that the moussaka was the best they had ever eaten. If you have an allergy, say so, since one reviewer reported the hosts adapted the recipes to be gluten free.
Hands-on pace. This is participation, not demonstration. Several reviewers stress that guests cook the dishes themselves rather than watch. The whole thing runs 2 hours 30 minutes, ending with the dance lesson.
Group feel. The maximum is 9 travellers. Reviewers consistently describe the atmosphere as being welcomed like a member of the family rather than joining a class. Expect conversation about Greek food, culture and history over the table.
Accessibility. The listing states the experience is wheelchair accessible and pushchair accessible, and that service animals are allowed. Most travellers can participate, and the location is near public transportation.
Recipes to take. One reviewer mentioned leaving with the recipes, so it may be worth bringing a phone or a notebook in case you want to note anything down during the cooking. The listing does not state this as a guaranteed inclusion.

Common issues. Transport to the meeting point is not included, so budget for your own taxi or bus fare. The experience needs a minimum number of travellers to run; if that minimum is not met, you are offered a different date or experience or a full refund. It also requires good weather, with the same rebooking or refund option if cancelled for that reason. Full refunds only apply when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.

Common Questions

What is included in the price?

A full dinner is included: moussaka, Greek salad, dessert, and a Greek pie such as bougatsa or cheese pie, served with ouzo, tsipouro and Greek wine. A Greek dance lesson is also part of the experience. Private transportation is not included.

Do I need to pay extra for food or drinks?

No, the dinner and the listed drinks are part of the booking. The only cost item flagged as excluded is private transportation to and from the meeting point.

Where does the experience start?

It meets at the Porto Palace Hotel, 26is Oktovriou 65, Thessaloniki 546 28, and ends back at the same point. The listing asks for a WhatsApp message to be sent 24 hours before the meeting. There is no pickup or private transport provided.

Is it suitable for wheelchair users or families with children?

The listing states the experience is wheelchair accessible and pushchair accessible, and that most travellers can participate. Service animals are allowed and the meeting point is near public transportation. For any specific access needs, it is best to contact the host before booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Later cancellations are not refunded, and changes made within that window are not accepted. If the experience is cancelled for poor weather or because the minimum number of travellers is not met, you are offered a different date, a different experience, or a full refund.

Can the hosts accommodate dietary restrictions?

The listing does not state a dietary policy. One reviewer reported that the recipes were made gluten free to accommodate allergies during their visit. It is best to contact the host before booking if you have a specific restriction.