The World’s 15 Best Cooking Classes

1.Florence: Premium Pasta and Gelato Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 877 reviews · 3 hours · from $63Our pick

At Towns of Italy Cooking School, you’ll make two fresh pastas with English-speaking chefs such as Roberta, Lisa, Jon, or Tommaso, watch gelato being made, and eat your work with wine. The premium option adds a Central Market visit, seasonal tastings, ragù, pesto, and tiramisu.

“Roberta was an amazing host, teacher, comedian and chef. I learnt so much and had a great time. I can’t wait to try the dishes at home!”

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2.Exclusive Cooking Experience in our Cave Home by Petra Kouzina

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 572 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $266Top rated

Join George and Paula at their traditional cave home in Megalochori for a four-hour, hands-on Greek cooking class. You’ll prepare five dishes, enjoy mezedes and local wine, eat on the terrace, and take home a recipe book. Transport is not included.

“This was hands down the best cooking class I’ve ever done!!!! So amazing … best meal we had in Greece! So informative and the wine was flowing! Would love to do it again!”

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3.Bologna Local Pasta Cooking Class, Ragu, Spritz, Wine & Gelato

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 527 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $59

Meet near Piazza Galileo Galilei for a three-hour pasta class led by local sfogline such as Sonia, Stella, Stefania, and Valentina. Make tagliatelle by hand, learn a regional Casoni spritz, eat with ragù and San Giovese, then finish with coffee, amaro, and gelato.

“My wife and I have been taking cooking classes around Italy. This one with Sonia and Beatrice was just wonderful we had a great time cooking and laughing with the entire group of amateur chefs as we made tagliatelle with ragu and then a spritz! We learned a lot and had a great time! The event space is also top of the line. We highly recommend this class to anyone looking for a wonderful 3 hours!”

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4.Premium Pasta and Gelato Cooking Class in Florence

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 508 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $62

Spend about three hours at Towns of Italy in Florence making filled pasta and tagliatelle, then watch a chef prepare gelato. Instructors may include John, Roberta, Lisa, Victoria, or Alice. The class is in English, suits beginners and vegetarians, and includes wine, soft drinks, recipes, and a certificate.

“We have taken several classes across the country yet this is by far the lowest scoring. On the bright side, the final result was good. But to tell the truth, class was boring, all 3 kids both from mine and other groups were absolutely bored and wanting out as soon as possible, and us grown ups were not even listening. Roasting customers for their cooking, nationality or way of preparing or storing food not cool. I mean, people can take a joke or two, but at some point, is just awkward and people just put up with it and wait for the class to be over. After very awkwardly reaching…”

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5.Florence: Premium Pasta Cooking Class with Tiramisu & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 456 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $53

Cook fresh pasta, spinach ricotta ravioli, and tiramisu with Accademia Italiana Chef graduates in a Medici-era venue near Florence’s Duomo. Guides such as Lucy, Kevin, Rafa, and Raffael lead a social 2 to 3 hour class with unlimited wine, a full meal, and take-home recipes.

“Instructor was knowledgeable, funny and made class enjoyable. Delicious pasta and the tiramisu was unreal! Great thing to do in Florence. was slightly confused about the location because said was at B&B hotel but was actually at Ristorante Rosso Crudo. Luckily there was a decent sized group outside the place that we figured was the other people in class.”

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6.Premium Paella Cooking Class & 10 Spanish Tapas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 312 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $145

Join chefs such as Claudia or Hulio for a four-hour Barcelona food experience. Visit La Boqueria, taste 10 Spanish tapas with wine, then prepare seafood paella, Spanish omelette, and Catalan cream in a restored 18th-century apartment.

“Amazing way to learn a little about the culture and sample the incredible food they enjoy in Barcelona. If you are looking for a local experience, this is it.”

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7.Milan: Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Premium Products

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 255 reviews · 3 hours · from $80

Spend three hands-on hours with chef Rafael in his private Milan loft, learning fresh pasta, tomato and Parmesan sauces, and tiramisu. Taste fine olive oils, balsamic vinegar, and artisan bread, then sit down to enjoy your meal with Italian wine in a group of up to eight.

“I booked this class spontaneously while solo traveling for a few days in Milan— the rest of the people in my group ended up cancelling last minute so I had a private lesson with chef Rafael! It was so kind of him to still host the class with just me, and honestly it made the experience all the more enjoyable. I really appreciated Rafael’s hospitality and authenticity: I can see very evidently that he wants to share his passions in a way that goes against the status quo. He taught me a lot about looking for quality ingredients on top of teaching me how to cook two amazing pastas and…”

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8.Premium Hungarian Home Cooking Experience with Chef Marti

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 169 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $131

Join Chef Marti at her central Budapest kitchen for a four-hour, hands-on Hungarian cooking class. Choose one menu, prepare a starter, main course, and dessert, taste local ingredients, enjoy wine and pálinka, then take the recipes home. Groups are limited to eight people.

