Florence: Cooking Class & Historic Market Tour with Lunch

Summary

Florence market strolls, hands-on Tuscan cooking, shared laughter at lunch

You’ll wander Florence’s lively market with a local chef, handpick fresh ingredients, and learn to cook classic Tuscan dishes step by step. Share stories (and maybe some laughs) as you roll pasta or stir stew together. The day ends around the table with wine and dessert—the kind of lunch that lingers in your memory long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

You hear it before you see it—the slap of fish on ice, someone calling “pomodori!” across the stalls. The Florence market isn’t quiet. It’s all color and chatter and the smell of herbs I can’t name (our chef, Paolo, tried to teach me—my pronunciation is hopeless). We picked out black cabbage, beans, and these tomatoes that looked almost too pretty to eat. I didn’t expect to laugh so much before 10am.

Walking back through the narrow streets with our bags full of ingredients, I kept thinking about how normal this is for locals—just another Tuesday shopping trip. Paolo told us stories about his grandmother’s kitchen while we rolled out pappardelle dough. My hands were sticky with flour and there was truffle everywhere (not complaining). Someone burned the croutons a little but nobody cared. There was this moment when everyone went quiet tasting the peposo beef stew—just for a second—and then we all started talking at once again.

Lunch felt more like a family gathering than a class. We poured each other wine (Tuscan, naturally), dunked cantucci into vin santo, and swapped recipe notes like we’d all grown up together. I still think about that view from the window—sunlight on terracotta roofs—and how good it felt to just slow down for a few hours in Florence. Honestly, I left with sauce stains on my shirt and zero regrets.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Florence market visit and cooking class

• Visit Florence historic market
• Select organic seasonal ingredients
• Prepare four-course Tuscan meal
• Enjoy lunch with prepared dishes
• Drink Tuscan wine during lunch

Top questions

Is this Florence cooking class suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, vegetarians are welcome but you should inform them in advance.

Are kids allowed in the Florence cooking course?

No, children under 10 years old are not admitted to the class.

What dishes do you cook during this Florence cooking class?

The menu includes croutons with black cabbage and beans, pappardelle with truffle, peposo beef stew, and cantucci with vin santo.

Does the tour include drinks or wine?

Yes, lunch includes drinks and Tuscan wine.

Where does the cooking class take place?

The class starts at the historic market in Florence and continues at a professional cookery school nearby.

Will I get recipes to take home?

Yes, recipes are included so you can recreate the dishes later.

Is public transportation available near the meeting point?

Yes, there are public transportation options nearby.

If I have food allergies or intolerances can I join?

Please inform them in advance; severe celiacs may not attend due to possible contamination.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walk through Florence’s historic market to choose seasonal ingredients with your chef, all recipes to take home, an expert-led hands-on cooking class (with no more than 15 per chef), agency assistance at check-in, plus lunch featuring your own four-course Tuscan meal paired with drinks—including local wine—before heading off into your afternoon satisfied.