8 Best Cooking Classes in Florence, Italy (by a Local)

Florence is one of the best places in Italy to take a cooking class. The city is famous for art, yes, but learning how to make fresh pasta, tiramisu, pizza, or gelato is also a great way to experience Italian culture. If you're spending at least a couple of days in town, a hands-on class is a fun addition to your Florence itinerary.

I was born and raised in Bologna, just one hour north of Florence. Cliché enough, I grew up watching my nonna and great-grandma making fresh pasta, tortellini, tortelloni, lasagna, and all the good stuff.

And yet, I never actually learned how to make fresh pasta until I took a cooking class in Florence with my Argentinian husband. I thought it might feel too touristy, but I loved it! We recently returned for another class, and this one turned out to be the best cooking class we've ever taken. And we've taken quite a few around the world!

In this guide, I've rounded up the 8 best cooking classes in Florence, from hands-on pasta workshops to market visits, pizza and gelato lessons, and Tuscan farmhouse experiences. I'll share my personal favorite, along with other excellent options depending on what you'd like to learn.

➥ Why trust me? I’m Italian, from Bologna, and I’ve spent the last 10+ years helping millions of travelers plan trips to Italy. I’ve now taken two cooking classes in Florence, plus quite a few elsewhere, so I know what a good pasta class should feel like.

Best Cooking Classes in Florence: Quick Picks

Short on time? These are the Florence cooking classes I recommend most:

OUR PICK: Best Cooking Class in Florence

Duration: 3 hours
Type: Fresh pasta cooking class
Best for: Travelers who want to learn authentic pasta-making techniques from professional chefs

My husband and I recently joined The Art of Pasta: Nonna’s Recipes, and I can confidently say it was the best cooking class we’ve ever taken. And we’ve taken quite a few around the world! Even though I’m Italian and grew up watching my nonna make fresh pasta, I learned so much during these three hours.

Our instructor, Thomas, was fantastic. You could tell he had years of experience in professional kitchens, but what made him especially good was his ability to teach. He explained everything clearly, shared plenty of useful tips, and made the whole experience fun and relaxed.

We made three types of pasta entirely from scratch: cappelletti stuffed with ricotta and lemon, pappardelle, and spaghetti alla chitarra. Thomas guided us through each step, from working the dough and rolling it into thin sheets to cutting the pasta and carefully filling and shaping the cappelletti by hand.

We did all the hands-on work ourselves, while Thomas prepared the sauces, which were just as impressive as the pasta itself. The cappelletti came with browned butter and sage, while the pappardelle were served with a rich Tuscan beef ragù made with osso buco.

The cappelletti were my favorite. The combination of creamy ricotta, bright lemon, and nutty browned butter with sage was absolutely delicious. The spaghetti alla chitarra with garlic, olive oil, chili, lime, and pecorino was another standout. Such a simple dish, but packed with flavor!

Throughout the class, we could help ourselves to unlimited Tuscan red and white wine, as well as water and soft drinks. At the end, we sat down to enjoy the three dishes we’d made.

We were particularly lucky because nobody else had booked our time slot, so it ended up being a private class just for the two of us. Normally, though, this is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.

The class can also accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets with advance notice, which is very rare for cooking classes in Italy. Just make sure to communicate your dietary requirements when booking. If you have celiac disease or a serious allergy, confirm the kitchen’s cross-contact precautions directly before booking.

We made so much pasta that finishing it all was practically impossible! But everything was so delicious that we couldn't resist going back for seconds, even though we were already full. And trust me, we would have happily eaten more if we'd had any room left!

Why this is the best cooking class

What really sets this class apart is the quality of the instruction and how much you actually get to do. You learn proper pasta-making techniques, work with high-quality ingredients, and discover interesting flavor combinations rather than simply following basic recipes.

For me, it’s exactly what a cooking class in Italy should be: hands-on, educational, and a lot of fun. Even as an Italian, I came away having learned something new.

Read what the reviews say:

“I have taken cooking classes when I travel before, but this one is at the top of the list. It was organized to perfection. The class was conducted with such professionalism that it rivaled some of the classes I took in culinary school.
At the same time, this class was paced in such a way that a novice would not feel overwhelmed, and someone who is no stranger to cooking would not be bored.
10 out of 10 I would highly recommend!!!”

