Cookies! They are not just something we eat. This site uses cookies so we can provide you the best user experience and deliver advertising and offers that are relevant to you. To read more about our cookie policy, including how to change your cookie settings, please read our Privacy and Cookie Policy. By continuing to use the site you are agreeing to our cookie policy.
I accept
VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Mariela

Buenos Aires, Argentina

USD
$97-$165 per person

Traditional Argentinean meal and cooking class in Buenos Aires

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Mariela

Mariela has been a tour guide for over eight years and holds a degree in tourism. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she has traveled widely but loves welcoming travelers into her home in Buenos Aires. With her, you’ll enjoy an authentic Argentine cooking class featuring fresh, homemade dishes while sharing stories, laughter, and music. Mariela’s passion for food and culture makes every experience a true taste of Argentina.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-5 guests) Mariela lives in the vibrant Palermo neighborhood, known for its eclectic restaurants, chic cocktail bars, and quirky fashion shops. Having worked as a tour guide for many years, she brings a wealth of knowledge and stories about the best sites in Buenos Aires, as well as insights into Argentine history, culture, and cuisine. While enjoying your welcome drink, Mariela will introduce you to her country, its people, and its culinary traditions. The meal begins with a picada, a selection of finger foods featuring cheeses, homemade sauces, spiced butter, and fresh bread. This is followed by tapa de asado, a succulent meat roast cooked with onions, peppers, and red Argentine wine, served alongside a mix of mashed carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. Your experience concludes with a sweet dessert, such as a banana pancake with dulce de leche and vanilla ice cream, or a quince and sweet potato jam—perfectly ending a true taste of Buenos Aires.

Cooking experience: (2-4 guests) Join Mariela for a hands-on Buenos Aires cooking class in her welcoming Palermo home, one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Learn the secrets of authentic Argentine cuisine as you cook an appetizer, main dish, and a classic local drink such as fernet. Mariela shares her passion for traditional flavors and home-style techniques while guiding you through each step. Because her kitchen is cozy, some demonstrations may take place in the dining area. This one-hour cooking class offers a fun and flavorful introduction to Argentine culture, perfect for travelers who want to experience the real taste of Buenos Aires.

Market visit: (2-4 guests) You’ll meet Mariela at her home before visiting a selection of her favorite local shops. Start with her local bakery, followed by a delicatessen to pick up some of her favorite cheeses. Then, take the bus together to a butcher and a greengrocer to select fresh meat and vegetables for your meal. Once all the ingredients are gathered, return to Mariela’s home for your hands-on cooking class and to enjoy the delicious meal you helped prepare.

Notes: Mariela is happy to serve a vegetarian meal on request.

Languages spoken: Spanish, English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Picada and empanadas
  • Tapa de asado con puré mixto (papa, batata, calabaza y zanahoria)
  • Queso y Dulce

Traveler reviews

5.0 (6)
A lovely place with very pleasant staff. Mel's cooking is simply delicious and made with love. Local and fresh products that make the difference in the plate. Unique dish every lunchtime. In short, a marvel that I recommend with eyes closed. (translated by Google)
- 518maria April 17, 2023
Home Cooked Dinner at Marielas house. Mariela and Pablo were amazing hosts! They served us an incredible meal and were filled with information about Buenos Aires and Argentina. We had a blast and highly recommend!
- michellehM4314TE December 15, 2019
Our Traveling Spoon experience in Buenos Aires with Juan and Marina was one of the highlights of our trip. They are both excellent hosts and instructors. The food was so delicious, that I even want to add some of their recipes to our Thanksgiving Dinner! Thank you for making our trip that much more memorable!
- nholden711 November 25, 2019
We had a terrific evening with Mariela and Pablo. Mariela speaks excellent English so we learned a lot about the food culture, local customs, Argentinian politics, different parts of the country and more. Pablo did the cooking and the meal was terrific. We started with Fernet and Coke, a typical Argentinian cocktail. We had an appetizer plate of different cheeses, olives and salami, then we helped make the empanadas. Pablo made grilled veggies (eggplant, zucchini, tomato and asparagus), roasted red peppers, an Argentinian squash (smashed, mixed with cheese and spices), a salad AND a skirt steak. AMAZING! We finished (how did we ever have room for it?) with a typical dessert: sweet potato pie-type of thing topped with a soft cheese. The combination was something neither of us ever had but it was yummy! It was a really fun evening but if you want a truly hands-on cooking, where you're doing 90% of the work, this is not that, but we enjoyed ourselves very much! The name of our experience is: Meal + Cooking Experience + Market Tour with Mariela Cavallo. Highly recommend!
- ladycheetah November 08, 2019
* JUAN AND MARINA *Without a doubt, this was the best night that we spent in Buenos Aires. These two are the most warm, gorgeous couple to spend an evening with. Juan and Marina are so kind and welcoming - we felt instantly at home as soon as we walked into their lovely house and were offered a drink. We spent a whole evening with them learning about traditional Argentinian cooking (especially the magic of the BBQ). One of us was gluten-free and both of them had gone above and beyond to accommodate that.  Excellent wine, fantastic food and even better company! Would come back and visit them in a heartbeat - thanks both x
- rozzim639 March 21, 2019
Mariela greeted us warmly and welcomed us into her home, which already smelled delicious. We had a traditional Argentinian beverage before heading out for a neighborhood walk to the local bakery, deli and Mercado to purchase items for our lunch. The meat and vegetables were prepared very well and plated in an appealing manner. Dessert and traditional mate made for an enjoyable end to a lingering lunch. One BA experience not to miss. Being in a home and not in a cooking school made all the difference to a unique experience.
- Anne R September 24, 2018
Read More

