7 Best Cooking schools in Jamaica [2023]

 7 Best Cooking schools in Jamaica 

If your dream is to become a professional chef in and out of Jamaica, then this article is for you.

Being a chef in one of the most visited Caribbean islands is a dream come true for many Jamaican and Caribbean residents.

Food is a basic need of human life and thus has a high demand daily. Choosing a career in culinary art is just one way you can prepare your future to earn a high-paying income.

As a chef, you can either work in a hotel, beach resort, or school, or even start your restaurant or even start a training school where you teach others your skills related to culinary.

Note that Jamaica is one of the Caribbean islands that has a very friendly environment and a very conducive learning environment. There are many cooking (culinary) schools in Jamaica, but here are the 8 best schools on the Island.

1). Culinary Institute of Jamaica (CIJ)

The first on the list of cooking schools in Jamaica is the Culinary Institute of Jamaica.

CIJ offers 3 major courses, that is Culinary Management, Culinary Art and Bakery and Pastry.

The Main Building houses classrooms, offices, the library, computer labs, and administrative offices. The kitchen building contains the kitchens where classes are held and the dining hall where meals are prepared.

The administration building is home to the Registrar, Admissions Office, Financial Aid Office, Student Services Offices, and the Academic Support Center.

Tuition Fees to all programs cost $16,500 monthly.

Address: 22b Old Hope Rd, Kingston, Jamaica

Phone: +1 876-778-5180

2). Mark Chong's Cooking Mastery

The next cooking school in Jamaica is Mark Chong's Cooking Mastery.

A 100% Jamaican-owned business, Mark Chong's Cooking Mastery provides full-service catering and event management services in Jamaica.

Mark Chong's Cooking Mastery Offers both local and international cuisine that is freshly prepared, elegantly presented, and served by amiable, helpful staff is what makes us distinct.

Mark Chong's Cooking Mastery provide consumers with a full-service catering experience, giving them everything they require for their occasion. everything from the meal to the cutlery to the chairs to the bartender.

Mark Chong's Cooking Mastery also provide cooking training to its customers and to any individual or group of persons who have a great desire to learn cooking.

Address: 2A, 5 North Ave, Kingston, Jamaica

Phone: +1 876-818-7335

3). Institute of International Recognised Qualifications (IIRQ)

Institute of International Recognised Qualifications is one of the best cooking schools in Jamaica.

The Institute offers qualifications in four different subject areas; Business Management, English Language, Tourism & Hospitality, and Travel & Tourism.

The courses offered at the Institute are accredited by the British Council and the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Students may choose to study either full-time or part-time. Courses are delivered in both classroom and online formats.

Address: 32 Hope Rd, Kingston, Jamaica

Phone: +1 876-630-1084

4). Culinary Plus International School & Catering

The culinary arts program at Culinary provides students with the skills necessary to prepare food for any occasion.

Students learn how to cook using traditional methods while incorporating modern techniques. Students have the opportunity to work hands-on in our state-of-the-art kitchen learning about the science behind cooking.

Culinary Plus International School & Catering culinary arts program prepares students for careers in hospitality, catering, and restaurant management.

If you have a passion for cake baking, then this school is the right place for you.

Address: 12 Dome St, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Phone: +1 876-835-5625

5). Heart College of Hospitality Services Runaway Bay

Heart College of Hospitality Services (HCHS) is a private college located at Runaway Bay, St. Lucia.

The school is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Heritage Affairs (CAHEA).

The Heart College of Hospitality services offers hospitality training programs at its facility located in Runaway Bay. 

Students can choose from a wide variety of courses including culinary arts, hotel management, food & beverage service, tourism, catering, and event planning.

Courses are offered throughout the year and students can complete their studies in as little as 6 months. Courses are offered both day and evening and students can complete their courses in as little as 12 weeks.

Address: FM4F+G8M, Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Phone: +1 876-973-6868

6). Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen

Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen (JF & DK) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing nutritious meals to people who otherwise would not have access to them.

Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen is one of the best cooking schools in Jamaica.

Individuals and students can enrol in Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen to have classes.

You can enrol just for a couple of weeks to spice up your cooking skills or enrol for months to become a professional chef. Cooking and baking of different varieties of both local and foreign recipes are provided here.

Classes run from Monday to Friday for 2 hours each (9 am-11 am) daily.

Address: Barbican Rd, Kingston, Jamaica

Phone: +1 876-570-5709

7). Western Hospitality Institute

Western Hospitality Institute is one of the best cooking schools in Jamaica.

The Western Hospitality Institute offers both short-term and long-term courses and certifications in the following fields: Food & Beverage Management; Hotel/Restaurant Operations; Bartending; Culinary Arts; Barista Certification; Hotel Front Desk Management; Housekeeping; Room Service; and Hotel/Resort Sales.

If you want to become a well-equipped professional chef, then Western Hospitality Institute is for you. Here you will learn Baking Fundamentals, Career Communication, Stocks, Sauces, Soups and Salads, Culinary Math, Kitchen Safety and Sanitation, Culinary Arts Practicum, Kitchen Planning Baking Fundamentals, Kitchen Supervision, Nutrition and Healthy Cuisine, Kitchen Human Resources Operations and Practices.

Address: G4CQ+8FR, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Phone: +1 876-886-1545

Final Remarks

Hope you have gotten a general of all the best cooking schools in Jamaica. We recommend that you go through the article the second time to be in a good position to make the right choice of which school you will enrol on.

Enrolling in any of the 8 listed cooking schools in Jamaica will help build leadership skills, communication skills, time management skills, creativity skills, team building and most importantly leadership skills.

What makes each school different from another lies in its curriculum, tuition fees and location. However, all the above-listed schools are good to go if you want to meet your dream of becoming a professional cook.