Steve K, October 2025, Tripadvisor

The class includes three handmade pasta dishes, a full meal, expert instruction, and unlimited Tuscan wine. ➥ BOOK IT HERE (choose “The Art of Pasta: Nonna’s Recipes” on the booking page).

Prefer an even more hands-on market experience? This company also runs a Market Tour & Pasta Class. You’ll explore Sant’Ambrogio Market with the chef, choose fresh ingredients based on what looks good and is in season, and then turn your purchases into a pasta meal.

The menu can change with the ingredients, which makes this a more creative option. The class lasts 4 hours and has a maximum of 6 people. ➥ SEE THE MARKET CLASS HERE (select “Market Tour & Pasta Class” on the booking page).

More Pasta Cooking Classes in Florence

Best Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class in Florence

Duration: 3 hours
Type: Pasta and tiramisu cooking class
Best for: Travelers who want to learn how to make both fresh pasta and a classic Italian dessert

This Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine is a great choice if you want to learn how to make two of Italy's most famous dishes in one experience.

The class takes place in a local restaurant in central Florence. With an English-speaking instructor, you'll learn how to prepare fresh pasta from scratch and make traditional tiramisu, Italy's famous coffee-flavored dessert.

After cooking, you'll sit down to enjoy your homemade meal with unlimited wine. Depending on the class, you might also finish with coffee or limoncello. It's a fun, social experience that's easy to fit into a Florence itinerary.

Vegetarian and vegan options are advertised, but confirm your dietary requirements in advance. The meeting point can also vary depending on the option you book, so check your voucher carefully.

Pros

• Learn to make both fresh pasta and tiramisu
• Central Florence location, convenient for sightseeing
• Includes a sit-down meal with unlimited wine

Cons

• No market visit included
• Meeting point can vary depending on the booking option
• Part of the class is dedicated to tiramisu, so it's less focused on pasta-making than a pasta-only workshop

This experience includes a hands-on pasta and tiramisu cooking class, a meal, and unlimited wine. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Best Cooking Class with Market Visit

Duration: 5 hours
Type: Market visit + cooking class
Best for: Travelers who want to shop for ingredients at the Central Market before cooking

This Nonna's Cooking Class & Market Tour with Wine, Lasagna & Tiramisù is a better fit if you want more than a standard kitchen lesson. It starts at a cooking school near the Central Market, then continues into the market with your chef.

Select the “Market Tour Lasagna & Tiramisu” option when booking. The same listing also offers a fresh pasta class with gelato tasting, which does not include the market visit or the lasagna and tiramisu menu described here.

At the market, you’ll meet local vendors, learn about Tuscan products, and enjoy seasonal tastings. After that, you’ll walk back to the cooking school and start the hands-on class.

The menu focuses on focaccia with fresh cheese, lasagna made from scratch, and tiramisu. You’ll learn to prepare the lasagna, including the fresh pasta sheets, Bolognese ragù, and béchamel, and then make tiramisu for dessert.

This is the best choice if the market visit is important to you. Just note that when the Central Market is closed on Sundays and bank holidays, the market visit is replaced by an introduction and extra tastings at the cooking school.

Vegetarian arrangements are available with advance notice. Tell the provider about any food allergy or intolerance and confirm what can be accommodated before booking. The class is not suitable for celiacs, and eggs cannot be excluded from the meal.

Pros

• Includes a guided visit to Florence’s Central Market
• You make lasagna from scratch, including fresh pasta, ragù, and béchamel, as well as tiramisu

Cons

• Not suitable for celiacs
• The market visit is replaced when the Central Market is closed

This tour includes a market visit, tastings, a hands-on cooking class, Tuscan wine, dessert wine, and a digital recipe booklet. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Best Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class in Florence

Duration: 3 hours
Type: Pizza and gelato cooking class
Best for: Families, first-timers, and anyone who wants a fun class in Florence without leaving the city

If pasta is not the only thing on your Italy wish list, this Florence Cooking Class: The Art of Making Gelato & Authentic Pizza is the best pizza and gelato class in the city center.

The class takes place at a cooking school near the Central Market. You’ll learn about pizza-making in Italy, prepare your own dough, choose toppings, and bake your pizza.

You’ll also watch a gelato-making demonstration and learn what makes Italian gelato different from regular ice cream. The class ends with your pizza, gelato, unlimited wine, or soft drinks for children.

