Umbrian Cooking Dinner in Perugia: 3-Course Meal Underground

A morning underground eating what Perugia cooks for itself, not for tourists

A seated three-course dinner in the medieval undergrounds of Palazzo Baldeschi Oddi in Perugia, featuring traditional Umbrian dishes, local wines, and stories about regional ingredients and culinary history. The meal lasts around two and a half hours and includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert prepared and served in the stone cellars. A guide in English or Italian shares insights into the city's food traditions throughout the meal.

The experience

The meal starts in the charming undergrounds beneath Palazzo Baldeschi Oddi, where you sit down to a parmesan basket filled with arugula, bresaola, and balsamic vinegar: the kind of opening that sets the tone for what Umbrian cooking actually tastes like. The main course is spaghetti alla chitarra, a traditional pasta made with seasonal ingredients, and it finishes with chantilly cream cups and sour cherries. Local wines and non-alcoholic beverages come with the meal, chosen to connect the flavors on your plate to the region itself.

A guide in English or Italian weaves stories through the meal: where the ingredients come from, how Umbrian cooks have used them for generations, and what the history of Perugia has to do with the food. This is not a cooking class or a performance. You are eating a real meal in a real place, and the guide's role is to deepen what you taste rather than to entertain. The stone cellars themselves carry the weight of the city's Etruscan past, so the setting becomes part of the experience without anyone having to say so.

What’s included

• Three-course meal with torta al testo and local cured meats, spaghetti alla chitarra, and tiramisu.
• local wines and non-alcoholic beverages.
• stories and insights into Umbrian culinary traditions and regional ingredients shared throughout the meal.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday and SundayDeparts at 19:00

Book up to1d before

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

GroupUp to 20

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.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Cesarine: Cooking Class

Is this one for you?You sit and eat while the guide talks, so it suits anyone who wants to taste Umbrian food without cooking it themselves or spending time in a kitchen. The shared table means you eat with other travelers, which works well if you enjoy meeting people over a meal. If you prefer privacy, this format is not the fit.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided 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 eat during this dinner in Perugia?

The meal includes a parmesan basket appetizer with arugula, bresaola, and balsamic vinegar; spaghetti alla chitarra as the main course; and chantilly cream with sour cherries for dessert. Local wines and non-alcoholic beverages are served throughout to complement each course.

How long does the dinner last?

The meal takes around two and a half hours from start to finish, including time to eat each course and listen to the guide's stories about Umbrian culinary traditions and local ingredients.

Where exactly in Perugia does this dinner happen?

The dinner takes place in the medieval stone undergrounds beneath Palazzo Baldeschi Oddi in the center of Perugia, a historic setting that connects the meal to the city's Etruscan past.

Is this a hands-on cooking class or a seated meal?

This is a seated dinner experience, not a cooking class. You eat while a guide shares insights into regional ingredients, culinary traditions, and the history of Perugia's food culture.