12 Best Cooking Classes in Florence, Italy – Our Top Picks for Food Lovers

Looking for the best cooking classes in Florence? This guide highlights our favourite hands-on experiences with passionate local chefs, delicious homemade meals, and plenty of wine.

We've included both personal picks and top-rated traveller favourites — all guaranteed to give you a true taste of Florentine hospitality.

As passionate food lovers, we set out to discover the top cooking classes in Florence—ones that are not only fun and hands-on, but also truly authentic and worth your time (and money).

What we found? There’s no single “best” class. Instead, Florence is full of incredible options tailored to every interest, skill level, and appetite.

👉 Pro tip: If any catch your eye, be sure to book early — spots fill up fast, especially during peak season!

1. Mastering Nonna's recipes - Florence pasta class

Handmade pasta (and sauces) class at a modern studio in the historic centre

• 🕒 Class Times: 10 AM, 3 PM & 7:30 PM daily (2025)
• ⏳ Duration: ~3 hours
• 📍 Location: Cooking studio in historic centre (close to Basilica di Santa Croce and Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio). For staying nearby choose Dimora 72 Luxury Rooms.
• 🥦 Vegetarian friendly
• 🚫♿️ Not wheelchair accessible
• 💶 All major currencies accepted - €90 / $107 / £80

Hands down one of the best cooking classes in Florence — and it’s no surprise, the reviews speak for themselves.

The class is held in a cosy cooking studio right in the heart of the city.

During this fun, 3-hour Florence cooking session, you'll learn the secrets to making perfect pasta dough, shape a variety of traditional pasta types. Additional plus is that you'll be guided by Chef Michele (that learned everything from his grandmother, a true pasta master from Bologna) and his team of cooks.

You'll prepare 3 to 4 mouthwatering dishes, such as:

• Tortelli with ricotta and butter herb sauce
• Tagliatelle with classic Tuscan ragù
• Ravioli filled with gorgonzola or porcini mushrooms

And of course — the best part — you’ll sit down to enjoy your handmade meal, paired with generous pours of great local wine.

We’re already planning to take this Florence pasta class on our next trip to Italy.

This pasta class is a laid-back, fun gem in the heart of Florence. It's led by a team of young and professional chefs—authentic, delicious, and perfect for pasta lovers.

2. Florence pizza or pasta class with gelato at a Tuscan farm

Hands-on culinary class near Florence with transfers included

• 🕒 Class Times in 2025:
  10 AM Pasta and gelato class
  2:30 PM and 5 PM Pizza and gelato class
  
• ⏳ Duration: ~5 or 7 hours
• 📍 Location: Meet in central Florence at Piazza dei Cavalleggeri (near Ponte alle Grazie); a coach will take you to a private estate in the hills.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly: kids aged 8 and up are welcome
• 🚫♿️ Not wheelchair accessible
• 💶 All major currencies accepted - €80 / $97 / £72

This half-day cooking class is a standout for its stunning Tuscan setting, fun and knowledgeable instructors, and unforgettable food — all wrapped in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

What to expect

• Location: A beautiful Tuscan estate in the hills outside Florence
• Transfers: Round-trip transport included
• Welcome: Enjoy traditional focaccia and a glass of Chianti upon arrival

Pick your perfect cooking adventure

🥣 Pasta Class + gelato

• Make three types of fresh pasta from scratch
• Cook classic Italian sauces like: Carbonara, amatriciana or pesto
• Get hands-on (and a little floury!) as you knead, roll, and cook

🍕 Pizza Class + gelato

• Learn to make perfect pizza dough
• Pick your toppings straight from the on-site vegetable garden
• Bake your pizza in a traditional wood-fired oven

In the end, you'll sit down with your group and enjoy a full meal of everything you’ve prepared. It might just be the best meal of your entire trip.

By the end of this Florence cooking class, you'll be full, happy — and probably wishing you didn’t have to leave.

3. Pastamania Florence pasta making class

Traditional Italian pasta-making class at a studio along the Arno River

• 🕒 Class Times: 9 AM – 7:30 PM (multiple sessions daily in 2025)
• ⏳ Duration: ~3 hours
• 📍 Location: Pastamania Cooking Studio in Santo Spirito, near Ponte Santa Trinita. Star nearby at Geppi's Apartments.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly: kids 4 and older are welcome
• 🚫♿️ Not wheelchair accessible
• 💶 All major currencies accepted - €70 / $83 / £62

We chose the Pastamania Florence cooking class for its excellent reviews, small group size, and great value. The location—near Ponte Santa Trinita—was also super convenient from our base, Casa di Chiara (a cosy, stylish Florence apartment).

