Sourdough by the Sea: La Jolla Baking Workshop with Ocean Views

Mix, knead and shape sourdough on a La Jolla deck overlooking the coast, then take your loaf and starter home to bake again

Sourdough by the Sea is a hands-on baking class in La Jolla taught by a self-taught Italian baker on an ocean-facing deck. You learn to mix, knead and shape sourdough dough, take home a gourmet loaf to bake, your own starter, and a recipe guide. A light lunch or dinner with fresh salad and local pizza is included. Children from age 8 are welcome, and the class runs about 3.5 hours. Public transportation stops nearby. Bring your own wine if you'd like.

The experience

The class starts with a quick meet-and-greet, then you roll up your sleeves and work the dough yourself: mixing, kneading, and shaping it under the baker's eye. She teaches techniques that work for all skill levels, so whether you've never baked before or you've made bread at home, you'll learn something concrete about how sourdough actually behaves. The deck faces the ocean, so you're working with a view. If strong winds come through, the class moves indoors without losing the instruction or the pace.

Halfway through, fresh salad and local pizza arrive: timed so you eat while the dough is doing its thing, not after. You bring your own wine if you want it, which keeps the whole afternoon relaxed and personal rather than formal. By the end of the class, you walk away with a take-and-bake loaf ready to finish at home, a starter culture to keep alive and bake with again, and a recipe packet with tips for what you just learned. That starter is the thing that sticks: it means you can make sourdough on your own schedule, in your own kitchen, for months or years after the class ends.

Each person needs their own paid seat, and children from age 8 can join. No animals are allowed for safety and cleanliness. Public transit runs nearby if you're staying in La Jolla without a car, so you don't need to arrange a ride to get there.

What’s included

• Hands-on instruction in sourdough mixing, kneading and shaping.
• a take-and-bake loaf you shaped yourself.
• your own sourdough starter and recipe guide to bake at home.
• fresh salad and local pizza during the class.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 16:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (8 to 17 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Public transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sourdough by the Sea La Jolla

Is this one for you?The class is held on a La Jolla deck near public transit, so you don't need a car to get there or stay nearby. Book this if you're staying in the area without your own transportation and want to spend an afternoon learning to bake rather than watching a demonstration.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 17 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I learn to make in this class?

You learn to mix, knead and shape a sourdough loaf from scratch using techniques the baker teaches for all skill levels. The focus is on hands-on practice, not watching a demonstration, so you're doing the work yourself the whole time.

Do I really get to take home a loaf I made?

Yes. You shape your own dough during the class, and it leaves as a take-and-bake loaf. You finish baking it at home in your own oven following the instructions you'll receive.

What's included in the light lunch or dinner?

Fresh salad and local pizza are provided during the class. Wine is bring-your-own if you'd like to add that touch.

How long does the whole class take?

The class runs about 3.5 hours from start to finish, including the baking instruction, the meal, and time to pack up your loaf and starter to take home.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my class?

The class is held on an ocean-facing deck in La Jolla, but if strong winds arrive, the instruction moves indoors so the baking continues without interruption.