Venetian Cooking: Authentic Italian Class

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: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Mercati di Rialto - Massimo, a lively and engaging Venetian and Merchant Navy officer, is eager to share his passion for Venice and his family’s culinary traditions. Opt for the market tour to start your gastronomic adventure with a guided visit to Mercato di Rialto, the primary market for locals in Venice. Stroll through the market to discover…
What's Included
  • Guided tour of Mercato di Rialto (if market tour is selected)
  • Hands-on cooking class
  • Homecooked meal
  • 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…

Location
Caffè Vergnano 1882
For 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 Campo Santa Maria Formosa. Please check 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
4.9
(93 Ratings)
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Richardpo5880hj
Aug 15, 2025
Fresh herbs and pasta with a friend - What a delightful experience with Massimo. We went to his apartment and gathered some fresh herbs. It was like we were having dinner with a friend. We made pasta with a sage butter sauce. He had prepared focaccia in advance since it had to rise but we finished garnishing with some our fresh rosemary. He was a charming host and we would love to hang out with him again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dave
Aug 5, 2025
Best food tours ever! - This was the best tour we've had in Italy. Massimo was a delightful host and made our family feel like part of his. His history and connections to the food of the region added depth to the experience. Even the grandkids got involved in the cooking. We often try food tours in the places we visit and this one will be among our best memories.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dave_c
Aug 5, 2025
The best tour ever! - This was absolutely the best tour we had in Italy. We felt that Massimo invited our family to his family meal. It will be a forever memory of our time in Venice.
Review provided by Viator
Denise
Aug 3, 2025
This was an amazing... - This was an amazing interactive experience in Masimo’s home. Yum! We helped with pasta, drank amazing wine and felt like family.
Review provided by Viator
Courtney_c
Jul 15, 2025
Fun experience in a local home - We met Massimo & did a short walk to his home. We learned a lot about Venice & his background while we made pasta. He had prepared some delicious sides in advance and we enjoyed the conversation. Will be bringing these recipes home to enjoy!
Review provided by Viator
Wanderer53287447587
Jul 13, 2025
Amazing experience in Venice - Massimo did an amazing job walking us through the market and giving us some history of Venice and the surrounding area. When we got to his phone we went straight to preparing ana amazing and unique meal. Everything was absolutely fantastic, including the goat cheese and crystalized honey dessert. Can't recommend enough!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debra_g
Jul 2, 2025
Cooking with Massimo - Massimo was a fantastic guide and a very gracious host. He gave us plenty of information about Venetian food. Massimo’s personality is warm and personable. The cooking and eating experience was absolutely incredible. We had a truly delightful experience!
Review provided by Viator
Clarissaa141
Jul 1, 2025
The best experience of the entire trip - Delightful morning. This was one of the best meals that I had in Venice. Massimo is an engaging host, as well as an excellent cook. Everything was delicious, and her helper an amazing artist. We love the cooking class experience and always try to book one whenever we travel, but this was the best.From the visit to the Rialto market until the food reach a table full of candle light. I highly recommend booking with Massimo on your next trip to Venice. Massimo was so kind in emailing me the recipes, we eat fabulous 8 courses of amazing food of the region....really as he tell at the beginning " from the high mountains to the sea of Veneto region" . Unbelievable. Nice location and nice host. Sure we come back
Review provided by Tripadvisor
172blaket
Jun 28, 2025
Fantastic Authentic Experience!!! - This was one of our best experiences in Venice. Our 10 year old son loved it. Massimo was very friendly and welcoming. It is such an authentic and unforgettable experience being invited into a local's home. Massimo took us to the local market and then was so good with our son, showing him how to prepare the meal.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leemacdaddy
Jun 24, 2025
Authentic Venetian Experience - not what you expect! - We are not ones to partake in Group Tours, or carefully curated experiences - we prefer to explore on our own, and enjoy the spontaneity of the moment. I gave that summary to my stepson, and for Mother's Day, he found this experience for us - the word "Private" was the key - and we were excited to arrive in Venice and have this be our experience for the evening. Ahead of our evening, we communicated with Massimo (Max) who asked if we had any food allergies or preferences, and arranged a meeting place that was easy to find, despite us never having been in Venice previously. From the square, we met at 6pm, and from there walked through the labyrinth of the Venice streets to arrive at a corner courtyard, where Massimo used his key to open the gate, and inside and up the stairs we went. This was completely unexpected, as we had no idea where we were headed - outside a second floor window, we stopped and picked some herbs from the window garden, as it dawned on us that we were going to spend the evening in his home. The simple kitchen, with cookware from his grandmother (politely borrowed), the opening of the sparkling wine kicked off the evening in a very unexpected way - we were not participating in a commercial venture, we were guests, welcomed from our travels with a home-cooked meal in which we would participate. The stories, the process of cooking, the passion for flavor and the "old ways" made the preparation for the meal one of the most memorable experiences of our trip. We learned as we prepared, focaccia, pasta (hand rolled), and a sauce of our choosing, with an amazing protein (which he obtained from the market that morning) and then the final presentation - the atmosphere, the ambience, everything came together perfectly as we dined with our new friend. An overall amazing experience that we will never forget, and one that we can never hope to repeat. Can't say enough about our time with Massimo.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $149
up to 10 guests
2 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).