Apulian Pasta Cooking Class in Polignano a Mare

Make two types of Puglian pasta by hand, then sit down to eat what you've made

An Apulian cooking class in Polignano a Mare where you learn to shape orecchiette and cavatelli from a local chef who guards the traditional recipes. The class runs two hours and includes an aperitif with regional wine, taralli and seasonal vegetables, followed by lunch with the pasta you've made and other local specialties. A guide speaks English or Italian.

The experience

You arrive at the kitchen in Polignano a Mare and start with your hands in the dough. A local chef walks you through the technique for orecchiette (the small, ear-shaped pasta that defines Puglian cooking), and cavatelli, teaching you how the shape and thickness matter to the way the sauce clings. This is not a demonstration you watch from a stool. You're shaping each piece yourself, working at your own pace while the chef corrects your grip and your pressure on the dough.

Before you cook, you pause for an aperitif: crispy taralli, seasonal vegetables, and a selection of regional products in oil, all paired with Apulian wine. It's the flavors of the region in one sitting, and it sets the tone for what comes next. Then the pasta goes into the pot, and within minutes you're tasting what your own hands made, plated with more typical Apulian products. The meal is part of the class. You eat together, and the food is the proof that the technique worked.

The class runs two hours total, which holds the cooking, the aperitif and the meal inside one morning or afternoon. You can book in English or Italian, and if you have food allergies or intolerances, let the kitchen know when you reserve. The space is wheelchair accessible, and children can attend: infants sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Professional chef instruction in English or Italian.
• aperitif with Apulian wine, taralli and seasonal vegetables.
• lunch with the orecchiette and cavatelli you've made, plus typical Apulian products.
• all kitchen utensils needed for the class.

Options for this experience

2 options

Cooking Class in Polignano a Mare: Making Orecchiette with Aperitif and WineGuide in English or Italian · 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00

Full Cooking ExperienceGuide in English or Italian · 19:30The session runs for 2 hours and includes dinner: you'll learn to prepare Apulian pasta and focaccia alongside local chefs, then savor what you've made together with dessert, limoncello and wine.

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 11:00, 14:00, 17:00 and 19:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (7 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Pugliamare

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a free morning or afternoon in the region and want to learn a skill you can use at home: the hands-on format and the meal at the end mean you're not just watching someone cook, you're making it yourself and tasting the result while you're still in the kitchen.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 17 years); Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I learn to make in this cooking class?

You make orecchiette and cavatelli, two of the most famous Puglian pasta shapes. The chef teaches you the hand-shaping technique for each one, starting from dough and finishing with the finished piece ready to cook.

Is this a hands-on class or do I watch a demonstration?

This is hands-on. You shape the pasta yourself at your own pace while the chef guides you. It's not a performance. You're learning by doing, with correction and instruction as you work.

What's included in the two hours?

The class includes the aperitif with wine and local products, the hands-on pasta-making instruction, and lunch with the orecchiette and cavatelli you've made plus other Apulian specialties. Kitchen utensils and a professional chef are part of it.