Private Risotto Class in Milan with a Local Chef

Cook risotto the way locals do, then eat what you made

A private three-hour risotto class in Milan taught by Niccolò and Francesca, a local couple who cook from family tradition. You'll make a risotto (Milanese, mushroom, seafood or seasonal) depending on the time of year, then sit down to dinner with wine and Italian starters and dessert. The recipe and a kitchen gadget go home with you.

The experience

You arrive at the apartment in Cenisio, a residential Milan neighborhood that sits between the tourist zones of Garibaldi and Arco della Pace. Niccolò and Francesca meet you there and walk you through the fundamentals of risotto: a Lombardy dish that looks simple but adapts to seasons, ingredients and modern technique in ways few Italian dishes can. The lesson plan shifts with the time of year: in fall and winter you might make Milanese risotto with saffron, mushroom risotto, or a pear and gorgonzola version. In spring and summer, the focus moves to seafood risotto or one built around seasonal vegetables and Franciacorta cream sauce.

You cook alongside them for the full three hours, learning the hand movements and timing that separate risotto from rice soup. Niccolò grew up cooking with his grandfather in Tuscany and later trained under his father, a professional chef. Francesca brings her own kitchen knowledge. They share not just technique but the reasoning behind each step: why you stir, when you add stock, how you know when it is done. At the end, they hand you the written recipe so you can make it again at home.

Dinner happens at the table: Italian starters (bruschette), the risotto you made, and a choice of tiramisu or chocolate muffin with cinnamon and cream. Wine is included throughout, and the hosts talk you through what you are drinking. You leave with the recipe, a kitchen gadget as a keepsake, and the muscle memory of how risotto actually works.

What’s included

• Three-hour private cooking class with Niccolò and Francesca.
• instruction in making a seasonal risotto.
• Italian starters and dessert.
• wine throughout the class and dinner.
• the written recipe.
• a kitchen gadget keepsake.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 19:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

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 yesterday

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by eatwith

Is this one for you?Three hours is long enough to learn risotto properly but leaves your morning or early evening free. Book this if you have a free afternoon and want to spend it cooking and eating rather than sightseeing, or if you arrive in Milan with a few hours before dinner plans elsewhere in the city.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What risotto will I learn to make?

The risotto depends on the season. Fall and winter lessons cover Milanese risotto with saffron, mushroom risotto, or pear and gorgonzola. Spring and summer focus on seafood risotto or seasonal vegetable risotto with Franciacorta cream sauce. You and the hosts can agree on which one suits your interests.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. Niccolò and Francesca teach from the ground up, and the class is designed so you learn by doing alongside them for the full three hours. They explain the reasoning behind each step, not just the motions.

Is wine included, and what about dietary restrictions?

Wine is included throughout the class and dinner. If you have food allergies or follow a special diet, let the hosts know when you book so they can adjust the menu and ingredients ahead of time.

What happens after we cook?

You sit down together to eat the risotto you made, along with Italian starters, wine, and dessert. The hosts give you the written recipe and a kitchen gadget to take home so you can recreate the dish later.

How do I get to the Cenisio neighborhood from central Milan?

Cenisio is a residential area in north Milan, accessible by public transportation. The apartment is wheelchair accessible, and transportation options in the area are also wheelchair accessible if you need them.