Sicilian Cooking Class in Palermo: Market to Table

You shop the market, then cook and eat a four-course Sicilian meal in the same morning.

A cooking class in Palermo that begins at one of the city's oldest markets, where you pick ingredients for the day, then move to an air-conditioned kitchen to prepare a four-course traditional Sicilian meal (starter, pasta, main and dessert) before sitting down to eat it together with Sicilian wines and homemade liqueurs. The class runs about four and a half hours and suits cooks of any level, including children from age seven.

The experience

What makes this different from a cooking class you sit and watch is that you start where Palermo cooks actually shop. You meet at Porta Carini, the entrance to Mercato del Capo, and walk through the market with your guide to pick the seasonal produce and ingredients you'll need for the lesson. This is not a tour of the market. It's a working stop where you're choosing what goes into your food. Then you walk to the school's air-conditioned kitchen, a short distance away.

The four courses you prepare are built around what Sicily grows right now. You'll make panelle, the fried chickpea fritters that are Palermo street food, and arancini: saffron rice balls filled with ham and cheese, then fried. You roll out fresh pasta by hand and top it with tomato sauce you make, or prepare pasta con le sarde, a Palermitan classic with fresh sardines, wild fennel, saffron, currants and pine nuts. For the main, you might make involtini di carne, thin meat rolls stuffed with cheese and breadcrumbs, or pesce spada panato, swordfish coated in seasoned breadcrumbs. Dessert is either cannoli (fried pastry tubes filled with ricotta and candied orange peel), or cassata, the almond and ricotta cake that is the Sicilian cake. The guide teaches the techniques and tricks as you work, so you can recreate these dishes at home.

After you finish cooking, you sit down together to eat what you've made. The meal comes with a selection of Sicilian wines, then homemade liqueurs and coffee. The whole experience runs from 10:00 until around 14:30. The class welcomes cooks of all levels and children from age seven can join. If you have dietary requirements or food allergies, contact the school before booking so they can adjust the menu.

What’s included

• Market tour at Mercato del Capo where you pick seasonal ingredients.
• instruction in preparing a four-course Sicilian meal.
• the meal itself with Sicilian wines, homemade liqueurs and coffee.
• use of the air-conditioned kitchen and all cooking equipment.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8 · max 7 per booking

Live guideEnglish

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The Sicilian Pantry

Is this one for you?Start your morning in one of Palermo's oldest markets, hand-picking ingredients alongside your instructor, then move to the kitchen to cook what you've found. This is how Sicilian cooks actually work.

Traveler reviews

4.99★★★★★★★★★★

320 verified traveler reviews

5 ★317

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (7 to 12 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between this and a cooking class where you watch a chef?

This class starts at Mercato del Capo, where you shop for the ingredients yourself with your guide before you cook. You're not watching. You're choosing the produce and then preparing all four courses with your own hands in the kitchen.

Do I need to know how to cook to join the Sicilian cooking class?

The class is recommended for cooks of all levels, so beginners are welcome. The guide teaches the techniques and tricks as you work, so you learn as you go.

What exactly do I cook and eat during the four courses?

The menu changes with the season, but typically includes panelle or arancini as a starter; fresh pasta with tomato sauce or pasta con le sarde as the pasta course; a main like involtini di carne or swordfish; and dessert, usually cannoli or cassata. The guide chooses based on what's best at the market that day.

Is wine included with the meal at the end?

Yes, after you cook and sit down to eat, the meal includes a selection of Sicilian wines, followed by homemade liqueurs and coffee.

How long does the whole class take?

The class runs from 10:00 until around 14:30, about four and a half hours total. Market shopping, cooking, and eating together.