Pesto Cooking Class in Manarola: Make it by hand with wine

Pound pesto by hand and taste what you made

A hands-on pesto-making class in Manarola where you learn the traditional Ligurian technique using a marble mortar and wooden pestle, working with fresh local basil and pine nuts. You make the sauce yourself, then sit down to eat it on warm homemade focaccia paired with a glass of Cinque Terre white wine, and take the recipe home with you.

The experience

Manarola's narrow streets and pastel buildings set the scene, but the real work happens in a warm, intimate kitchen where you meet a local chef and roll up your sleeves. Forget the blender. This class teaches you the way Italian grandmothers still make pesto: entirely by hand, using a classic marble mortar and wooden pestle. You'll work with the freshest Ligurian basil, pine nuts, garlic and premium olive oil, learning the exact balance and technique that makes the difference between rushed and real.

After you've pounded your way through the process, the payoff arrives: you sit down with your group to taste what you made, spread thick on warm homemade focaccia. A glass of crisp local white wine goes with it. The recipe comes home with you, so you can recreate this for people who ask how you learned to make it taste like that.

What’s included

• Hands-on instruction in traditional pesto-making with a marble mortar and wooden pestle.
• fresh local Ligurian basil, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil.
• homemade focaccia to taste your pesto on.
• one glass of Cinque Terre white wine.
• the authentic recipe to take home.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Apr 2027

Book up to6h before

GroupUp to 16

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 4 days ago

Operated by CURIOSEETY

Is this one for you?You do the work yourself in a small group with a local guide who speaks English or Italian, so it suits anyone who wants to actually learn the technique and leave with a skill, not just watch someone else cook.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

How long does the pesto class take?

The class runs about an hour, from the moment you meet your chef through tasting and cleanup.

Do I make the pesto myself, or watch a demonstration?

You make it yourself from start to finish, using the marble mortar and pestle the whole time. It's a hands-on class, not a demo.

What's included in the tasting at the end?

Your freshly made pesto on warm homemade Ligurian focaccia, plus one glass of local Cinque Terre white wine.

Can I take the pesto recipe home?

Yes, you get the authentic recipe to take with you so you can make it again at home.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Let the operator know in advance about any dietary needs or allergies, and they'll work with you on adjustments.