The 9 Cooking Classes with a Market Tour in Florence That Earn Their Price

1.Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,831 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $145Our pick

Start in Florence with guide Luca at the San Lorenzo market, tasting cheeses, cured meats, olives, and other Tuscan foods. Then ride about 20 minutes to a farmhouse in the hills, where chefs including Erika lead you through fresh pasta, bruschetta, roast pork, potatoes, and tiramisu. Lunch, wine, recipes, and a cooking diploma are included.

“Hands down our best experience in Italy. Our chefs Luca and Erika were AMAZING! Luca was our guide through the central market and the bus ride to the estate, and he is so much fun, we were having a blast before we even started cooking. The estate where the classes are held is beautiful and just outside the city. The chefs were hands on and helpful and it was just a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with our family learning to make pasta and tiramisu.”

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2.Small Group Cooking Class & Market Food Tour in Florence

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,574 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $62Best value

Spend about five hours with a Florence chef and a group of up to 20, shopping and tasting at Mercato Centrale before making bruschetta, fresh pasta, sauces, and tiramisu. Instructors may include Federico, Tommaso, Alice, or John. You finish with Chianti, a digital recipe booklet, and a diploma.

“It was so much fun. The instructor was excellent. The recipes are delicious and we learned so much for such a wonderful experience.”

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3.Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with optional Local Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 515 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $83

Spend about four hours at Cucineria La Mattonaia making fresh tagliatelle, ricotta ravioli, sauces, and tiramisu with a local chef. Morning sessions add Sant’Ambrogio Market and tastings, while afternoon classes last three hours without the market visit. Groups are capped at 12, and guides may include Giulia, David, Alain, or Stefano.

“Great cooking class fun activities for family. Pasta and Tiramisu… great tips. Giulia was great chef coach. Food was superb.”

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4.Cooking Class with Local Food Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 407 reviews · 3 - 5 hours · from $63

Start at Florence’s Central Market with an English-speaking chef such as Alice, Roberta, or Federico, tasting olive oils, truffles, cheeses, and cured meats. Then make fresh pasta, lasagna, sauces, and tiramisù in a fully hands-on class before sitting down to your meal with Tuscan wine. Vegetarian options require advance notice.

“My daughter and I had a wonderful day with Jon as our chef. We learned how to make ravioli and tagliatelle and tiramisu- plus some traditional sauces. Jon was a fun and knowledgeable host: we learned a lot and had a great time!”

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5.Cooking Class at a Tuscan Farm & Local Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 354 reviews · 6 hours · from $94

Meet your English-speaking guide at Santa Maria Novella, tour Mercato Centrale, then ride to a Tuscan farmhouse for hands-on pasta, ragù, bruschetta, roast pork, potatoes, and tiramisù. Guides such as Luca, Erika, and Carmela keep the six-hour class lively, with wine, lunch, recipes, and a cooking diploma included.

“It was awesome … our guide Luca was a lot of fun . Very entertaining and we learned a lot as well ! The company is very lucky to have him in our opinion . Was a wonderful day ! Thank you”

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6.Market to Table Cooking Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 96 reviews

Meet your English-speaking chef at Florence’s central market, taste local specialties, and learn how to make fresh pasta, sauces, a meat or fish course, and dessert. The class lasts about 4.5 hours and ends with a Tuscan meal, Italian wine, and a graduation certificate.

“The chef was amazing, I learn a lot off tricks from him. 100% recommended!”

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7.Market Visit and Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 16 reviews · 5 hours · from $102

Meet at San Lorenzo, shop Florence’s Mercato with a chef, then prepare a four-course Italian meal in a small, hands-on class. You’ll make an appetizer, fresh pasta, a meat or vegetarian dish, and dessert before sitting down with Italian wine. Guides may include Katerina, Gian Lunca, and Cattina.

“one of the best cooking classes ive ever taken, really fun market tour, great instruction znd delicious recipes. my daughter and i enjoyed it immensely.”

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8.Market and Cooking Class at a Local’s Home

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $246

Meet a Cesarina, shop at a Florence-area market, then cook three regional dishes in a private home. Hosts may include Luca, Barbara, or Cecilia. You’ll work with supplied ingredients, eat what you make, and enjoy water, coffee, and local red and white wines.

“It was fantastic! Barbara was my Host/Teacher and made me feel comfortable and was so friendly. Loved the market tour where we bought what we needed for our meal. I like to seeing how locals get their everyday groceries. The basil was twice as fragrant and tomatoes and melon were twice as sweet as anything I have at home in Brooklyn, NY. I even rolled Gnocchi 🫰🏽🤌🏽 I had the honor or having a class to myself so it was very special. And there was soooo much food ! Highly recommend for a non-touristy relaxed activity for food lovers”

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9.Dolce Vita by Day Market Tour & Pasta Making Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $130

Meet Ileana at Sant'Ambrogio Market for a five-hour food experience limited to four people. You’ll taste seasonal produce, cheese, salumi, bread, wine, and spritz, then make two fresh pastas, sauces, and tiramisu in her Florentine apartment. The class is vegetarian-friendly, but not suitable for vegans or gluten-free diets.

“What a wonderful experience from start to finish. Ileana took us to the outdoor market to show us the in season produce as well as the meat, cheese and fish vendors in the covered market where we sampled cheeses, bread and wine. Next to her lovely home where we learned to make tiramisu, handmade pasta dough from which we made ricotta and lemon filled ravioli which we paired with a fresh tomato sauce and tagliatelle noodles. with eggplant sauce. The food was delicious, her knowledge of Florence and food exceptional and we came away with new skills, full stomachs and helpful recommendations for places to eat in Florence and things…”

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