Pasta, Pesto and Tiramisu Class in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre

Three dishes, one afternoon: handmade pasta, fragrant pesto, creamy tiramisu

A cooking class in Riomaggiore where you make traditional Ligurian trofie pasta by hand, prepare pesto Genovese using the seven classic ingredients, and learn tiramisu from a local recipe: all in a private 16th-century home with a roof terrace overlooking the village. The class runs 2.5 hours, includes a welcome glass of prosecco, the dishes you've prepared paired with local white wine, and starts promptly. Arrivals more than 15 minutes late are not accommodated.

The experience

You arrive in Riomaggiore with a free afternoon and climb ten minutes from the train station or harbour to a 16th-century home in the heart of the village. A welcome glass of prosecco and your host's dog Ettore greet you before you move to the prepared tables. What follows is three dishes, made in order: tiramisu first, so it can rest while you work on the other two.

Tiramisu comes down to five ingredients and the balance between them: mascarpone, coffee, ladyfingers, cocoa, and technique. You layer them yourself, learning where the tradition sits and where the recipe bends. Then you move to pesto: seven ingredients (basil, garlic, cheese, pine nuts, olive oil, and two others) blended by hand using the Ligurian method, fragrant enough that the smell stays on your hands for hours. Last is trofie (the small twisted pasta that holds pesto best) rolled by hand from just flour, water and salt. It takes practice. The shapes won't be perfect, and that is the point.

When the cooking ends, you eat what you've made. The trofie you rolled goes into the pesto you blended. The tiramisu you layered comes to the table. A glass of local white wine pairs with the meal, and the roof terrace on the third floor opens onto the village and the sea: the colorful tower-houses stacked on the steep hillside below you, the water beyond. The class holds to its start time. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, it does not run.

What’s included

• A welcome glass of prosecco and a glass of local white wine paired with the dishes you've made.
• fresh trofie pasta rolled by hand, vibrant pesto Genovese made from seven classic ingredients, and creamy tiramisu prepared from a local family recipe.
• all instruction, ingredients and use of the kitchen.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 17:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (14 to 65 years) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cooking with Luca

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a free afternoon in Cinque Terre and want to spend it making three dishes you'll eat the same day, in a home with a view of the village instead of in a restaurant watching someone else cook. The fixed schedule and the 10-minute walk from the station mean you can arrive by train and be at the table within the hour.

Traveler reviews

4.85★★★★★★★★★★

80 verified traveler reviews

5 ★73

4 ★4

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can I do this class if I have a food allergy or dietary restriction?

The class is not suitable for vegans, celiacs, or people with severe food allergies. If you communicate a food intolerance or allergy on the day, you can still attend, but nothing will be provided for you to eat.

What is trofie pasta and why does it pair so well with pesto?

Trofie is a small, hand-rolled twisted pasta traditional to Liguria. Its shape and texture hold creamy pesto better than flat or smooth pasta, so each bite carries the fragrant sauce evenly.

How do I get to the class from Riomaggiore train station?

The class takes place in a private home about 10 minutes walk uphill from Riomaggiore train station. Public parking is also about 10 minutes walk away and costs 3.5 euros per hour. The harbour is 10-15 minutes walk from the home.

What time does the class start and how long does it run?

The class runs for 2.5 hours and begins at a fixed time. Arrivals more than 15 minutes late are not accommodated, so plan to arrive early.

Is this class suitable for beginners with no cooking experience?

Yes. The class teaches you to make each dish from scratch (tiramisu, pesto, and trofie) using simple ingredients and traditional technique. No prior experience is required.

What's included in the price besides the food I make?

The class includes a welcome glass of prosecco before you start, a glass of local white wine to drink with the meal you've prepared, and all fees and taxes.