11 Charlotte-area cooking classes that will level up your skills in the kitchen
Whether you’re just starting out and can’t scramble an egg or you’re an accomplished home chef looking to level up your game with fresh pasta and French sauces, Charlotte-area cooking classes can help with that.
Hands-on cooking lessons in a group setting, private events, prerecorded classes online and other virtual experiences are all available to help you expand your skills in the kitchen. There are classes meant for kids, and adults-only events where you can sip a glass of wine or beer while you learn, too.
Whatever your learning preferences may be, here are some of the cooking classes available in the Charlotte area to help you learn to cook fresh meals:
Be Friend Cooking
Location: 8529 Fairview Rd., Charlotte NC 28226
Cost: $75+
Chef Sheera Karmi of Be Friend Cooking gives step-by-step instructions with hands-on practice for all skill levels in a small-group setting. All ingredients are included, complete with a carryout container so you can take home any leftovers. A few of the dishes offered have recently included Cornish game hens, sushi rolls and balsamic-glazed salmon.
Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen
Location: 4001-C Yancey Rd #100, Charlotte NC 28217
Cost: Varies
Chef Alyssa’s offers both in person and pre-recorded virtual options for her cooking classes. You can’t bring in your own snacks and drinks, but wine, beer and other drink options are available for purchase at the popular classes, which sell out quickly. Adult classes are for ages 21+ up, but there are kids classes and teen culinary camps, as well. Some classes offered this. year include Winter Italiana and Ramen Cooking.
Cooking with Joya
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Online cooking videos of how to make Chef Joya’s vegan meals are posted on YouTube and are available on her website. Items from the chef, who appeared in 2022 on Food Network’s “Supermarket Steakout,” include vegan brunch, vegan Buffalo chickpea pitas and vegan lomo saltado.
Cozymeal
Location: Varies
Cost: Varies
Attend a cooking class in-person or online or book a private event with Charlotte-based chefs or chefs who travel to Charlotte. In-person classes include Korean-Lowcountry Fusion Fare and The Best of Mexican Street Fare. Online lessons include Michelin Star Italian Cuisine and Iconic New Orleans Recipes.
Flour Power Cooking Studios
Location: Rea Farms, 9826 Sandy Rock Place, Suite E, Charlotte NC 28277
Location: Brayden Village, 810 Brayden Parkway Suite 107, Fort Mill SC 29708
Cost: Varies
Flour Power is a chain of cooking schools geared toward kids, teens and families — but it offers adult events and corporate team building opportunities, too. Some all-ages events on the schedule include a Breakfast PJ Party, where you learn to make pancakes and fruit kabobs, and a Mother’s Day English Tea.
The Foodie School
Location: 300 Springhill Farm Rd Suite 107, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Cost: $75+
In-person classes, virtual classes and private events from chef Mara Norris are available to help you create a multi-course meal at the Foodie School often with a fun theme. You can bring along your own beer or wine to enjoy with your meal, but all food will be consumed on site. Classes are for ages 16+. Date night themes, knife skills workshops and holiday-oriented meals are available.
Johnson & Wales
Location: 801 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Cost: $140 per class
Johnson & Wales University’s Charlotte campus, renowned for its cooking program, offers recreational classes for non-students. In 2025, spring classes go from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturdays, with topics including Valentine’s Brunch, Mardi Gras Cajun & Creole Cuisine and Classic French Sauces.
Santhoshi’s Kitchen
Location: 1182 Stonecrest Blvd, Suite 106, Tega Cay 29708
Cost: $65+
The duration of Santhoshi’s classes are 3 hours. In that time, you will make an Indian meal including dishes like chicken tikka, vegetable korma and samosas. Other cuisines are offered, too, including Mexican, Asian and Mediterranean, and some classes are vegetarian or vegan.
Group discounts are available, as well.
[EAT UP: Charlotte-area chef Santhoshi Radhakrishnan shares her chickpea curry recipe.]
SkillPop
Location: Charlotte
Cost: Varies
SkillPop creates environments where trying a new skill is social, accessible and engaging, with online and in-person options. Wine 101 is among the offerings, and a fresh lineup is released each week.
Sweet Spot Studio
Location: 4418 Monroe Rd Suite A, Charlotte NC 28205
Cost: $70+
Sweet Spot Studio, whose owner Jossie Lukacik recently won an episode of Food Network’s “Christmas Cookie Challenge“ show, offers baking classes to help satisfy your sweet tooth and other cravings. Offerings include how to make French macarons and cookie decorating, plus Pizza Date Night and Sourdough 101.
Williams Sonoma
Location: 6401 Carnegie Blvd., Ste. 14-15, Charlotte, NC 28211
Cost: Varies
Williams Sonoma offers virtual and in-person cooking classes, where you can level up your chef skills from the comfort of your own home. Want to learn how to make the perfect latte or fine-tune your baking skills? You can find a variety of classes, including some in-store options that are free.
CharlotteFive staff contributed.
