Sicily Cooking Classes: the 15 Worth Booking

1.Pasta and Tiramisu Small Group Cooking Class with Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 348 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $83Our pick

In central Palermo, you’ll make fresh fettuccine, ricotta-spinach ravioli, and tiramisu in an English-language class led by instructors including Simone. The three-hour session begins with Prosecco, includes wine and soft drinks, and ends with a shared meal of the food you prepared. Recipes are provided, and the group is capped at 12.

“Fun times, great class, met lovely people and our food was great!! The wine was plentiful and the location is perfect.”

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2.Sicilian Cuisine Cooking Class in Palermo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 208 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $125

Chef Antonio hosts this small-group Sicilian cooking class at Domus Kitchen, an outdoor kitchen at his family home outside Palermo. From 6 to 10:30 pm, you help prepare seafood, pasta, swordfish, pistachio dishes, and dessert, then sit down with the family for dinner, wine, and conversation. Meat and vegetarian menus are available with advance notice.

“Antonio is passionate and knowledgeable about cooking. He shares his love of cooking and Italy with you and he makes sure that everyone is enjoying themselves. A really fun night for people with basic skills. To note, the venue which is Antonio and family’s house is 40 minutes away on outskirts of Palermo. He kindly arranged a shared ride which was reasonable. Would recommend for a fun evening out. Antonio and family were lovely and the food delicious!”

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3.In the province of Palermo Sicilian Cooking Class near Cefalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 203 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $120

Meet Graziella Gugliotta at her villa near Campofelice di Roccella, close to Cefalu, for a hands-on Sicilian cooking lesson. You may make fresh pasta, ravioli, caponata, pizza, or local desserts, depending on the menu. English instruction, wine, dinner, and all cooking supplies are included. Plan on roughly three to four hours.

“A perfect pizza class in a beautiful cooking school apartment with gorgeous views of the sea and mountains. Our teacher, Graziella is so welcoming, charming, funny, positive, and professional. Her communication was perfect and she even very kindly switched to a pizza class instead of a pasta class for us at the last moment. The recipes were easy and Graziella was so patient with our lack of cooking skills. We had the best time!”

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4.Sicilian Cooking Class in Taormina

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $127

Meet at Porta Messina Restaurant at 10 a.m. for coffee, a market visit, and a hands-on Sicilian cooking class led by the chef and staff. You’ll make bread, pasta, and several local dishes, taste cheese and salami with Sicilian wine, enjoy lunch with sea views, and take home an apron, recipes, and a certificate.

“Amazing experience! The robust class was well constructed with valuable knowledgeable instruction. We highly recommend”

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5.Sicilian Cooking Class in Taormina

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 171 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $127

Meet your English-speaking chef near Porta Messina at 10:00 a.m. Shop for seasonal ingredients in Taormina’s market, then prepare a three-course Sicilian meal in a nearby restaurant. You may make maccheroni, caponata, fish, eggplant Parmesan, or pistachio pesto, followed by wine, lunch, and a cooking certificate.

“THEE BEST day in Sicily by far!! Our instructor/chef Dominic was a warm, lovely person who took us shopping for all the ingredients at the local market, carefully explained everything we were going to make, showed us how to make pasta from scratch, and took us through all the steps in creating a fantastic 3 course lunch. Dominic is talented, well organized, fun to be with and has a great passion for food. I HIGHLY recommend this fabulous experience!!”

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6.Pasta & Gelato Cooking Class in Palermo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $60Best value

At Towns of Italy in central Palermo, local chefs guide you through fresh egg pasta, two pasta shapes, seasonal sauces, and a gelato demonstration. You will eat what you make with wine, receive a digital recipe booklet and certificate, and may add a market tour. Marcello is praised for his warm, lively teaching.

“My husband was hesitant at first, but enjoyed every minute of it! Learning how to prepare the Sicilian dishes and then getting to enjoy them was so much fun and delicious!”

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7.From market to Table Cooking lesson with a local in Sicily

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $163

Meet Letizia or Giuseppe at Syracuse’s Temple of Apollo, shop Ortigia Market for seasonal ingredients, then cook at the family country home. You may prepare fresh pasta, caponata, bruschetta, seafood, and dessert, with wine served at the shared meal. The group is limited to seven people.

“We had a fabulous day with Letizia and her family in Ortigia. She met us in the market where she took us on a shopping trip. There she showed us some of the local delicacies and how the many cultures that have been to Sicily in the past, influence its cuisine today. We then went to her lovely home where we picked fresh herbs, and vegetables from her large garden. And then the cooking and eating began! We were given a sample of local cheeses, some made by her father, as well as pistachios and olives. And of course, some Prosecco! She then instructed us in how to prepare a…”

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8.Sea Villa Cefalù: Hands-on 4-Course Pasta Cooking Class & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $144

Spend about five hours at Villa Palamara near Cefalù with chef Antonio and a sommelier. Prepare fresh pasta alla Norma, pork braciole, stuffed zucchini, orange-fennel salad, and lemon cream, then enjoy the meal with Sicilian wine. The small class, sea views, and practical recipes suit beginners and serious food lovers alike.