“Great experience! We made a three course Hungarian meal which was amazing and it was accompanied by wine as well. Our host was lovely and we very much enjoyed this experience and recommend it to anyone traveling to Budapest.”

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9.Barcelona Authentic Paella and Sangria Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 95 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $120

Cook seafood, chicken, or vegetarian paella with Foodies XP in a 2.5-hour Barcelona workshop. Chef hosts such as Tommy, Christina, Cristina, Luc, and Patrick guide you through sangria, tomato bread, and a shared three-course meal. Confirm the current venue before arrival.

“The food was good and the chef was excellent. It was fun preparing, cooking and making sangria. 👍 But when we were booking we were promised a stunning rooftop expedience. But we ended up with a special event room with a small open outdoor space in an industrial building. We were surrounded by air conditioners and dined on a picnic table surrounded with patio turf. The venue was so disappointing for what we paid for. Definitely not a rooftop expedience!!🥲🥲 The venue contained no signage and we had difficulty locating it.”

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10.Palermo: Exclusive Sicilian cooking class at the home of a well-known Italian chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 3 hours · from $106

Join Chef Andrea Matranga, known for Rai 1’s Prova del Cuoco, in his Palermo apartment for a small-group Sicilian cooking class. Prepare a seasonal appetizer, pasta course, main, and dessert, then eat together with Andrea and his family over local wine.

“This was definitely a five star evening and a five star activity! Andrea and his wife entertained us in their home as if we were long lost friends. He has a natural, easy manner and a wonderful teaching style that made the whole evening a grand adventure. It was fun, delicious, and educational. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a delicious dining experience and an unforgettable evening out in Palermo.”

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11.Hands-On Cooking Class in an Exclusive Kitchen in Cortona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $217

Meet your chef in Cortona for a four-hour, hands-on Tuscan cooking class. Prepare antipasto, handmade pasta, sauce, a main dish, contorno, and dessert, then eat with local wine. Hosts may include Glenda, Elena, Cristina, or Christine, and some sessions take place in a private home outside town.

“Overall beautiful experience. Glenda our chef instructor taught us well. We learded how to make tagliatelle with a tomato, bacon, and cream sauce, plus Tirimisu. Enjoying our meal with all the cooks was the highlight!”

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12.Exclusive Cooking Lessons in Tuscany with a Professional Chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $143

Meet Chef Fabrizio in Arezzo for a four-hour, English-language cooking class in a semi-professional kitchen. Make a seasonal three or four-course Tuscan meal, pause for Prosecco and snacks, then eat your dishes with local wine. Dietary needs can be arranged in advance.

“We learned a lot it was a loveley experience with a patient chef who explained wverything so well. The highlight was of course when we could eat all we had made. Great spot to get into Toscany food. Many thanks!”

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13.Premium Empanadas Cooking Class & Wine Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 35 reviews · 2 hours · from $49Best value

Meet in Palermo for a two-hour, small-group class led in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. You will prepare Argentine empanadas from scratch, then taste Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc while guides such as Catalina, Valentin, and Lourdes explain local food and wine traditions.

“The Empanadas cooking class experience was incredible! Tomás was amazing and explained everything very clearly from start to finish. Incredibly accommodating and so easy to work with!”

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14.Exclusive cooking class in Roman countryside with local chef

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 23 reviews · from $112

Travel from Rome to Zagarolo for a small-group cooking class with Claudia and Bruno. Make seasonal pasta, Roman dishes, and dessert, then eat your three-course meal with homemade wine in their garden or dining room.

“Cooking with this lovely couple was one of the best experience we had!”

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15.Acapulco Flavors Masterclass MarketTour Cooking &Premium Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $148

Meet guides such as José, Roger, or Rudy, visit Acapulco’s Mercado Central and a tortilla factory, then prepare changing Mexican dishes in a restaurant kitchen or chef’s home. Lunch, tastings, transport, and dietary options are included, but confirm how hands-on the cooking will be.

“This was a fantastic experience! I have been to other cooking classes before but the visit to the market of Acapulco was fantastic. The guides were kind and did everything to make of our visit a great experience. This maket is different from the souvenir market and the locals buy everything there. The cooking class at the restaurant was very enlighting and I know how to prepare the best guacamole in the world. Gracias Jose and Roger for a delicious day.”

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