Bellagio cooking class with Lake Como views and Villa Melzi

Roll pasta by hand, eat what you made, taste the lake from the table

A hands-on cooking class in Bellagio where you learn to make ravioli, tagliatelle and gnocchi from a local chef, then sit down to lunch with your classmates over wine. The four-hour experience includes entry to Villa Melzi's gardens and a short transfer from central Bellagio to the hilltop restaurant where the class takes place. No cooking experience is required.

The experience

You meet outside Banca Intesa Sanpaolo in central Bellagio and ride five minutes by van to a restaurant perched above the lake. A professional local chef walks you through kneading, rolling and cutting fresh pasta dough (fettuccine, tagliatelle, ravioli), and shaping gnocchi by hand. The chef shares the secret recipe for the pasta dough itself, plus the small tricks that turn the work from clumsy to smooth. You use seasonal, fresh ingredients throughout, and the chef guides every step so there's no guessing.

Once the cooking is done, you sit together at a large table and eat what you made: your ravioli or gnocchi with tagliatelle, local cold cuts, tiramisu for dessert, and a glass of red wine. This is where the class becomes social: conversation flows easily when you're all learning the same thing and tasting the results together. The chef speaks English and Italian, and there's time built in to practice a bit of Italian if you want.

After lunch, you have complimentary entry to Villa Melzi's gardens, a short walk or drive away. The return transfer back to Bellagio is included, so the whole day is contained in one booking.

What’s included

• The cooking class with a professional local chef.
• recipes for the pasta dough and techniques.
• lunch with the pasta you made, cold cuts, tiramisu and a glass of wine.
• complimentary entry to Villa Melzi's gardens.
• round-trip transfer from central Bellagio to the restaurant.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to FridayDepartures at 10:30 and 16:30Last departure this season: 31 Dec

AgesAdult (13 to 75 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by Taste & Travel Italy

Is this one for you?You do the cooking yourself (hands in the dough, rolling and cutting the pasta) rather than watching a demonstration, which is what makes the learning stick and the lunch taste like your own work. The class is shared with other travelers, so it works best if you enjoy meeting people over a meal and don't mind a social pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What exactly do I learn to cook in this class?

You make ravioli, tagliatelle and fettuccine by hand, plus gnocchi. The chef teaches you how to knead and roll the pasta dough, cut it into shape, and get the texture right. You also learn the secret recipe for the dough itself and the techniques that make the difference between rough and smooth work.

Is this class suitable if I've never cooked pasta before?

Yes. The class is designed for all levels and requires no previous cooking experience. The chef walks you through every step, and the social setup means you're learning alongside other first-timers.

What do I eat after the cooking is finished?

You sit down to lunch with the other participants and eat the pasta you made (either ravioli or gnocchi with tagliatelle) along with local cold cuts to start, tiramisu for dessert, and a glass of red wine.

Does the class include entry to Villa Melzi's gardens?

Yes. Complimentary tickets to Villa Melzi's gardens are included in the package. You can visit after lunch before the return transfer to Bellagio.

How do I get to the cooking class from Bellagio?

You meet outside Banca Intesa Sanpaolo on Via Lungo Lario Manzoni in central Bellagio. A driver picks you up in a green and white Volkswagen van and takes you to the hilltop restaurant in about five minutes. The return transfer is also included.

What if I have dietary requirements or allergies?

Let the operator know about any dietary needs at the time of booking so they can prepare accordingly.