We loved getting our hands into the dough, kneading, rolling, and cutting it into tagliatelle, ravioli, and tortelli. We also learned how to make the perfect pomarola, a classic Tuscan tomato sauce.

Afterwards, we feasted on the pasta we made, paired with organic Tuscan wine from the owner’s family farm. A delicious dessert followed, along with a recipe booklet to take home.

To top it off, we enjoyed a relaxed stroll around Oltrarno, picking up unique souvenirs along the way.

Hands-on pasta-making in a cosy studio across the Arno—perfect for food lovers wanting a taste of Florentine tradition.

4. Francy's pasta & gnocchi on top of Florence hills

an intimate pasta cooking class hosted in a local Florentine home

• 🕒 Class Times (2025): 10 AM and 6 PM daily
• ⏳ Duration: ~3 hours 15 minutes
• 📍 Location: Francy's house in Florentine Hills (take taxi from Piazzale di Romana - it's 10 minute ride)
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly: kids 4 and older are welcome
  ♿️ Wheelchair accessible
  💶 All major currencies accepted - €130 / $155 / £115

Join this class and discover why this is often called the best cooking class in Florence for food lovers.

A local, Francesca, welcomes you into her home set in a historic villa, where you'll spend around three hours cooking, chatting, and having fun.

Freshly made coffee and cookies await you at the start of the class. Next, the cooking session begins with kneading the perfect pasta dough—you'll get insider tips from someone who makes pasta every day.

You'll be making one of several pasta shapes, such as spaghetti alla chitarra, ravioli, or cappelacci (a hat-like shape), as well as potato gnocchi. You'll also cook various sauces and enjoy a surprise dessert at the end.

This Florence cooking class is completely hands-on, meaning you'll knead, chop, cook, and bake, all while enjoying insights into Italian cuisine from your friendly host.

Top off your experience by sitting down to feast on the fresh dishes you've prepared together. We're sure you'll be amazed by this Florence pasta-making class with Francy.

💡 Why We Love It

Truly unique culinary experience for the whole family - in the hills above Florence! Completely unique and so Florentine!

5. Cooking with a Chef Luca in Florence

Private cooking class at the chef's home in Florence

• 🕒 Class Times: 10 AM & 5 PM daily (2025)
• ⏳ Duration: ~3 hours
• 📍 Location: Chef Luca Polverini’s home kitchen, near Campo di Marte train station (a short taxi ride from Florence’s historic center). Stay nearby at Romantic and Charming Apartments.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly: kids of all ages welcome
• 🚫♿️ Not wheelchair accessible
• 💶 Pay in your currency - €105 / $124 / £93

What sets this Florence cooking class apart?

It takes place in Chef Luca’s own home—a warm, intimate setting that feels more like cooking with a friend than a formal class. It’s one of the most authentic culinary experiences Florence has to offer.

🍴 Welcome Snacks & Aperitif

• Start with warm coccoli (fluffy fried dough balls) served with Tuscan ham and creamy stracchino cheese
• Enjoy a refreshing aperitif as you settle in

🍝 Hands-On Pasta Making + 🍰 Tiramisù Masterclass

• Make two types of fresh pasta (e.g. tagliatelle and gnocchi or filled pasta)
• Prepare seasonal sauces like Tuscan ragù, fresh tomato, or mushroom
• Learn real Italian techniques from a passionate local chef
• Make Italy’s favourite dessert from scratch

In the end, you'll sit down to savour the dishes you’ve prepared, perfectly paired with a glass of local Chianti.

Chef Luca shares expert tips, stories, and answers all your cooking questions, making the experience personal and memorable.

6. Traditional Italian pasta class in Florence

• 🕒 Class Times: 10:45 AM & 4:45 PM daily (except Sundays)
• ⏳ Duration: ~3 hours
• 📍 Location: Chefactory Cooking Academy, easy to reach from historic centre on foot, by taxi or tram no. 2
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly: kids 10 and up are welcome
• 🥦 Dietary Options: Vegetarian/ vegan/ gluten free options available, just inform when booking
• 💶 All major currencies accepted - €68 / $81 / £64

Chefactory’s cooking class in Florence is definitely on our bucket list!

We think it’s among the best cooking classes Florence can offers. Running twice daily - morning and afternoon, it takes place in a charming, centrally located cooking studio (don’t worry—it’s air-conditioned!).

Over the course of 3.5 hours, professional chefs will guide you through creating a delicious Italian meal using simple, high-quality ingredients.

This is a completely hands-on Florence cooking class, and pasta is the star of the show!

