Tuscan Cooking Class Siena: Handmade pasta & wine dinner

Can you really make pici pasta by hand in an afternoon?

You'll spend three to four hours learning to make five traditional Tuscan dishes from scratch (fresh pasta, soup, a main course, sides, and dessert) under the guidance of Francesco, who's been teaching this since 1996. The class includes all ingredients, techniques, and a full dinner with local wine at the end. You'll leave with recipes written down and the muscle memory of how to make pici by hand.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tuscan cooking class and dinner

• Arrive at cooking school in Siena
• Learn to prepare starter soup
• Make fresh handmade pasta
• Cook main dishes with local ingredients
• Prepare typical Siena desserts
• Enjoy dinner with Tuscan wine

The experience

So yeah, Francesco's been running this cooking school since 1996, and the first thing he does is hand you flour and eggs and doesn't let you overthink it. The Siena cooking class moves fast. You're not standing around watching a demo, you're actually rolling out pasta, learning the sauce, tasting as you go. The group stays under fifteen people, which means you're not crammed in, and he'll catch your mistakes before they become disasters. The menu changes with the season, but you're always making at least five dishes: maybe pappa con il pomodoro (that's bread and tomato soup, and it's simpler than it sounds), pici with aglione sauce, a meat dish with roasted potatoes, and a Siena cake for dessert.

What gets you is the handmade pasta part. Not the idea of it, the actual doing. Francesco shows you the technique once, then your hands are in the dough, and you realize how much muscle memory goes into something that looks effortless when someone else does it. The ingredients are all local and seasonal, so what you're learning isn't some generic Italian cooking. It's what people in Tuscany actually make at home. If you need vegetarian or gluten-free, they'll adjust the menu before you arrive. And because you're learning in a real cooking school, not a tourist kitchen, the whole thing feels less like a class and more like someone's letting you into how they actually cook.

When the cooking's done, you sit down with your group and eat everything you just made. There's a quarter-liter of local Tuscan red wine per person, and it's included, which means you're not doing the mental math at the end. The meal is the whole point. You taste what you made, you see how it comes together on a plate, and you get handouts with all the recipes so you can actually recreate this stuff when you're home. Private morning classes at 10 AM are available if you want to book alone or with just your people, but the group sessions run in English and have a friendlier energy because everyone's learning at the same pace.

What’s included

• Your class includes a complete traditional Tuscan menu prepared from scratch: appetizer, soup, handmade fresh pasta, a main course with sides, and dessert.
• You'll learn practical cooking techniques and receive written recipes to take home.
• The final dinner is served with a quarter-liter of local Tuscan red wine per person.
• The experience takes place in a real cooking school run by Francesco, a local chef with over 25 years of teaching experience, and the atmosphere is friendly and informal rather than formal instruction.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 16:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Under 11: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by scuola di cucina di lella

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to actually cook, not watch. You're making five dishes with your hands, not observing from a stool. The small group size (max 15) and Francesco's focus on Tuscan family recipes mean you'll learn techniques you can use at home, not just follow a script for the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What's the minimum group size for the Siena cooking class?

Four people. If you have fewer, you can book a private class instead.

Is wine included in the dinner?

Yes. You get a quarter-liter of local Tuscan red wine per person with the meal.

Can you do a private class?

Yes. Private lessons are available in the morning at 10 AM. Other languages are available for private bookings only. Group classes run in English.

What if you're vegetarian or gluten-free?

Both menus are available. Let them know when you book so they can adjust the recipes.

Do you get the recipes to take home?

Yes. You receive handouts with all the recipes you prepared during the class.

Is the school wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are also wheelchair accessible.

What dishes do you typically make?

The menu varies by season, but usually includes pappa con il pomodoro (bread and tomato soup), pici with aglione sauce, a meat dish with roasted potatoes, and a regional Siena cake.