Taormina Cooking Class: 4-Course Sicilian Lunch & Market Tour

Cook four courses of Sicilian food, then eat them on a terrace with a view of the water.

A private cooking class in Taormina where you shop at the local market for ingredients, prepare a full four-course Sicilian lunch under a chef's guidance, and eat what you've made on a panoramic terrace. The class runs six hours and includes hotel or area pickup by air-conditioned car, a typical Sicilian breakfast with granita and brioche, all ingredients, wines and spirits. The chef adjusts the menu each morning based on what's fresh.

The experience

You start with a Sicilian breakfast (granita and brioche), then head to the local market and traditional shops with the chef to learn how to pick the freshest ingredients. This is not a tour of the market. You're there to understand what makes a genuine Sicilian dish work, and the chef points out what matters. After shopping, you tie an apron in a typical restaurant kitchen and cook the entire menu: appetizers like arancini and caponata, pasta alla norma with aubergines and tomatoes, fish of the day (tuna or seasonal catch), and a traditional dessert such as cannoli, cassata or granita. The chef watches and advises as you work through each course.

Once you've finished cooking, you move to a terrace with a view of the sea and sit down to eat everything you've made. Sicilian wines and spirits come with the meal. The menu shifts based on what's available that morning, so no two classes are identical. The whole experience runs about six hours, and a private air-conditioned car picks you up from your hotel or anywhere in the Taormina area and brings you back.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned car pickup and return from your hotel or the Taormina area.
• Sicilian breakfast with granita and brioche.
• guided market visit to choose fresh ingredients.
• four-course lunch you prepare (appetizers, pasta, fish, dessert).
• Sicilian wines and spirits.
• professional chef instruction throughout the cooking.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 8 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 16 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Etna Sicily Tours

Is this one for you?The class includes pickup from your hotel or anywhere in the Taormina area, so you don't need a car or directions to find the restaurant kitchen. If you're staying elsewhere in town or arriving without transport, the private transfer settles the logistics before you arrive.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 17 years); Child (6 to 8 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How does the market visit work? Is it a shopping tour or do I actually choose ingredients for my class?

You go to the local market and traditional shops with the chef to learn how to select fresh ingredients for your cooking, not to tour the market itself. The chef teaches you what to look for so you understand how to pick what makes a genuine Sicilian dish work.

What if I don't know how to cook? Will the chef teach me the techniques?

Yes, the chef offers guidance and advice throughout the cooking process. You prepare the entire four-course menu under the chef's watchful eye, learning traditional Sicilian culinary techniques as you work through each course.

Is the menu the same every time, or does it change?

The chef establishes the complete menu on the morning of your class based on what's fresh that day. A typical example includes arancini and caponata for appetizers, pasta alla norma for the first course, fish of the day for the second, and cannoli, cassata or granita for dessert, but the exact dishes shift with the season and available ingredients.

Does the price include everything I eat and drink?

Yes, the four-course lunch is included along with Sicilian wines and spirits. The Sicilian breakfast with granita and brioche at the start is also included, as are all ingredients you use while cooking.

How do I get there if I don't have a car?

Private transportation is included. An air-conditioned car picks you up from your hotel or anywhere in the Taormina area and returns you after the class ends.