Top Genoa Classes & Workshops

There's no better souvenir to bring home from your travels than the gift of authentic Italian cuisine. Learn how to make fresh egg pasta the Italian way with a local chef in his home in a historic palazzo and master the art of fresh pesto, too. Numbers are capped at just six travelers, ensuring an intimate experience and likely the chance to make friends over lunch.

Discover the art of authentic Ligurian cooking in a hands-on class led by a local chef in the heart of Genoa, one of Italy’s most vibrant coastal food destinations. Learn how to make fresh handmade ravioli, fettuccine, and classic tiramisu from scratch using high-quality local ingredients. Enjoy a fun and engaging experience with expert guidance, fine local wine, and soft drinks in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. With small group sizes, you’ll enjoy a more personal and memorable experience, so be sure to reserve your spot. Along the way, discover the stories and traditions behind Ligurian cuisine and take home authentic Italian cooking techniques to impress friends and family. After the class, sit down and enjoy the delicious dishes you’ve created paired with local wine, ending on a sweet Italian note with homemade tiramisu. You’ll also receive the recipes so you can recreate everything at home and relive your unforgettable Genoa culinary experience.

The experience is made truly special by Tiziana's guidance and the setting in a 17th century palace. She is a certified Mortar Pesto expert and will show you how to create the best pesto you have ever tasted.

In this activity you will get to know the ingredients and the authentic culinary traditions of the area, you will experience firsthand the preparation of fresh pasta and pesto and you can have lunch in a wonderful location inside an historical palace

This experience offers an authentic deep dive into Genoa’s culinary tradition, just steps from the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. You’ll learn to prepare real Genovese pesto using a traditional marble mortar and wooden pestle—just like locals have done for centuries. Set in our small artisan “food and wine” shop in the heart of the old town, the experience is hands-on, authentic and full of flavor. You’ll taste high-quality local ingredients and enjoy your handmade pesto served with trofie pasta, paired with a guided tasting of Ligurian wines. What makes this experience truly special is our family involvement: the class is led by us together with Gaia, our daughter, who was the youngest finalist at the World Pesto Championship in Genoa (March 2026). This is not just a cooking class, but a real connection to Ligurian culture, traditions and family hospitality.

There’s no better place to learn to make pasta than Italy and this small-group class in Genoa teaches you everything you need to know. Join a small group and learn to make fresh pasta from start to finish. You also learn how to make an iconic Italian dessert, tiramisu, before enjoying all your hard work during a delicious meal.

This experience is special because it allows you to learn fresh pasta directly with a Pro Chef, in an intimate and authentic setting. Each participant prepares the pasta with their own hands, discovering traditional techniques not found in classic tourist courses. The final tasting makes the activity complete and convivial, transforming a simple cooking lesson into a real moment of Italian culture.

This activity is special because it allows you to discover the secrets of real homemade ice cream directly with those who prepare it every day. It's not just a tasting: you actively participate in the creation of ice cream, learn real techniques and taste flavors prepared by yourself. It is an authentic, practical and engaging experience, combining theory, manual skills and flavours in an informal and welcoming environment. Eventually you bring home not only recipes, but a true understanding of what it means to make quality ice cream.

Learn to make delicious Ligurian dishes from a local during this private cooking class in Genoa. Get your hands dirty as you learn the tricks of the trade to make a few of the region’s best dishes. Then, enjoy the food that you’ve made paired with wines from the region and leave with an apron and reusable shopping bag as a keepsake.

This experience takes place inside a family-run Ligurian food shop, not in a standard cooking school. Prepare potato gnocchi from scratch and make authentic Genoese pesto with a marble mortar and wooden pestle. Then enjoy the food you created during a relaxed brunch, paired with 2 wines from small Ligurian producers. You will also discover the stories, ingredients, and traditions behind Genoa’s local food culture.

Immerse yourself in Italian culture with a hands-on cooking class. Learn to prepare an authentic Genoese lunch with Italian wine, dessert and coffee. Get to work with your host to discover the secrets of traditional Genoese pesto, handmade tagliatelle and dessert. Sit back and enjoy your meal on a terrace overlooking the sea and take home the new culinary skills. Learn authentic Genoese cuisine in a local's home

Get off the beaten tourist path and you’ll be welcomed into your host’s home in Savona for a private cooking class. Embark on a local market visit to find the freshest ingredients for your cooking class, then get to work making three traditional dishes. You’ll get personalized attention from your guide and enjoy the ability to ask plenty of questions while you taste your creations.

