Tables big enough for everyone
"The best food experiences don't happen in Michelin-starred restaurants. They happen around long outdoor tables, with local chefs, and children who've just discovered they love octopus."
— Sarah
From Crafternoon Co in Adelaide to pasta-making in Rome and chocolate workshops in Bali — these are the food and craft experiences that have created our family's best memories. We flag the ones that are particularly good for neurodiverse kids.
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Our favourite food & craft experiences
86 Duthy St, Malvern SA
Crafternoon Co
Run by the wonderful Alexis, Crafternoon Co is our absolute favourite local discovery — and one of the best things we've found for kids who need a creative outlet. Walk through the pink door on Duthy Street and you'll find a warm, beautifully set-up craft studio where kids can paint plaster figures, make terracotta pots, do tie-dye, and more. No booking needed for drop-in sessions Monday to Thursday 9:30am–1pm. School holiday workshops and weekend birthday parties are also available. It's genuinely magical for neurodiverse kids — calm, creative, self-paced.
- ✓Drop-in sessions Mon–Thu 9:30am–1pm (no booking needed)
- ✓Plaster painting, terracotta, tie-dye & more
- ✓School holiday workshops
- ✓Weekend birthday parties
- ✓DIY kits available to take home
- ✓Calm, self-paced environment — brilliant for neurodiverse kids
Sarah's Insider Tip
The plaster painting is the most popular activity — kids paint their own figures to take home. Arrive early on school holiday days as it fills up fast.
Balinese Cooking Class, Ubud
A Balinese cooking class in Ubud is one of the best family experiences we've ever done. The best ones start with a morning market tour where kids pick out the ingredients, then move to an open-air kitchen in a family compound where a local chef guides everyone through making satay, nasi goreng, and mie goreng. Kids love the hands-on element, and the food you cook is your lunch. Look for classes run from family compounds rather than commercial kitchens — the experience is far more authentic and the pace is gentler.
- ✓Morning market tour to source fresh ingredients
- ✓Open-air kitchen in a traditional family compound
- ✓Make satay, nasi goreng, mie goreng & more
- ✓Cook your own lunch — eat what you make
- ✓Recipes to take home
- ✓Gentle pace — great for kids with short attention spans
Sarah's Insider Tip
Book through Klook or GetYourGuide for vetted operators. Look for classes that specifically mention 'family compound' or 'family kitchen' — these are the authentic ones. Avoid hotel cooking schools which tend to be more formal.
Pasta & Tiramisù Class, Rome
There is no better way to spend a morning in Rome than making pasta with your kids in someone's home kitchen. The best family cooking classes in Rome are run by local home cooks — not restaurants — and they welcome children with genuine warmth. You'll make two types of pasta by hand (tagliatelle and something stuffed), a sauce, and tiramisù for dessert. The whole family eats together at the end. It's loud, chaotic, delicious, and one of those experiences kids remember forever. Italians genuinely adore children — you will be made to feel like royalty.
- ✓Hands-on pasta making — tagliatelle & stuffed pasta
- ✓Tiramisù for dessert
- ✓Hosted in a local home kitchen
- ✓Small groups (max 8 people)
- ✓Recipes included
- ✓Italians love kids — genuinely welcoming atmosphere
Sarah's Insider Tip
Book 'Cook with Mamma' or 'Devour Tours' family pasta class in Rome — both are excellent for families with young children. Book at least 2 weeks in advance as they fill up quickly.
Chocolate Making, Bali
Bali has a surprisingly thriving craft chocolate scene, and the chocolate-making workshops are brilliant for kids. Primo Chocolab in Seminyak is our pick — it's well-organised, the staff are fantastic with children, and kids get to temper chocolate, pour it into moulds, and decorate their own bars to take home. Krakakoa Chocolate Cafe & Factory in East Bali is the more immersive option if you're heading that way — they grow their own cacao and the whole bean-to-bar story is fascinating for older kids.
- ✓Temper, mould & decorate your own chocolate bars
- ✓Take your creations home
- ✓Learn the bean-to-bar story
- ✓Primo Chocolab (Seminyak) — great for young kids
- ✓Krakakoa (East Bali) — better for older kids & teens
- ✓Air-conditioned — welcome relief from Bali heat
Sarah's Insider Tip
Book Primo Chocolab for kids under 8 — it's the most child-friendly setup. For teens and older kids, Krakakoa's full factory tour is more interesting. Both can be booked on Klook.
Lovo Feast, Fiji
A lovo feast is a traditional Fijian underground oven feast — meat, fish, and root vegetables cooked in a pit lined with hot stones, wrapped in banana leaves. Most Coral Coast resorts host a lovo night once or twice a week, often with a meke (traditional dance performance) beforehand. It's one of the most memorable dining experiences in the Pacific — kids are fascinated by the cooking process, and the food is genuinely delicious. The Shangri-La Yanuca and Warwick Fiji both host excellent lovo nights.
- ✓Traditional underground oven cooking
- ✓Fish, chicken, pork & root vegetables
- ✓Meke (traditional dance) performance
- ✓Included at many Coral Coast resorts
- ✓Kids fascinated by the cooking process
- ✓One of Fiji's most authentic cultural experiences
Sarah's Insider Tip
Ask your resort when lovo night is when you check in — it's usually Tuesday or Friday. Arrive early for the meke performance before the feast begins. Dress code is smart casual.
Don't miss these food markets
Ubud Market, Bali
Morning market in the heart of Ubud — spices, sarongs, fruit, and local snacks. Go before 9am for the authentic experience.
Amalfi Lemon Groves, Italy
Walk through terraced lemon groves above Amalfi and taste the world's best limoncello. Kids love the giant lemons.
Suva Municipal Market, Fiji
Fiji's largest fresh produce market — tropical fruits, kava, and handwoven crafts. Vibrant and authentic.
Hobart Salamanca Market, Tasmania
Saturday morning institution — artisan food, local produce, and Tasmanian crafts. Perfect for a slow family morning.
Want more food & craft inspiration?
Visit our Kids page for Crafternoon Co details, or let our AI Travel Agent build you a food-focused family itinerary.