This is a great option if you’re traveling with kids or want something more playful than a pasta class. It is not suitable for celiacs, so gluten-free travelers should skip to the dedicated class later in this guide.

Pros

• Fun and easy option for families
• Located in Florence, close to the Central Market
• Includes lunch or dinner, wine or soft drinks, recipes, and a graduation certificate

Cons

• Gelato is taught as a demonstration, not a fully hands-on dessert class
• Not suitable for celiacs
• Children and teens under 18 must be accompanied by an adult

This experience includes a pizza making class, lunch or dinner, unlimited wine or soft drinks, a gelato demonstration, recipes, and a graduation certificate. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Tuscan Farmhouse Cooking Classes from Florence

If you want to leave the city for a few hours, these farmhouse cooking classes are the best options. Both include transport from Florence and a countryside setting, but they are not the same experience.

Pizza or Pasta and Gelato at a Tuscan Farm

Duration: 5 hours
Type: Tuscan farm cooking class
Best for: Travelers who want a scenic countryside cooking experience

This Pizza or Pasta Class & Gelato Making at a Tuscan Farm is one of the most enjoyable cooking classes near Florence if you want countryside views but don’t want a full-day commitment.

You’ll meet near Santa Maria Novella station, then travel by bus to a farm in the hills outside Florence. The transfer is short, but the setting feels very different from the city.

The class starts with fresh focaccia and a glass of wine, then continues with the option you selected when booking: pizza or pasta. If you choose pasta, you’ll make 3 types of fresh pasta and sauces. If you choose pizza, you’ll make dough, pick toppings, and bake it in a wood oven.

Everyone also learns to make gelato, then sits down for a 3-course lunch or dinner with wine or beer. This is a great choice if you want something social, scenic, and fun.

Pros

• Includes roundtrip transport from central Florence
• You can choose pizza or pasta when booking
• Includes gelato, a 3-course meal, wine or beer, recipes, and a diploma

Cons

• Not a city-center class
• Gluten-free needs and food allergies cannot be accommodated
• Not suitable for travelers with walking difficulties or wheelchair users

This tour includes roundtrip transport from Florence, a cooking class, a 3-course meal, wine or beer, recipes, and a cooking diploma. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Tuscan Farmhouse Pasta and Tiramisu Class with Optional Market Visit

Duration: 5 hours
Type: Farmhouse cooking class with optional market visit
Best for: Travelers who want to make pasta and tiramisu in the Tuscan countryside

This Tuscan Farmhouse Pasta and Tiramisu Class with Optional Market Visit is a good farmhouse option if you want a cooking experience built around Tuscan pasta dishes.

You’ll meet in central Florence. If you select the market option, you’ll visit a local food market to browse fresh ingredients and Tuscan specialties before traveling by minibus to a farmhouse in the hills.

During the hands-on class, you’ll learn to make fresh pasta and tiramisu from scratch. After cooking, you’ll sit down to a 4-course meal with wine. The sample menu includes bruschetta, pappardelle with sausage and tomato sauce, potato-filled ravioli with pesto, and tiramisu.

It’s best if you want the countryside and a proper 4-course meal in one experience. Add the market visit when booking if that’s an important part of the day for you.

Pros

• Includes transport from Florence to the farmhouse
• More complete than shorter cooking classes
• Includes a 4-course lunch with wine, recipes, and a diploma

Cons

• The market visit is optional, so check your selected booking option
• Vegetarian, gluten-free, and other alternative dietary requirements cannot be catered for
• Not suitable for travelers with walking difficulties or wheelchair users

This tour includes transport by air-conditioned minibus, a cooking class, a 4-course lunch with wine, recipes, and a cooking diploma. The market visit is included only if you select that option. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Best Private Cooking Class near Florence

Duration: 4 hours
Type: Private countryside cooking class
Best for: Couples, families, or groups who want a more personal cooking experience

If you want something more intimate than a group class, this Florence Cooking Class in a Gorgeous Countryside Home with Maria is the private option I’d choose.

For groups of up to 6 guests, you’ll meet Maria in central Florence, and she’ll drive you to her countryside home about 15 minutes away. Depending on the option you book, you may also visit San Lorenzo Market before the class. Groups of 7 or more must arrange their own transportation to and from her home.

The menu changes with the season, but it includes traditional Tuscan dishes such as bruschetta, handmade ravioli or tagliatelle, sauces, tiramisu, and local wine. Since it’s private, the experience feels much more like cooking with a local host than joining a large cooking school class.

