Riomaggiore cooking class: Make gnocchi and pesto

Make gnocchi and pesto from scratch, then sit down to eat them overlooking the water.

A three-hour cooking class in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, where you learn to make gnocchi and Genovese pesto in a local's home with sea views, then eat the dishes you've prepared with local wines and dessert. The class runs in English or Italian with a live guide. You choose between the full class or an express pesto-only option at checkout. Small groups keep the workstation intimate and the instruction hands-on.

The experience

You'll work at a fully-equipped station in a Cesarina host's home overlooking the Ligurian coast. The class covers two dishes: homemade gnocchi and Genovese pesto, both central to the region's food tradition. Your host guides you through each step, using recipes passed down through her family, and explains the story behind the dishes as you work. Everything you need (utensils, ingredients, workspace) is already there.

After the hands-on lesson, you move to the table and eat what you've made. The meal includes the gnocchi and pesto you prepared, fresh fruit or a dessert your host has made, and a selection of local red and white wines. The three hours wrap around the cooking and the eating, so there's no rush between them. Water and coffee come with the meal.

Two options are available at checkout: the full class covering both gnocchi and pesto, or an express version focused on pesto alone. Public transportation stops nearby if you're traveling without a car.

What’s included

• All ingredients and cooking utensils.
• hands-on instruction in a local's home.
• the gnocchi and pesto you make.
• local red and white wines.
• fresh fruit or dessert.
• water and coffee.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or ItalianAvailable from 30 Apr 2027

Guide in English or Italian10:00 and 17:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 17:00

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “From the meeting point, you'll need to walk 200m uphill to Cesarina's house. Descend the hill's terraced steps, turn right at the sign for "I Foresti" Farm, and follow the path to Cesarina's house.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by Cesarine: Cooking Class

Is this one for you?The full gnocchi and pesto class suits anyone who wants to learn two complete dishes and have time to cook without rushing. The express pesto option works for travelers with less time or those who want to focus on one technique. Both options end with eating what you've made, so the choice is about depth rather than whether you'll sit down to a meal.

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

29 verified traveler reviews

5 ★28

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What exactly do I learn to make in the Riomaggiore cooking class?

You learn to make homemade gnocchi and Genovese pesto, two signature dishes of Liguria. The full class covers both. An express option focuses on pesto alone. Your Cesarina host teaches the techniques her family has used for generations.

Do I eat the food I cook, or is it just a lesson?

You eat everything you've made. After the hands-on cooking, you sit down to a meal of the gnocchi and pesto you prepared, paired with local wines, fresh fruit, and a dessert your host has made.

How long does the whole experience take?

The class runs three hours total, combining the hands-on cooking instruction and the meal together. There's no separate tour or travel time built in.

What's included in the price?

The class includes all ingredients and utensils, the instruction, the meal you cook and eat, local wines, water, coffee, and dessert. Local taxes are covered.

Is the class in English?

Yes, the live guide teaches in English or Italian. You can choose your preferred language when you book.