You’ll make three delicious Italian pasta dishes:

• Ricotta and spinach ravioli
• Potato gnocchi with ragù sauce
• Fettuccine alla Norma (Sicilian pasta with eggplant, tomatoes, and ricotta)

And don’t worry—you won’t skip dessert! You’ll prepare either panna cotta or tiramisù to sweeten the day.

At the end of the class, you’ll enjoy the delicious meal you’ve made, paired with a glass of good Tuscan wine. Plus, you’ll receive a recipe booklet so you can easily recreate the dishes at home.

💡 Why We Love It

Professional chefs teach you art of pasta making in the heart of Florence (plus panna cotta or tiramisù)

7. The original cooking class & Market tour in Florence

Market shopping experience followed by a cooking class in central location

• 🕒 Class Times:
  Market Tour & Cooking Class: 9 AM (daily)
  Pasta & Gelato Class: 3 PM & 6:30 PM (daily)
• ⏳ Duration:
  Market + Cooking: ~5 hours
  Pasta & Gelato: ~3 hours
• 📍 Location: Towns of Italy Cooking School, close to Mercato Centrale, the Duomo and Santa Maria Novella train station; stay nearby at Globus Urban Hotel
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly: Welcomes families with kids of all ages, including little ones
• 🥦 Dietary Options: Vegetarian-friendly (just mention dietary needs when booking)
• 💶 Pay in your currency - €85 / $101 / £79

One of the most popular cooking classes in Florence! Combines a local market tour with hands-on Tuscan cooking in a great central location.

This Florence cooking class stands out for one special reason — it starts with a visit to Mercato Centrale, the city’s largest and most vibrant food market. It's favourite among travellers seeking the best Florence cooking class with market visit.

You'll meet your chef nearby and shop together for fresh, seasonal ingredients, enjoying tastings along the way—think olive oil, truffles, and other Tuscan specialties.

Back in the kitchen, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and:

• Learn to knead the perfect pasta dough with expert tips from your chef
• Make tagliatelle and ravioli, served with classic sauces like meat ragù and pesto
• Prepare bruschette, and finish with a hands-on tiramisù.
  

Once the cooking’s done, sit down to enjoy your meal with a glass of Chianti, and take home a recipe booklet and graduation diploma.

Short on time? Then choose the 3-hour hands-on pasta workshop plus a gelato-making demonstration.

8. Florence pasta making classes

• Chef Vary offers pasta making classes at 10:15 and 5:30pm
• Classes take place in the cooking studio near the Boboli Gardens (Via Romana, 41R); the meeting point is inside the store TUSCAN TASTE
• These classes are not suitable for children under 16
• 👍 These are among the most popular cooking classes in Florence!

You'll love taking Florence cooking classes with Chef Vary! During 2.5 hours, you'll learn making fresh pasta from scratch as well as cook traditional sauces. As soon as you arrive to the class, you'll agree what to cook with your chef. Some of the dishes you'll be preparing: ravioli with lemon, tagliatelle with ragù sauce, spaghetti pesto, fusilli with zucchini and lemon, spaghetti with porcini mushrooms...

In the end, you'll feast on everything you've cooked along 2 glasses on wine. Note that minimum age of participants is 16 years! You can opt for a cooking class that includes a visit to the local market! Chef Vary's cooking classes in Florence are limited to eight people, ensuring attention from the chef! 👉 Grab your spot on these Florence cooking classes!

9. Florence cooking class for pasta lovers with optional market tour

• 🕒 Class Times:
  Cooking Class with Market Tour - 9AM
  Cooking Class - 2PM and 5:30PM
• ⏳ Duration: ~3 or 4 hours
• 📍 Location: Ciao Foodies Hub at La Cucineria, Via della Mattonaia, 19/R, not far from Mercato Sant'Ambrogio (Santa Croce)
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly: Kids 6+ are welcome
• 💶 All major currencies accepted - €69 / $83 / £61

Join a small-group cooking class in a real Florence trattoria, where you'll learn how to make fresh tagliatelle, ravioli, and tiramisù from scratch.

The class begins in central Florence. If you choose the morning session (except on Sundays and holidays), you’ll start with a visit to the lively Sant’Ambrogio Market,  where you'll rub shoulders with locals. The chef will guide you through picking fresh, seasonal ingredients

Back at the kitchen, it’s time to put on your apron and get cooking! You’ll start by preparing traditional sauces like ragù and tomato sauce, then move on to making pasta dough with just eggs and flour. While the dough rests, the chef will show you how to make a creamy, authentic tiramisù.

After a short break with Tuscan appetizers and a few fun stories about Italian food culture, you’ll roll out your dough and shape it into tagliatelle and ricotta-filled ravioli.

Finally, once everything’s cooked, you’ll sit down and enjoy the meal you made — paired with local house wine. This is truly one of the best cooking classes Florence has to offer.

