Italian Cooking Class in Zoagli with Portofino Views

You make the pesto from scratch, grinding basil by hand in a mortar.

An Italian cooking class at a private home in Zoagli teaches you to make pesto, focaccia, fresh pasta, tiramisu and limoncello under the guidance of a local host from Cesarine, Italy's network of home cooks. The class runs three hours and includes all ingredients, tasting of what you've made, and an aperitif by the pool overlooking Portofino. A guide speaks English or Italian.

The Experience

The class takes place in a charming hillside home in Zoagli with unobstructed views across to Portofino. You arrive and begin with pesto—the real Ligurian kind, made by hand with a mortar and pestle, basil from the region, pine nuts and local olive oil. From there you move to focaccia Genovese, shaping and baking it warm, then to fresh pasta rolled and cut to order. The host walks you through each step without rushing; this is not a demonstration you watch but a kitchen you work in, with your hands doing the making.

Once the cooking is done, you sit by the pool with an aperitif, looking out at the sea and the pastel buildings of Portofino across the water. Then comes the tasting: the tiramisu you've made, the limoncello made from lemons grown in the garden, and everything you've cooked that afternoon. The whole experience runs about three hours and is hosted by someone who cooks this way at home, not in a commercial kitchen—the difference shows in how the day unfolds and what gets explained.

Public transportation reaches the venue, so you don't need a rental car. The class is offered in English or Italian, depending on which option you choose at checkout. Cesarine, the network running this, has been connecting travelers with home cooks across Italy for years; this is their model—small groups, local ingredients, and a kitchen that belongs to someone who lives there.

What’s included

• All locally sourced cooking ingredients.
• guidance from a passionate local host.
• fresh pesto, focaccia, pasta and tiramisu that you make.
• homemade limoncello tasting.
• aperitif by the pool with Portofino views.

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by Cesarine: Cooking Class

Is this one for you?Book the afternoon class if you want to cook and eat in the same session without a long morning commitment. The three-hour window keeps the day relaxed—you're not rushing between stops or watching a clock—and everything you make gets tasted while it's still warm, which is when Italian food tastes like itself.

Top questions

What exactly do I make during the three hours?

You make pesto by hand using a mortar and pestle, focaccia Genovese that you shape and bake, fresh pasta that you roll and cut, and tiramisu. You also taste limoncello made from lemons grown in the garden.

Is the class in English, or do I need Italian?

The host offers the class in English or Italian—you choose which language when you book, and that determines which option you select at checkout.

What is included in the price?

All cooking ingredients sourced locally, guidance from the host, the food you make, and tastings of tiramisu and limoncello are included. An aperitif by the pool is also part of the experience.

Can I get to the home without a car?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the venue in Zoagli, so you can reach the home without renting a car.

Is this a group class or private?

The class is hosted by a single local cook at her home; group size and whether you're cooking alone or with others depends on which option you select at checkout.