Rialto Market Tour and Private Cooking Class in the Heart of Venice
4.8
30 Ratings
Venezia
Immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of Venice with a market tour and private cooking class. Learn to make homemade pasta and warm focaccia bread from a passionate local chef.
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Caffè Vergnano 1882 - Stroll alongside Massimo to the bustling Mercato di Rialto, a central hub for Venetians seeking fresh produce. Engage with captivating tales as Massimo guides you through the vibrant market, unveiling stalls brimming with fresh seafood, and vivid arrays of fruits and vegetables. Select a fresh catch from a vendor, then make your way back to his residence for a culinary lesson.

Subsequently, step into Massimo’s culinary domain to master the art of crafting staple Italian cuisine. In the span of an hour-long cooking tutorial, you’ll gain insight into creating scratch-made pasta and focaccia, incorporating fresh, in-season produce. Absorb knowledge about the nuances and methods of Italian gastronomy, then savor the dishes you’ve contributed to alongside Massimo.

The feast at Massimo’s table may feature oven-roasted scallops or anchovies drenched in a tangy orange dressing, a crisp salad, pasta with fish or meat, and freshly baked focaccia adorned with rosemary. Cap off your authentic regional dining experience with a sumptuous chocolate confection.

What's Included
  • Lunch
  • Hands-on cooking class
  • Private market tour and cooking class with your host Massimo
  • Guided tour of Mercato di Rialto
  • Alcoholic Beverages
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
Additional Information

If you’ve always wanted to master the art of traditional Italian cuisine during your visit to Venice, your search ends here. Accompany your host, Massimo, on this 4-hour journey as you visit the Mercato di Rialto together, purchasing the fresh ingredients needed for your cooking lesson. Follow Massimo to his residence where you’ll be taught to prepare genuine Italian meals, followed by a sit-down meal at his dining table featuring the dishes you’ve just learnt to create. The lesson includes the preparation of handmade pasta and warm, inviting focaccia bread!

Massimo’s culinary skills stem from many generations of his family owning a restaurant. His mother and nonna were instrumental in shaping his love for food. He relishes the opportunity to host tourists at his house to allow him the opportunity to express his fervor for cooking as well as his beloved city.

Massimo resides in a historic 600-year-old structure situated at the core of Venice, boasting a delightful outdoor terrace. He specializes in dishes that represent the Veneto region, encompassing Venice and Bologna. The cuisine showcases a sound tradition of featuring seafood from the coast and meat from the hinterland.

  • If any travelers in your party have any allergies, dietary restrictions or cooking preferences please advise at time of booking - Massimo can offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals.
  • NOTE: Meeting location is different if you choose the cooking class only option (no market tour). Meet Massimo at Campo Sant Anzolo, on top of the Ponte dei frati bridge. You can take water bus #1 to get here.
  • Private, personalized experience
Location
Caffè Vergnano 1882
For your market tour, meet Massimo at Caffe Vergnano 1882, a cafe close to the Rialto bridge. Massimo will be waiting for you outside the cafe. If you choose the cooking class only (no market tour), meet Massimo at his home. Address can be found in the "Before you go" section in your confirmation.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(30 Ratings)
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W9583mfrobertz
Apr 1, 2024
Amazing seafood! Thanks Massimo! - Loved the market tour, making the raviolis and eating!amazing seafood We had wine homemade with the meal. Our group loosened up after that! I learned how to make pasta which I have never made before.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
158eslamh
Mar 30, 2024
“Cooking, Love, Wine: Perfect!” 🍝🍷❤️ - The most fun cooking class ever! This was such a fun class, from learning about local fish, meat, veg, balsamic vinegar, and mediterranena flavours at the market to making pasta, bolognese, and homemade focaccia, it was a blast. We had a very fun guide/chef Massimo, and the food was so good! We were here celebrating our engagement and it was fun learning how to make a beautiful Italian meal together complete with delicious red table wine. We'd love to come back and highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mariaab8874bu
Mar 30, 2024
The best cooking class - This was the highlight of our trip! Massimo was amazing and went above and beyond. When we arrived he had apps ready for us along with champagne with a magical game! We then learned to make fresh pasta and focaccia …which was honestly the best I had! Massimo was informative and made us laugh the whole time. His place is a quick walk from the market so very easy to get to. Definitely recommend this if you are spending some time in Venice!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aminov2024
Mar 5, 2024
A PRIVATE COOKING CLASS, AN IMMERSION IN THE ITALIAN COLTURE - Thank you Massimo. Your cooking class was the highlights of our trip to Italy! Great stories teller, a true sailor and amazing cook. It was a warm, wonderful experience. We had a lovely time learning how to cook but also learning about Italian culture and way of life.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Massimobd8023zu
Feb 24, 2024
A LARGE GROUP, A GREAT FUN - We are a big group ...friends , family....and Massimo was one of the group!! From the moment we booked the experiential cooking class, we were looking forward to it more than anything in Venezia! Welcoming and inviting ambience and location the other guests made it fun, we laughed all evening! Massimo and his amazing meal was beyond expectations he explained every delicious course and we ate very well. Highly recommend this as it's not a typical cooking class but definitely unique and most memorable part of our trip for sure! Grazie mille Massimo!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_s
Feb 18, 2024
Venice highlight - This was the highlight of our visit to Venice. We meet Massimo at he took us to the market which was interesting and fun then back to his place where he prepared a fantastic lunch. He made us feel like family and we would definitely do it again
Review provided by Viator
Christopher_b
Nov 19, 2023
Great Host! - Massimo was an incredible guide and host. He met us promptly near the Rialto market and gave us a tour of the market while picking up some seafood for our lunch. We then went to his Venice apartment for our class and meal. Massimo was a great instructor and host letting us get as involved as we wanted. He was also very accommodating of my wife’s dietary preferences. Highly recommended tour
Review provided by Viator
Rosene_b
Oct 18, 2023
Delicious traditional cooking with Massimo - Fabulous experience! Creating a traditional seafood dish with mussels and tuna and making pasta and focaccia created one of the best meals we had in Venice. Other dishes and wines rounded out the meal. A lovely and delicious afternoon!
Review provided by Viator
700beatricew
Oct 28, 2023
Great food, fun host - We really enjoyed the tour and class with Massimo. He was very friendly and the food was tasty. We would have liked to receive some recipe cards afterwards so we could recreate what he made. And the class description says it would end with warm chocolate cake, which it does not. We were completely full by the end and don’t feel we missed out on much without the dessert, but feel it should be taken out of the description if it’s not going to be included.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T6157ithelens
Aug 12, 2023
Class Was Canceled by Them - After searching for the "perfect" class (food, location, date, etc) on April 28th I booked the class for 6 people. On July 8th I asked if 1 more person could be added. They said yes. Perfect! On July 15th they canceled the class. This was their message (it is copied and pasted): We are so sorry but due to unexpected circumstances your host Massimo Belletti has to cancel your upcoming experience on Wed, 26 Jul 2023. We have processed a full refund. The provided reason is below: Sorry thwy call pn board too early! We are truly sorry for the inconvenience. Why did they say 1 more person could be added, only to cancel it almost a week later. It was very disappointing to have the class canceled that close to the date. Some of my friends had already left the US and started their vacation. It sounds like we missed a good class. Good luck to those who book.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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