Vegetarian, vegan, and lactose-free menus can be requested in advance. Confirm your dietary arrangements before booking, and tell Maria about any allergies or intolerances. This class is not suitable for gluten-free diets.

This is best for travelers who want a warm, personal experience in a home setting. Just keep in mind that Maria’s home does not have air conditioning, there is a cat, and the class is not suited for gluten-free diets.

Pros

• Private class, so only your group participates
• Includes roundtrip transport from a central meeting point for up to 6 guests
• Great choice if you want a home-style countryside experience

Cons

• Not in central Florence
• Not suitable for gluten-free diets
• Groups of 7 or more must arrange their own transportation to and from Maria’s home

This tour includes a private cooking class, local Italian wine, and roundtrip transport from a central Florence meeting point for up to 6 guests, plus a market visit if selected during booking. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Best Gluten-Free Cooking Class in Florence

Duration: 3 hours
Type: Semi-private gluten-free cooking class
Best for: Gluten-free travelers who still want to make pasta in Florence

If you’re gluten-free, this Semi-Private Gluten-Free Cooking Class in Florence is the most useful class on this list for you.

The class takes place near the Boboli Gardens in a small group of up to 10 travelers. You’ll cook with Chef Vary and learn how to make gluten-free versions of classic Italian dishes using natural gluten-free flours.

The menu can include gluten-free tagliatelle, ravioli, lasagna, gnocchi, pizza, and tiramisu. After cooking, you’ll sit down to enjoy lunch or dinner with wine.

This is a very specific class, but that’s exactly why it’s worth including. The main caveat is important: the tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed, so double-check your dates before booking.

Pros

• Dedicated gluten-free cooking class
• Small group limited to 10 travelers
• Includes lunch or dinner, wine, recipes, and cooking utensils

Cons

• Non-refundable and cannot be changed
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Plan on a minimum age of 16. The listing gives conflicting age information, so confirm directly with the provider before booking for anyone younger.

This tour includes a gluten-free cooking class, recipes, cooking utensils, lunch or dinner depending on the option selected, and alcoholic beverages. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Are Cooking Classes in Florence Worth It?

In my opinion, yes. Florence is packed with museums and churches, but a cooking class gives you a totally different kind of memory. You’re not just looking at beautiful things. You’re making something, eating it, and hopefully learning a few tricks you can use back home.

They’re also a great option if you want a slower activity between sightseeing days. Florence can feel very busy, especially around the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, so spending a few hours in a kitchen can be a nice break.

If it’s your first cooking class in Italy, I’d start with the hands-on pasta class we joined, which is my favorite. If you’d rather make dessert too, the pasta and tiramisu class is a great alternative. For something different, choose a farmhouse or private experience.

FAQ: Cooking Classes in Florence

What is the best cooking class in Florence?

My top pick is The Art of Pasta: Nonna’s Recipes with Pasta Class Florence. My husband and I took it with Thomas, and it was the best cooking class we’ve ever done. You make three kinds of pasta from scratch, learn a lot, and finish with a delicious meal.

How long do cooking classes in Florence last?

Most cooking classes in Florence last around 3 to 5 hours. Pasta Class Florence’s regular class takes 3 hours, while its market class takes 4. Farmhouse experiences often take about 5 hours, including transport.

What do you make in a Florence cooking class?

It depends on the class. The most common dishes are fresh pasta, ravioli, tagliatelle, tiramisu, pizza, gelato, lasagna, bruschetta, and Tuscan sauces.

Are Florence cooking classes good for beginners?

Yes. Most Florence cooking classes are designed for beginners, so you don’t need to be a confident cook. A good instructor will guide you step by step.

Should I choose a cooking class in Florence or outside Florence?

Choose a cooking class in Florence if you want something easy and central. Choose a farmhouse class outside Florence if you want countryside views, transport included, and a longer food-focused experience.

Can you take a gluten-free cooking class in Florence?

Yes, there are gluten-free cooking classes in Florence. Just don’t assume every pasta class can accommodate celiacs or strict gluten-free diets. Always book a dedicated gluten-free class or confirm directly with the operator before booking (the top pick does accommodate gluten-free if said in advance).

Interested in other foodie experiences in Florence? I mean, there’s no such thing as too much food in Italy. Check out my other posts about the best wine tours from Florence and the top Florence food tours.