Italian Cooking Class in Sorrento with Local Chef

Cook three courses in a working kitchen, then sit down to eat them

A hands-on cooking class in Sorrento where you prepare a full three-course meal under the guidance of Rita and Luisa, two sisters rooted in the region's culinary traditions. The class starts in their vegetable garden picking seasonal ingredients, moves into the kitchen where you make each dish yourself, and ends at the table with wine, water, coffee and limoncello. Minimum age is 15. The class runs only if enough guests book.

The experience

You start in the garden behind the house, picking the vegetables and herbs that will go into your meal: some grown by Rita, the rest sourced from the Sorrento Peninsula. A welcome drink and finger food come first, then you move into the kitchen. Rita and Luisa walk you through each step as you prepare the dishes yourself: hand-rolled ravioli, fresh pasta, gnocchi alla Sorrentina, or the catch of the day cooked all'acqua pazza, depending on what's in season and what the menu calls for. You're not watching a demonstration. You're the one kneading, shaping and cooking.

The class lasts three hours. By the end, you sit down to eat everything you've made (antipasto, pasta course, main dish, and dessert) with half a bottle of local red or white wine per person, mineral water, coffee and a pour of limoncello. The menus come straight from the family cookbook and shift with the seasons to use what's best right now. If you have allergies or dietary needs, Rita and Luisa adjust the menu to fit.

The villa sits in central Sorrento, and public transportation options are nearby. The class needs a minimum number of guests to run, so it's confirmed once enough people book. Wheelchair access is available, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• Three-course meal you prepare yourself.
• welcome drink with finger food.
• half a bottle of local red or white wine per person.
• mineral water.
• coffee and limoncello.
• access to the family garden to pick seasonal ingredients.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day at 10:00 and 16:00, from € 160 per person, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 16:00Other times ›

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12 · max 8 per booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.2 with pickup ›

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 today

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Bella Sorrento Cooking School

Is this one for you?The class asks three hours of hands-on work in the kitchen with Rita and Luisa guiding you through each step, so it suits someone who wants to learn by doing rather than watch a chef cook. If you're free for an afternoon and want to leave with a skill you can use at home, this one stays with you longer than a meal out.

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Top questions

What dishes do I actually make in this cooking class?

The menu changes with the season, but typically includes hand-rolled ravioli, fresh pasta, gnocchi alla Sorrentina, eggplant rolls, meatballs, and a main course like fish all'acqua pazza. Dessert might be chocolate lava cake, caprese cake or Neapolitan doughnuts. Rita and Luisa build the menu from their family cookbook based on what's fresh that day.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class in Sorrento?

No. The class is hands-on but Rita and Luisa supervise every step, so beginners work alongside anyone else. You need to be at least 15 years old.

Where do the ingredients come from?

Some vegetables and herbs come from Rita's garden behind the house. The rest are sourced from local producers on the Sorrento Peninsula. The menu shifts seasonally to use what's available, so you're always working with what's best right now.

Is wine and food included in the price?

Yes. The class includes a three-course meal you've prepared, plus half a bottle of local wine per person, mineral water, coffee and limoncello. A welcome drink with finger food comes at the start.

How long is the cooking class?

The class runs three hours, starting with the garden visit and ending when you finish eating the meal you've cooked.

What if I have food allergies or dietary restrictions?

Tell Rita and Luisa when you book. They tailor the menu to accommodate allergies and dietary needs, so you can still prepare and eat a full meal.