Mariela

$97-$165 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $105 $97
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $129 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $165 Not offered
Alcohol
 $13 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $105 $97
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $129 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $165 Not offered
Alcohol
 $13 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 4:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Mariela

Mariela has been a tour guide for over eight years and holds a degree in tourism. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she has traveled widely but loves welcoming travelers into her home in Buenos Aires. With her, you’ll enjoy an authentic Argentine cooking class featuring fresh, homemade dishes while sharing stories, laughter, and music. Mariela’s passion for food and culture makes every experience a true taste of Argentina.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-5 guests) Mariela lives in the vibrant Palermo neighborhood, known for its eclectic restaurants, chic cocktail bars, and quirky fashion shops. Having worked as a tour guide for many years, she brings a wealth of knowledge and stories about the best sites in Buenos Aires, as well as insights into Argentine history, culture, and cuisine. While enjoying your welcome drink, Mariela will introduce you to her country, its people, and its culinary traditions. The meal begins with a picada, a selection of finger foods featuring cheeses, homemade sauces, spiced butter, and fresh bread. This is followed by tapa de asado, a succulent meat roast cooked with onions, peppers, and red Argentine wine, served alongside a mix of mashed carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. Your experience concludes with a sweet dessert, such as a banana pancake with dulce de leche and vanilla ice cream, or a quince and sweet potato jam—perfectly ending a true taste of Buenos Aires.

Cooking experience: (2-4 guests) Join Mariela for a hands-on Buenos Aires cooking class in her welcoming Palermo home, one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Learn the secrets of authentic Argentine cuisine as you cook an appetizer, main dish, and a classic local drink such as fernet. Mariela shares her passion for traditional flavors and home-style techniques while guiding you through each step. Because her kitchen is cozy, some demonstrations may take place in the dining area. This one-hour cooking class offers a fun and flavorful introduction to Argentine culture, perfect for travelers who want to experience the real taste of Buenos Aires.

Market visit: (2-4 guests) You’ll meet Mariela at her home before visiting a selection of her favorite local shops. Start with her local bakery, followed by a delicatessen to pick up some of her favorite cheeses. Then, take the bus together to a butcher and a greengrocer to select fresh meat and vegetables for your meal. Once all the ingredients are gathered, return to Mariela’s home for your hands-on cooking class and to enjoy the delicious meal you helped prepare.

Notes: Mariela is happy to serve a vegetarian meal on request.

Languages spoken: Spanish, English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Picada and empanadas
  • Tapa de asado con puré mixto (papa, batata, calabaza y zanahoria)
  • Queso y Dulce

Traveler reviews

5.0 (6)
A lovely place with very pleasant staff. Mel's cooking is simply delicious and made with love. Local and fresh products that make the difference in the plate. Unique dish every lunchtime. In short, a marvel that I recommend with eyes closed. (translated by Google)
- 518maria April 17, 2023
Home Cooked Dinner at Marielas house. Mariela and Pablo were amazing hosts! They served us an incredible meal and were filled with information about Buenos Aires and Argentina. We had a blast and highly recommend!
- michellehM4314TE December 15, 2019
Our Traveling Spoon experience in Buenos Aires with Juan and Marina was one of the highlights of our trip. They are both excellent hosts and instructors. The food was so delicious, that I even want to add some of their recipes to our Thanksgiving Dinner! Thank you for making our trip that much more memorable!
- nholden711 November 25, 2019
We had a terrific evening with Mariela and Pablo. Mariela speaks excellent English so we learned a lot about the food culture, local customs, Argentinian politics, different parts of the country and more. Pablo did the cooking and the meal was terrific. We started with Fernet and Coke, a typical Argentinian cocktail. We had an appetizer plate of different cheeses, olives and salami, then we helped make the empanadas. Pablo made grilled veggies (eggplant, zucchini, tomato and asparagus), roasted red peppers, an Argentinian squash (smashed, mixed with cheese and spices), a salad AND a skirt steak. AMAZING! We finished (how did we ever have room for it?) with a typical dessert: sweet potato pie-type of thing topped with a soft cheese. The combination was something neither of us ever had but it was yummy! It was a really fun evening but if you want a truly hands-on cooking, where you're doing 90% of the work, this is not that, but we enjoyed ourselves very much! The name of our experience is: Meal + Cooking Experience + Market Tour with Mariela Cavallo. Highly recommend!
- ladycheetah November 08, 2019
* JUAN AND MARINA *Without a doubt, this was the best night that we spent in Buenos Aires. These two are the most warm, gorgeous couple to spend an evening with. Juan and Marina are so kind and welcoming - we felt instantly at home as soon as we walked into their lovely house and were offered a drink. We spent a whole evening with them learning about traditional Argentinian cooking (especially the magic of the BBQ). One of us was gluten-free and both of them had gone above and beyond to accommodate that.  Excellent wine, fantastic food and even better company! Would come back and visit them in a heartbeat - thanks both x
- rozzim639 March 21, 2019
Mariela greeted us warmly and welcomed us into her home, which already smelled delicious. We had a traditional Argentinian beverage before heading out for a neighborhood walk to the local bakery, deli and Mercado to purchase items for our lunch. The meat and vegetables were prepared very well and plated in an appealing manner. Dessert and traditional mate made for an enjoyable end to a lingering lunch. One BA experience not to miss. Being in a home and not in a cooking school made all the difference to a unique experience.
- Anne R September 24, 2018
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $105 $97
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $129 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $165 Not offered
Alcohol
 $13 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $105 $97
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $129 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $165 Not offered
Alcohol
 $13 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 4:00pm-8:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.