Top Puglia Cooking Classes

Amazing experience with Anita! She welcomed us like family and shared all her secrets and tips on how to make the best focaccia and pasta. Our family of 6 adults and one infant had a wonderful time learning and eating the classic food of Puglia! Best money spent!

We arrived 30 min late because we had problems with our navigation, but once we did, Lucrezia & Stefan were absolutely gracious & hospitable. They are knowledgeable & passionate about Italian cuisine & made our experience very tasty & memorable! Recommend them as hosts to anyone who visits this magnificent part of Italy. Worth every 💵 spent to sign up

If you go here in the beginning of April, dress warmly! Host supplied blankets for all, but it was quite cold. Temperature aside, the host was engaging and entertaining. The vineyard is set in an idyllic area and the building is an absolutely charming trulli house. The wines were very good..along with the champagne. Snacks were provided between each tasting, and they were all made on site. The whole experience was a delight and the ride to get to the vineyard was beautiful through the countryside. I highly recommend this experience, but dress warmly!

Barbera is THE BEST guide, funny, personable, and a great story-teller! We learned so much about Bari and saw all the highlights (including sampling “the best focaccia” in Bari. Then, Dortea and Merika hosted a wonderful pasta-making experience where we also got to eat a plate of delicious, homemade orecchiette and marinara sauce while sipping on wine (or soda). Perfect way to spend our first full-day in Historic Bari!

Tasted 4 wines from the Puglia region. We were a group of about 15. English was our common language. We had pairings with cheese, bruschetta, and salami with tarrali, then a nice sweet bread for dessert with the last wine. Our guide was very knowledgeable.

This was the highlight of our cruise trip around the Adriatic. Frederica was so lovely and helpful and Merica (sorry for spelling!) was so good at demonstrating to us. Because we were off-season, we ended up just being the two of us in the kitchen and after a few minutes it felt like being home around the kitchen table, swapping stories and learning about Bari and traditions of the area while making orecchetti and eating the focaccia straight from the oven. The little kitchen is intimate, and we handled all the ingredients, had all our questions answered, and learned so much about the food of this region. The food and wine we ate and drank was incredible and we left so full and happy. I am so glad we booked it.

This boat tour was absolutely incredible! Our guide Claudio was outstanding – knowledgeable, professional, and engaging throughout the entire journey. Despite traveling from the United States (New Jersey), we couldn't have asked for a better experience exploring the stunning Polignano a Mare coastline. What Made This Tour Special: Expert Commentary: Claudio delivered fascinating historical and geological information about the area, from the famous Domenico Modugno statue and "Volare" connection to the Red Bull Cliff Diving Challenge platforms. His explanations about the limestone formations, seashell fossils, and tectonic processes were educational without being overwhelming. Spectacular Cave Exploration: We visited multiple stunning caves including Grotta Palazzese (home to the famous restaurant), Bishop Cave, Grotta Ardito with its historic passage, and the massive Pigeons Cave. Each had unique features and stories. Swimming Opportunity: The stop for swimming near Grotta Palazzese was a highlight – the water temperature was around 18-19°C (mid-60s°F), refreshing and totally worth it! Perfect Pacing: The ~1.5 hour tour covered approximately 3.5 nautical miles of coastline without feeling rushed. Claudio balanced narration with time to simply enjoy the views. Small Group Experience: Our boat (Marika) had a comfortable group size, allowing for personalized attention and easy interaction with our guide. Bonus Details: Learning about local history like the trulli structures, the former butchery cave that once attracted blue sharks, and the illegal salt production caves added authentic cultural depth. Pro Tips: Book early, bring a towel if you plan to swim, and don't worry about the November timing – the experience is magical year-round! Highly recommended for anyone visiting Puglia. Worth every euro! What You Should Know Before Booking This Tour: BOOKING & LOGISTICS: Book well in advance – tours fill up quickly Meeting point is at the port in Polignano a Mare Check-in involves paperwork (one person fills out main form, others just sign) You'll be assigned to specific boats (ours was "Marika") Tour duration: approximately 1-1.5 hours Distance covered: 3.5 nautical miles of coastline WHAT TO BRING: Towel if you plan to swim Waterproof case/bag for phones and electronics (water spray is possible, especially with southeast winds) Light jacket – it gets breezy on the water even if the day is warm Bathing suit under your clothes if you want to swim SWIMMING DETAILS: There IS a swimming stop (not all tours offer this in November) Water temperature in November: 18-19°C (mid-60s°F) – cold but doable Depth at swimming area: approximately 5 meters Boat has platforms and stairs for easy water access Swimming is optional – no pressure to get in Most participants did swim despite the temperature WEATHER CONSIDERATIONS: Tours run year-round, including November Expect some bumps and water spray, especially with southeast winds The guide will warn you about conditions at the start Dress in layers LANGUAGE: Tour conducted in English (guide speaks slowly and clearly for international guests) Guide accommodates multiple nationalities on same tour ACCESSIBILITY: You'll need to board/exit the boat via stairs/platforms Some movement required during the tour Not ideal for those with severe mobility limitations WHAT YOU'LL SEE: Multiple sea caves (Grotta Palazzese, Bishop Cave, Grotta Ardito, Pigeons Cave, Saddle Cave, Well Cave) Red Bull Cliff Diving platforms (27m for men, 21m for women) Domenico Modugno statue ("Volare" singer) Old Town Polignano elevated 23m above sea level Limestone cliffs, seashell fossils, rock erosion patterns Port Alga (old fishermen's village) Hermit Rock island with cross monument Views toward Monopoli GUIDE QUALITY: Claudio is a licensed ship master with 10+ years experience Extremely knowledgeable about local history, geology, and culture Professional yet personable Takes photos for guests Willing to answer questions GROUP SIZE: Small groups split across multiple boats Intimate experience, not overcrowded Easy to hear guide and ask questions VALUE CONSIDERATIONS: This is educational AND experiential – not just a scenic ride You get historical context, cave exploration, AND swimming opportunity Comparable to or better than similar coastal tours in Italy Well worth the price for the quality of experience PHOTOGRAPHY: Excellent photo opportunities throughout Guide will take photos of you with cave backgrounds Protect your phone from water spray Best lighting is during "golden hour" (late afternoon) SAFETY: Life jackets available Professional captain with proper licensing Boats are well-maintained Guide explains safety procedures at start NOT INCLUDED: Hotel pickup/drop-off (you meet at the port) Food or drinks Wetsuits (if you want to swim comfortably in cold water) BEST FOR: Couples, families, small friend groups History and geology enthusiasts Photographers Adventure seekers willing to swim in cooler water First-time visitors to Polignano a Mare BOTTOM LINE: This is a must-do experience in Puglia. The combination of natural beauty, expert narration, cave exploration, and swimming opportunity makes it exceptional value. Don't skip it due to cooler November temperatures – the experience is worth it year-round!

One of the nicest experience we had in a holiday! The dinner in a vineyard, the sunset, the atmosphere were absolutely stunning! The staff is wonderful and the company of other tourists from all over the world made the evening a real pleasure. We will definitely come back!