💡 Why We Love It

Florence culinary experience that combine market tour with hand-on cooking in local neighbourhood!

10. Pasta, meatballs and gelato class in a villa in the hills of Florence

Truly unique florence cooking class in the hills above the city

• 🕒 Class Times: 10:30 AM and 5 PM daily (2025)
• ⏳ Duration: ~3 hours 40 minutes
• 📍 Location: Private villa in the hills of Florence; the host will pick you up by car in Viale Europa 126 in Florence (use taxi or bus to get there)
• 💶 All major currencies accepted - €90 / $107 / £80

This hands-on pasta class in a local home might be the best Florence cooking class for travellers seeking an authentic local experience.

This is not just a cooking class, it feels like spending the afternoon with old friends (who just happen to be amazing cooks). Guya and Matteo, warm and genuine hosts, welcome you to their home in the hills above Florence.

Together, you'll make two types of fresh handmade pasta — tagliatelle and ravioli (filled with ricotta and spinach). Next, you'll cook tomato sauce with meatballs, and finally, whip up some authentic gelato. Only high-quality, local, and organic ingredients are used in this Florence cooking class.

You'll laugh, chat, and eat one of the best meals of your Italian trip. It’s easy to see why this is considered one of the best Florence cooking classes.

11. Cooking class and lunch at a Tuscan farmhouse with market tour from Florence (50% OFF now)

Full-day culinary experience at a Tuscan farm with transfers included

• 🕒 Class Time: 9 AM daily (2025)
• ⏳ Duration: ~7 hours
• 📍 Location: The meeting point is right by the taxi stand at Santa Maria Novella train station (you can even arrive by train from Rome for this experience).
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly: Kids 8+ are welcome
• 💶 All major currencies accepted - €120 / $144 / £106

This class is a standout option for anyone seeking the best cooking class in Florence with a countryside vibe.

Your day starts in the morning with a meet-up in Florence, where you’ll head to the lively Mercato Centrale with your local chef-guide to pick out fresh ingredients — think cured meats, cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and more.

Next, hop in a comfortable minibus and head to a beautiful Tuscan farmhouse, where the real fun begins. In a hands-on cooking session, you’ll learn how to prepare a full traditional Tuscan meal: fresh tagliatelle with a rich meat sauce, bruschetta, roast pork with potatoes, and of course, homemade tiramisù.

After all your hard work in the kitchen, sit down to enjoy the meal you’ve created, paired with plenty of delicious Tuscan wine and great company.

To wrap things up, you’ll receive a cooking diploma and recipe booklet so you can recreate the magic at home. You’ll return to Florence happy, full, and with unforgettable memories from one of the best cooking experiences in the Tuscany.

12. Tucan cooking class (and wine tasting) in a castle near Florence

• 🕒 Class Times: 10:30 AM & 3:30 PM
  
• ⏳ Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
  
• 📍 Location: Castello del Trebbio (30-minute drive from Florence). Hotel transfers can be arranged separately upon request.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly: Welcomes families with kids of all ages
• 🥦 Dietary Options: Vegetarian option upon request
•  💶 Pay in your currency - €130 / $156 / £116

If you’ve ever dreamed of cooking in a real Tuscan castle, this 3.5-hour culinary experience near Florence is for you. Set on a stunning estate surrounded by vineyards, it includes hands-on cooking, a delicious lunch with wine pairings, and time to explore the castle grounds.

You can choose between two cooking class options:

• Pasta Lovers’ Class: Learn how to make two types of handmade pasta — tagliatelle and tagliolini — along with two sauces and a traditional starter. This option includes a tasting of three local wines.
• MasterChef Class: Go beyond pasta and prepare a full Tuscan meal! You’ll make a starter, handmade pasta, a chicken main course, and a dessert — all paired with four regional wines.

After cooking, you'll sit down to enjoy the meal you've created, served with local wines in a beautiful castle setting. Once lunch is over, feel free to stroll through the vineyards or explore the castle at your own pace.

This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience near Florence — the perfect blend of food, wine, and Tuscan charm you won’t find anywhere else!

2 Bonus cooking classes in Florence/Tuscany

1. Authentic Tuscany cooking class with Antonella in the Florentine Hills

2. Cooking class for pasta lovers in Tuscany

How to choose the best cooking class in Florence

With so many great options, it can be hard to decide. Think about what kind of experience you’re after — do you want a hands-on pasta-making class with traditional sauces, a gnocchi-making session in a welcoming local home, or a full Tuscan meal at a countryside farmhouse?

The best cooking class in Florence will match your interests, skill level, and schedule, all while giving you a true taste of local culture.

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