Positano: Small-Group Cooking Class with Gnocchi & Tiramisù

Summary

Make gnocchi with limoncello, pick garden veggies, share laughter over homemade tiramisù in Positano

You’ll join a small group in Positano for hands-on gnocchi making with local hosts, pick fresh vegetables from their garden, taste homemade limoncello gnocchi and classic tiramisù, then linger over lunch with wine in their villa kitchen. It’s warm, messy fun—and you’ll leave feeling like part of the family.

What’s the experience like?

We were already halfway up the hill in Montepertuso when our host waved us down—big smile, apron already on. I’d barely caught my breath from the climb (the stairs here are no joke), but she handed me a glass of prosecco before I could say anything. The kitchen smelled like basil and something sweet I couldn’t place. There were two other travelers at the table, already nibbling on bruschetta and olives. Our guide’s mum—everyone just called her Mamma—showed us how to roll gnocchi dough with her hands, “not too hard, not too soft,” she kept saying. My first try looked more like a potato worm than pasta, but nobody seemed to mind.

After we’d finished shaping what felt like a hundred little gnocchi (I lost count), we followed Mamma out to the garden. The sun was sharp but there was this cool breeze off the sea—you could hear chickens somewhere nearby and the faint clang of church bells from Positano below. We picked tomatoes straight from the vine; they were warm and almost bursting. I tried to ask about one of the herbs in Italian and got it totally wrong—Li laughed so hard she nearly dropped her basket. That’s when it hit me how relaxed everyone was, even though we’d only just met.

Back inside, we cooked two kinds of gnocchi: one classic with tomato sauce and mozzarella, and another that surprised me—a family recipe with limoncello. Honestly, I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did; there’s something about that lemony kick with the soft pasta that still makes my mouth water thinking about it now. Lunch turned into more of a slow feast than a meal—wine kept appearing, someone put music on quietly in the background, and Mamma insisted we eat more meatballs (“just one more!”). Making tiramisù together got messy fast; cocoa everywhere, fingers sticky with mascarpone. Nobody cared.

I left feeling full in every way—not just food (though definitely that), but something else too. Maybe it’s sharing recipes you’ll probably never quite get right at home or sitting around a table where everyone’s stories mix together for an afternoon. Anyway, if you’re looking for a cooking class in Positano that feels real—and not just for show—I’d do this again tomorrow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cooking class with gnocchi and tiramisù

• Meet at Montepertuso main square
• Travel to villa for welcome aperitive
• Learn to prepare fresh gnocchi
• Pick fresh vegetables and fruits in garden
• Discover secrets to make tiramisù
• Enjoy meal with local wine

Top questions

Is pickup included for this Positano cooking class?

Yes, pickup is included from the main square of Montepertuso before heading to the villa.

What dishes do you make during the class?

You’ll make two types of gnocchi (classic tomato sauce and limoncello), plus tiramisù.

Are drinks provided during the experience?

Yes, prosecco or wine is served along with soda or bottled water throughout lunch.

Is this cooking class suitable for children or infants?

Infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are welcome and infant seats are available.

Where does the Positano cooking class take place?

The class is held in a family villa near Montepertuso above Positano.

Do you pick ingredients from the garden during this tour?

Yes, guests pick fresh vegetables and fruits directly from the hosts’ garden as part of the experience.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from Montepertuso’s main square, all drinks like prosecco or local wine plus bottled water and soda, hands-on cooking instruction for gnocchi and tiramisù in a small group setting inside a family villa kitchen, fresh ingredients straight from their garden, and a long lunch featuring everything you’ve made together before heading back down into town.