The 15 Best Food & Drink Experiences in Italy

Bologna Pasta Classes, Food, Food & Drink, Italy Pasta Classes, Market Tours & Cooking Classes, Markets, Pasta Classes, Pasta Classes with Wine, Pasta Classes with Wine in Bologna, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wine Tours

Bologna Food & Market Tour with 6 Tastings, Pasta, Wines & More

1.Bologna Food & Market Tour with 6 Tastings, Pasta, Wines & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,328 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $118Our pick

Spend 3.5 hours exploring Bologna with a guide such as Claire, Federica, or Caterina. Visit the Quadrilatero market, watch pasta made by hand, taste Parmigiano, aged balsamic, meats, wines, gelato, and a secret dish, with up to 12 people.

“Don't eat beforehand. You have the option to try a lot of food and beverages. Federica was a lovely, warm, and knowledgable guide.”

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Cooking Classes with Dinner, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Food & Drink, Fresh Pasta Workshops, Fresh Pasta Workshops in Rome, Italy Pasta Classes, Pasta Classes, Pasta Classes with Wine, Pasta Classes with Wine in Rome, Rome Pasta Classes, Tour Reviews, Wine Tours

Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome

2.Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,326 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $45

Meet hosts such as Rosie, Nico, or Federica at Frascati station, walk through the old town, taste family vineyard wines, make cacio e pepe, carbonara, or amatriciana, then eat your pasta at dinner in a historic wine cellar.

“This was an awesome experience. Rosie was the ultimate in tour guides. She exuded the love of her small town and for her family. Was nice to see a few sights in the town and to know the history of them. "From Scratch" was where we were taken to learn about the wine they make and the pasta we were going to learn to make. So much knowledge was shared and many laughs had at our family dining table. Pasta making is not easy but worth the effort, when made right. Options of sauces and what goes in them then we sat to eat the fruits of our labors. Loved…”

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Rome: Pasta Making with Wine Tasting and Dinner in Frascati

3.Pasta Making with Wine Tasting and Dinner in Frascati

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 979 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $35

Take the 30-minute train from Rome to Frascati, where a family host such as Rosa, Rosie, Nico, or Aurora meets you at the station. Tour the town, taste two family wines with local meats and cheese, make pasta from scratch, and eat it with a Roman sauce in a centuries-old cellar.

“Nico was absolutely brilliant, had a wonderful time and the pasta was lovely. