Santorini: Cooking Class with a Chef at the Ftelos Brewery

Santorini is famous for sunsets, but what I love about this experience is how it turns food into a real skill. You cook a 4-course Cycladic-inspired menu at Ftelos Brewery, then you sit down and eat what you made with the brewery’s craft beer. One thing to consider, this is truly hands-on, so if you want to watch and not participate, this workshop may feel like work.

The setup is also smart for Santorini. You’ll cook in a dedicated indoor area overlooking production, or outdoors on a wooden patio under the shade of 150-year-old vineyards in a bioclimatic garden, depending on weather. And because the group is limited to 10 participants, you get coaching rather than just doing tasks on autopilot.

Key Highlights You Should Know Before You Go

• A real chef-led, full-hands-on workshop where you join every stage of cooking
• A brewery experience with beer built into the menu, including cod croquettes in beer batter and a pork dish using a stout
• Cycladic flavors you can recreate later, with written recipes and instruction
• Self-guided time in the brewery, plus the option to buy craft beer to take home
• A small group format in English, with a welcoming staff in an industrial-style setting

A Santorini Cooking Class Inside a Real Brewery

This class is interesting because it is not a kitchen-in-a-box. It’s at Ftelos Brewery in Santorini, so the setting is part of the experience. You are cooking where the beer is produced, then eating in the brewery itself, which makes the whole thing feel connected.

I also like that the workshop is built around practical comfort food, not just fancy plates you would never cook again. Your menu is grounded in Cycladic and Mediterranean flavors, from tomatoes and capers to split-pea dip and simple, hearty proteins.

There is also a social side that fits Santorini. In reviews, people repeatedly call out how the crew is fun and warm, with chefs who explain not only what you’re doing but why. One host named Mike comes up as especially entertaining, and another chef, Katerina, is described as sweet and generous with what she teaches. That matters because it changes the vibe from class to shared project.

Getting Oriented at Ftelos: Patio Vines or Indoor Production Views

When you arrive, you can reach the brewery by taxi, car, or on foot from Fira Town, and there is free parking available. From there, the flow is straightforward: you get set up, you start with brewery time on your own, and then you move into the cooking area.

Weather drives where you cook:

• Indoor option: a special area overlooking the beer production unit
• Outdoor option: a wooden patio shaded by 150-year-old vineyards, in a bioclimatic garden

This sounds like a small detail, but it changes how the class feels. Indoors, you’ll be close to the beer action and production views. Outdoors, you’ll get a calmer setting with vineyard shade, which is a big plus in Santorini’s bright weather. Either way, you’re not stuck in a bland room with no atmosphere.

You also get a self-guide moment. The class includes free time to explore the brewery on your own, but it also does not provide a guided tour. That is good if you like to wander at your own pace, taking photos and reading what you want. Just note the rules: no tripods, no video recording, and no audio recording.

Your 4-Course Cycladic Menu, Beer Included

You’ll cook four courses, then eat the full meal together. The menu is a strong mix of bright, salty, creamy, and hearty, and that variety is what makes it feel like more than a snack class.

Here are the dishes you’ll cook:

1. The real Santorini salad

Cherry tomatoes, capers, and caper leaves. This is the kind of flavor profile that instantly says Cyclades, salty and punchy in a way you can taste without overcomplicating.

1. Cod croquettes in beer batter

Yes, beer makes an appearance in the cooking, not just in the glass. If you’ve ever wondered how batter gets crisp and light, this is a practical template you can reuse later.

1. Santorini split-pea dip with dry onion

Creamy, savory, and built for dipping. You’ll learn how to turn a simple ingredient into something that feels like it belongs at a Greek table.

1. Pork fillet with Malt n’ Marvel Stout and mustard-rosemary sauce

This is the payoff course. The stout and mustard-rosemary pairing makes the sauce taste deep and slightly tangy, and it’s a great way to learn how beer can function like a cooking ingredient.

One reason I think this menu is good value is that you are not only learning recipes. You’re learning methods you can carry home: building a salad base, battering and frying, creating a dip, and finishing a protein with a sauce.

And because you get written recipe and cooking instruction, you have something concrete to repeat later instead of vague memories.

Chef Time: What the Cooking Actually Feels Like

This workshop is not a demo followed by a token try. It’s hands-on at every stage. That is clearly part of the deal, and the upside is that you leave with confidence.

In practice, you should expect:

• The chef explains the dishes and gives instructions as you cook
• You work through prep and cooking together with the group
• You learn dish history and personal anecdotes as part of the teaching style

From the reviews, people liked the storytelling side. One repeated theme is that the chef shared history of the dishes and personal anecdotes, not just a list of steps. That kind of context helps the food stick in your head, and it makes the meal feel like it has meaning, not only flavor.

English instruction is included, and the class is capped at 10 participants. That small group size is key in a kitchen. It reduces waiting and gives the chef time to correct technique while you’re in the middle of it.

You’ll also want to come prepared for kitchen comfort. Bring comfortable shoes and clothes, plus a T-shirt and a hair tie. Sunglasses can help for the outdoor option, and you’ll want to be ready to move, stir, and cook without worrying about clothing.

The Meal and Craft Beer Pairing

After cooking, you eat what you made. You’ll sit together in an industrial-style room inside the brewery. That setting is part of the charm. It feels like you stepped into a working space, not just rented a dining area.

Included with the meal:

• Freshly baked homemade bread
• 1 Ftelos craft beer
• Bottled water

This is a smart pairing because the menu already includes beer as an ingredient (in the cod croquettes), so the included beer is not random. You’re tasting beer as both a cooking tool and a drink. It ties the whole workshop together.

If you’re wondering about portions, it is a full meal built from four courses, not a sampler. You should leave feeling fed and satisfied, especially since the menu includes a main protein course and a filling dip plus salad and bread.

One practical note: food and drinks are not allowed, and alcohol and drugs are also listed as not allowed. That keeps the group experience controlled and keeps you focused on the included meal and beer.

Brewery Time on Your Own, Plus What to Take Home

One of the underrated perks here is the free time to explore the brewery on your own. The experience includes time for wandering inside the Ftelos Brewery after you finish cooking and eating.

You can also buy craft beer to take with you after. That makes the workshop a souvenir you can actually use at home. It’s a different kind of souvenir than magnets, and it pairs well with the recipes you take home in written form.

Also, because it is self-guided, you get to move at your own pace. If you like reading about the process, you can pause and look. If you just want to grab a few photos and enjoy the industrial design, you can do that too.

Just keep in mind the recording restrictions. Video recording, audio recording, and tripods are not allowed. If you want to film, you’ll need to skip it here.

Price and Value: How $113 Works for 3 Hours in Santorini

At $113 per person for about 3 hours, this class isn’t the cheapest thing on Santorini. But it also isn’t a “pay for a view” activity. You are paying for chef-led instruction, a full hands-on cooking session, and a complete four-course meal served at the brewery, not at a random restaurant.

Here’s where the price makes sense:

• You get a small group limit of 10, which means more coaching and less standing around
• You receive written recipes and cooking instruction, so you can cook at home
• You get freshly baked bread plus a full meal you cooked
• Beer is part of the experience, with 1 craft beer included

Also, the menu is varied and uses ingredients that are tied to Cycladic taste, like capers and caper leaves. You’re not learning just one dish.

If you are the type who likes to bring home skills, this price can feel fair because you’re taking more than photos. You’re taking technique and recipes. If you mostly want a casual meal and you don’t care about cooking, you might find better value at a good local taverna. But for food-focused travelers, this is a memorable use of time.

Who This Class Fits Best (and Who Should Skip It)

This works best for you if:

• You want something more active than a food tour
• You like cooking and want repeatable recipes with instruction
• You enjoy craft beer and want it connected to the food, not separate
• You like small group settings with a friendly chef and staff

It may be less ideal if:

• You strongly prefer watching to doing. This is full-hands-on.
• You are short on time and need a quick stop. It is 3 hours.

It’s also a solid choice for many travelers because it is in English and wheelchair accessible. The venue setup includes indoor and outdoor options too, so you are less at the mercy of one weather scenario.

Practical Tips So You Enjoy It More

A few things will make your experience smoother.

• Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be standing and moving during cooking.
• Bring a hair tie if you have long hair. Kitchen work is not the time for loose strands.
• Plan for the weather. Sunglasses help, and comfortable clothes matter because you might cook outdoors.
• Don’t bring food or extra drinks. The class provides the meal components and includes water plus beer.
• Keep your hands free for cooking and tasting. Since audio and video recording are not allowed, skip the gear like tripods.

And if you tend to get hungry before you start, remember the class builds toward a full meal. You do get bread with the meal, so you should feel satisfied at the end.

Should You Book This Ftelos Cooking Class in Santorini?

If you want a memorable Santorini food experience that gives you something tangible to take home, I would book it. The small group, the chef-led hands-on cooking, and the fact that the meal is cooked and eaten on site at a real brewery make it feel worth the time.

I’d especially recommend it if you enjoy beer and you’re curious how it can show up in cooking, like beer batter and a stout-based sauce. And if you like learning as you go, the chef storytelling and dish history side is a real bonus.

I’d skip it only if you dislike hands-on work or you are looking for a low-effort evening. Otherwise, this is one of the best ways to turn Santorini food into a real skill you can use later.

FAQ

How long is the cooking class?

The workshop lasts about 3 hours. Starting times vary, so you should check availability.

What dishes will we cook in the class?

You’ll cook four courses: Santorini salad with cherry tomatoes, capers, and caper leaves; cod croquettes in beer batter; Santorini split-pea dip with dry onion; and pork fillet with Malt n’ Marvel Stout and mustard-rosemary sauce.

Is the class small group size limited?

Yes. The group is limited to 10 participants.

Is the workshop taught in English?

Yes. The instructor is English-speaking.

Is there time to explore the brewery?

Yes. You get free time to explore the brewery on your own, and you can purchase craft beer after.

What is included in the price?

Included are the 4-course cooking instruction, small group experience, written recipes and cooking instruction, the full meal, 1 Ftelos craft beer and bottled water, freshly baked homemade bread, and free time to explore the brewery.

What should I bring and wear?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, comfortable clothes, a T-shirt, and a hair tie. You should also bring a passport or ID card, and a copy is accepted.

Are there any rules about recording or equipment?

Yes. Video recording, audio recording, and tripods are not allowed. Smoking indoors is also not allowed, and you cannot bring outside food and drinks.