Inside Colombo’s creative culinary studio, where cooking and baking help people express care, connection, and creativity

In a world where almost anything we crave can be delivered to our doorstep within minutes, cooking has quietly shifted from necessity to choice. And when something becomes a choice, it begins to carry intention. Cooking is no longer just about convenience. It is about meaning.

At Studio BIY, Colombo 06, cooking and baking are approached not as tasks to be rushed through, but as experiences to be savoured. Here, the kitchen becomes a space for creativity, connection, and expression, where people come together to slow down and create something with care.

Founded by Ayesha Aqeedah, BIY Lanka, short for Bake It Yourself, grew from a deeply personal passion for baking and cake decoration. What began several years ago as CupcakeAdornments gradually evolved into BIY Lanka as Aqeedah expanded her vision beyond decorative cakes into a broader creative space centred on learning, exploration, and community.

Warm, approachable, and genuinely enthusiastic, Aqeedah brings an infectious energy to everything she does. Her journey in the culinary world has always been driven by curiosity, learning new techniques, experimenting with flavours, and constantly finding ways to share that joy with others. That same openness and creativity are reflected in the atmosphere at Studio BIY.

Studio BIY was created to fill a clear gap in Sri Lanka’s baking and cooking landscape. While quality baking tools and professional equipment were once difficult to source locally, BIY Lanka made them accessible and went a step further by establishing a fully equipped studio where people could learn hands-on, regardless of age or experience.

“In a time when food is always just a click away, choosing to make something from scratch becomes a meaningful act of love. At Studio BIY, we help people discover how cooking can be a beautiful way to express care and appreciation for those who matter most,” says Aqeedah.

That philosophy is at the heart of every workshop conducted at Studio BIY. From children’s classes and family workshops to private sessions and corporate team building experiences, the studio is designed to be inclusive, welcoming, and unintimidating. Participants are encouraged to learn at their own pace, enjoy the process, and discover confidence in the kitchen.

For Aqeedah, cooking has never been about perfection. It is about patience, collaboration, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from making something with your own hands for someone else. Her sessions are carefully curated to remove pressure, allowing participants to explore freely while gaining practical skills they can carry into their everyday lives.

This Valentine’s season, Studio BIY invites individuals to step into the kitchen for a guided cooking experience where all ingredients are provided, and participants prepare a thoughtfully curated menu to take home for their loved ones. Beyond the meal itself, the workshop emphasises something more lasting, a life skill that participants carry with them long after Valentine’s Day, empowering them to continue expressing love through cooking.

Beyond Valentine’s Day, Studio BIY continues to function as a creative hub throughout the year. The studio hosts private classes, children’s programmes, family workshops, and collaborative sessions that nurture curiosity and confidence in the kitchen. It also works closely with international sugar artists and culinary experts, exposing local bakers to global techniques while contributing to the growth of Sri Lanka’s baking community.

In an age defined by speed and convenience, Studio BIY offers something quietly powerful, a space that encourages people to slow down, connect, and create with purpose. It is a reminder that food, when prepared with intention, becomes more than nourishment.

And perhaps that is what makes Studio BIY truly special. It teaches people that some of the most meaningful expressions of love are not bought or delivered. They are created patiently and thoughtfully in the kitchen.

Studio BIY
109/14 Manning Place, Colombo 06