Palermo Rooftop Cooking Class: Learn Sicilian Recipes

Cook Sicilian dishes on a terrace above the city, then eat them together

A hands-on cooking class in Palermo on a panoramic rooftop where you prepare a complete Sicilian menu from scratch with a local chef, then sit down to enjoy the meal you've cooked paired with Sicilian wine. Learn traditional techniques and family recipes while hearing stories about Palermo's food culture and the deep connection between Sicilians and their land.

The experience

The class starts on a 7th-floor terrace with a glass of Sicilian wine and a view of the city below. Your chef introduces the philosophy behind Sicilian cooking (simple, seasonal ingredients and recipes passed down through generations), then you move straight into the work. This is not a demonstration or a short pasta-making exercise. You prepare a complete menu from scratch: local and seasonal appetizers, a pasta course (often Pasta alla Norma depending on what's available), a chef's surprise, and dessert. Throughout, you learn traditional techniques and the family secrets behind Sicily's most iconic dishes.

The chef weaves stories into the cooking: about Palermo's markets, local food traditions, and why Sicilians have such a fierce connection to their land and what they eat. After you finish cooking, everyone sits down together on the terrace to eat the meal you've made. Sicilian wine comes with generous refills, and the mood is relaxed, social, and genuinely local. The whole experience runs about four hours from arrival to the last sip of coffee.

Vegetarian and vegan guests can arrange a fully plant-based menu in advance, with dishes like Parmigiana di melanzane, vegetable timballo, and cauliflower meatballs prepared using the same techniques and seasonal ingredients as the standard menu. Infants can attend if held on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available. The terrace is accessible by public transportation, though the operator does not provide hotel pickup or drop-off.

What’s included

• Four-course cooking class and dinner.
• Sicilian wine with generous refills.
• local and seasonal appetizers, pasta, chef's surprise, and dessert.
• snacks.
• water and coffee.

Options for this experience

2 options

Rooftop Cooking Class in Palermo with a Complete Meal, Wine and StorytellingGuide in English or Italian · 10:00 and 18:00

Veg & VeganGuide in English or Italian · 10:00 and 18:00Plant-based tradition at 100%: Enjoy Sicilian heritage with a plant-based spin: Vegetable Timballo, Pasta alla Norma, Cauliflower Fritters, Parmigiana.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 18:00

Book up to8h before

GroupUp to 12 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Italian

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 today

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by CURIOSEETY

Is this one for you?Book the vegetarian or vegan option if you follow a plant-based diet: the chef prepares a full traditional Sicilian menu using the same techniques and seasonal ingredients, not a simplified alternative. The class runs four hours, so plan for a morning or afternoon when you have that block free and can arrive hungry.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What dishes do I actually cook during the class?

You prepare a complete Sicilian menu: local and seasonal appetizers (such as panelle, crocché, or bruschetta alla siciliana), a pasta course like Pasta alla Norma or another type depending on seasonal availability, a chef's surprise dish, and a dessert such as tiramisù or seasonal local fruit. The chef teaches traditional techniques for each course.

Is the wine included, or do I pay extra for it?

Sicilian wine is included with generous refills throughout the meal after you finish cooking. Water and coffee are also provided.

Can I do this class if I'm vegetarian or vegan?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan guests can arrange a fully plant-based menu in advance, with traditional Sicilian dishes like Parmigiana di melanzane, vegetable timballo, and cauliflower meatballs prepared using the same techniques and seasonal ingredients as the standard menu.

How long does the whole experience take?

The class runs about four hours from your arrival through the meal and coffee at the end.

What's the view like from the terrace?

The terrace is on the 7th floor overlooking Palermo, so you cook and eat with the city spread out below you. The chef introduces the experience with a glass of wine so you can take in the view as you settle in.