Pesto Cooking Class in Monterosso al Mare: Make & Taste

Make pesto the way Ligurian cooks have for centuries, then drink it in.

A one-hour hands-on pesto cooking class in Monterosso al Mare where you make traditional Genoese pesto from scratch using a marble mortar and wooden pestle, guided by a local host in English. You'll blend fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino cheese, then sit down to taste your pesto with local Cinque Terre white wine, bread and regional snacks. Children from age 12 are welcome.

The experience

How do you actually make pesto the way people in Liguria have made it for generations? You start with a marble mortar, a wooden pestle, and fresh basil picked in the region. This class happens in a small local shop in the heart of Monterosso al Mare, and the host walks you through each step: crushing the basil, adding garlic and pine nuts, working in the cheeses, finishing with olive oil. You're not watching a demo. You're doing it, learning the pressure and the rhythm that turn separate ingredients into sauce.

The class runs about an hour, and by the time you finish, you've made pesto the traditional way. Then comes the aperitivo: your homemade pesto spread on bread, paired with local Cinque Terre white wine, cheese, and other regional snacks. It's the moment you taste what you just made, sitting in the warmth of a real Italian gathering. The host shares stories about Ligurian cuisine and local life as you eat, so the class becomes less about technique and more about understanding why this food matters here.

What’s included

• Hands-on pesto making with marble mortar and wooden pestle.
• local Cinque Terre white wine.
• bread, cheese and regional snacks for the aperitivo tasting.
• instruction from a local host in English.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 11:45, 15:00 and 17:30Last departure this season: 8 Jan 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

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 today

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by 5 TerrEx

Is this one for you?Small groups work well here. You'll be making pesto alongside other travelers in a relaxed, convivial setting, not in a large class. This suits anyone who wants to learn a real skill and taste the result in the same afternoon, without needing to arrange transport or find a restaurant afterward.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I make during the pesto cooking class?

You make authentic Genoese pesto from scratch using fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino cheese and extra virgin olive oil. The host guides you through using a marble mortar and wooden pestle, the traditional Ligurian method still used in local homes.

Do I get to taste the pesto after I make it?

Yes. After the class, you sit down to an aperitivo featuring your homemade pesto with bread, local Cinque Terre white wine, cheese and regional snacks.

What language is the class taught in?

The host teaches in English, so you'll understand each step and the stories behind Ligurian cuisine.

How long does the whole experience take?

The class itself runs for one hour, and the aperitivo and tasting follow, so plan for about an hour and a half total from start to finish.