Enjoy a hands-on way to discover Liguria’s storied cuisine during this gourmet, small-group cooking class, hosted in the resort town of Rapallo. In the morning, make your way to one of the town’s top restaurants, and be sure to come hungry. With your chef’s guidance, you’ll learn how to make traditional Ligurian pesto with a mortar and pestle, as well as several other dishes. At the end of class, sit down for a well-deserved lunch, accompanied with local wine.

Charming hillside home overlooking Portofino. Make fresh pesto, savor warm focaccia, sip poolside aperitifs, and enjoy homemade tiramisu and limoncello from garden-grown lemons

For those seeking an exclusive and regenerating wellness experience: Perfect for those who want to disconnect from the daily routine and dedicate themselves to their psychophysical well-being, in a unique and relaxing setting. For those who practice Pilates and want to experience a new dimension of the discipline: Ideal for Pilates enthusiasts who want to try a sweet and therapeutic version of the practice, immersed in the natural beauty of the sea. For small groups, couples or individuals looking for an intimate and personalized experience: Suitable for up to 4 participants, the experience is designed for those who want to enjoy a moment of tranquility and harmony, away from the daily hustle and bustle.

Delve deeper into Italy’s culinary culture than you would in a restaurant during a private market tour and cooking class in a local home. Designed for travelers with a vested interest in food, this experience promises both the undivided attention and insider knowledge of your guide, and allows you to cook in the intimate setting of a local home.

Immerse yourself in Italian culinary culture while visiting Camogli by booking this private cooking class. You and your private party will be welcomed into a local home, where you’ll learn to make three traditional Italian dishes; all ingredients and tools will be provided. Then sit down to taste what you’ve made with a glass of wine and conversation about Italian culture and food.

Immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of Liguria with a delightful aperitif experience at the historic Villa San Giacomo, perched majestically above the Gulf of Tigullio. Under the guidance of a knowledgeable local host, learn to craft an authentic Ligurian aperitivo featuring freshly baked focaccia and aromatic Genovese pesto. The experience culminates in a relaxed tasting session where you savor your creations alongside a glass of exquisite local wine, all set against the villa's elegant backdrop and stunning sea views. This activity is ideal for food enthusiasts, couples, and small groups seeking an authentic slice of Italian culture.

Master the best Ligurian and Genovese recipes with guidance from local experts during this immersive cooking class in Genoa. This hands-on experience lets you prepare and taste at least four traditional dishes. Enjoy learning, cooking, and sharing stories in a fun, intimate setting with a small group size.

At Villa San Giacomo, a historic gem overlooking the Ligurian Gulf, a pesto cooking class awaits. Guided by a local home cook, you'll master the art of making authentic Genovese pesto with a traditional mortar and pestle. After your culinary creation, savor your homemade pesto paired with trofie pasta in the villa's elegant surroundings, complemented by a glass of local Italian wine. This hands-on experience is perfect for food lovers eager to indulge in the rich flavors and traditions of the Italian Riviera, just a stone's throw from Portofino and the Cinque Terre.

Step into the heart of Genoa and discover one of Liguria’s most beloved recipes: salsa di noci (walnut sauce). In our cozy food boutique, just steps from Christopher Columbus’ House, you’ll prepare this creamy sauce the traditional way — with mortar and pestle. Guided by a local host, you’ll blend walnuts, bread, garlic, and cheese into a velvety paste, then enjoy it served over pasta with a glass of fine Ligurian wine. To make the memory last, you’ll also receive a Certificate of Participation. A hands-on culinary experience that combines tradition, taste, and the warm atmosphere of Genoa’s historic center.

Learn to cook fresh Italian dishes in the home of a local during this small-group, hands-on cooking experience in Chiavari. Join your dedicated host in their home and prepare a meal from scratch, which may include fresh pasta and a traditional Italian dessert. Then, sit down to the fruits of your labor paired with local wines and good conversation.

Be assisted and guided step by step by expert Genovese chef Fabrizio in preparing an entire delicious Ligurian menu! You will learn how to cook 6 typical local dishes, from appetizers to dessert: Panissa, 4 different types of focaccia, gnocchi with pesto, panera: you'll prepare everything at home with first-rate ingredients, in a beautiful and spacious setting in the center of town. Afterwards you will enjoy calmly and in the company of chef Fabrizio the delicacies you will have prepared with his guidance, accompanied by a good glass of wine: chatting and laughter are guaranteed...Furthermore, Fabrizio makes and teaches how to make the best focaccia in Genoa, you won't find one this good even in delicatessens! Fabrizio is a chef with many years of experience, his passion for cooking started when he helped his grandmother in the kitchen as a child. In fact, he also ran for a very long time two restaurants and a home restaurant called “Nonna Leo,” named after his grandmother Leonilda