“Sicilian Food Lovers was a fantastic experience for our family! We absolutely loved the menu and can’t wait to replicate the braciole, pasta, and salad at home. Antonio was a great teacher, explaining not only how to do things but why you do them that way. We would take the other classes for the arancini and caponata in a heartbeat. We cannot recommend this experience enough.”

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9.Visit of the Ortigia market and cooking class of typical dishes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $155

Meet chef Ettore at Bar Del Ponte for a guided walk through Ortigia’s Ancient Market, tasting and choosing fresh ingredients before cooking Sicilian dishes in his kitchen. You may prepare seafood, eggplant parmigiana, pasta, arancini, couscous and cannoli, then sit down to lunch with your group.

“What a fantastic experience...from selecting fish at the outdoor market, preparing the food and eating our fabulous creations”

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10.Ortigia market tour and traditional cooking lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $240

Meet Teresa near Ortigia’s port for a guided market visit, local tastings, and food shopping. Then travel about 15 minutes to her villa in Arenella and prepare Sicilian dishes such as caponata, pasta, arancine, impanata, and ricotta desserts. The four-and-a-half-hour experience is offered in English for groups of up to six.

“We had a wonderful experience with Teresa. She is kind, patient and an incredible Sicilian cook! We hope to book another cooking lesson with her when we return to Sicily!”

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11.Palermo Rooftop Cooking Class with Full Meal, Wine & Storytelling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $154

Meet chef Fulvio at his Palermo home, visit the city’s oldest market for fresh ingredients, then prepare a seasonal four-course Sicilian meal. You’ll make dishes such as Pasta alla Norma, work with a sous chef, and enjoy local wine, coffee, and rooftop views. The class is in English and limited to 12 people.

“Our family of 14 people enjoyed this experience with Fulvio and his team at the start of our 10 day European vacation. It was one of the more memorable and enjoyable parts of our trip. We were able to spend time together while cooking, drinking wine, and eating at a very authentic Palermo location. Fulvio and his team were wonderful. Highly recommend.”

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12.Market Tour with Cooking Class and Lunch with Negropolis View

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $142

Meet Maria Rita near Ortea Palace Hotel and walk through Ortigia Market, learning about seasonal produce and Sicilian cooking. Then visit her home to make handmade pasta and other dishes suited to your tastes or dietary needs. Sit down to lunch with wine, coffee, and views of the archaeological park. Maria’s husband Pepe may join the meal.

“We had an unforgettable day with Maria Rita and got to know the soul of Sicilian food. First we walked the local market, where she had a lot of friends who offered us all kinds of samples. We discussed food options and picked ingredients for our cooking adventure. After a walk to her beautiful home, the cooking began. Making home made pasta seems easy but was harder than expected. After a while we made good progress while Maria Rita started preparing fish and vegetable. Finally the meal was ready and we tried all the fantastic food, and shared a good conversation on Sicilian traditions and food from different regions. We…”

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13.Cesarine: Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Palermo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $174

Spend about three hours in a private Palermo home cooking Sicilian food with hosts such as Rosa Maria, Pina, or Alice and Francesco. You may prepare fresh pasta, Pasta alla Norma, arancine, or seasonal dishes, then eat together with local wine. Menus vary, so message ahead with dietary needs or requests.

“We had the most wonderful experience with Rosa Maria making arancine. We were a group of 7 all family traveling together in Sicily. We make “arancinis” at home and had so much fun learning more about the culinary tradition as it is done here in Palermo. Rosa Maria and her helper was gracious and friendly. I would absolutely take another class with them.”

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14.Catania Home Cooking: Pistachio Ravioli, Sicilian Pasta & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 11 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $106

Spend about three hours in a Catania home kitchen making pistachio-filled ravioli, caserecce, gnocchetti, Sicilian sauces, bruschette, and a ricotta-based dessert. Hosts have included Angela, Anna, Daniela, Francesco, Barbi, Silvia, and Antonio. The class is in English, limited to six people, and ends with a shared meal and local wine.

“This is highly recommended activity in Catania. Our host Miss Daniela and Mr Francesco gave us a wonderful night that you won't forget!! Homemade dishes are very tasty. We enjoy a lot!!”

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15.Dining Experience at a local’s Home in Campofelice di Roccella with Show Cooking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $100

Meet your host in Campofelice di Roccella for a private two-and-a-half-hour meal at a local home. Watch fresh pasta and traditional dishes prepared before you, then enjoy a seasonal starter, second course with side dish, and typical dessert. The experience is offered in English and ends where it begins.

“Rosa Maria in Cefalu was awesome and excellent. She was well prepared and very kind and pleasant. The food experience was excellent also!”

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