Cooking classes consistently earn rave reviews—often outshining traditional tours. Travelers love that the experience goes beyond expectations: it's intimate, hands-on, and ends with a meal you’re proud to have made (and devoured). Guests leave with lasting memories and tangible skills, having experienced Rome in a deeply interactive way.

Not at all, you lucked out — your chef is a local and an English speaker! However, be open to picking up some classic Italian phrases while cooking, like “segreti della nonna” – the grandma’s secrets – for those time-tested, passed-down tips that give Italian dishes their soul.

Some chefs have formal culinary education from Italian cooking schools or have worked in Rome’s trattorias and restaurants. Others are seasoned home cooks with decades of experience and a passion for sharing the real flavors of Rome. Most aren’t just good chefs—they’re great teachers. They're warm, engaging, and love turning cooking into a cultural exchange.

No drinking is no problem. Choose from a variety of soft drinks to sip on during your class.

Absolutely. For most kids, a hands-on cooking class is way more exciting than just sitting through a sightseeing tour. Whether it’s rolling out fresh pasta dough or decorating their own personal pizzas with all the toppings they love, it’s messy in the best way. The instructors are usually great with little ones too—patient, enthusiastic, and quick to turn kitchen tasks into fun games.

Cooking with authentic ingredients is guaranteed. Moreover, your chefs uually know exactly where their ingredients come from—like which butcher in Trastevere has the best guanciale or which market stalls have the freshest produce.

These classes are 100% beginner friendly (yes, we’re even including those who have not so much lifted a spoon in the kitchen before). You don’t need to come armed with any prior knowledge or experience, just arrive with high expectations and an appetite for learning!

Depending on your specific experience, you may be able to either hand-roll your pasta or use a hand-crank machine.

While not a staple feature of every class, your chef-guide will select the best wines for you to sample while your cooking lesson is underway. You can always ask them which wine pairs best with what kinds of sauces, meats and more.

We love how you don’t believe in wasting food. Some cooking schools offer takeaway containers by default, while others might wait for you to ask. It’s always polite to check! Pro tip: Bring a small reusable container or ziplock bag, just in case. It’s a smart move for travelers who don’t like wasting delicious food—or who want a late-night snack with a story behind it.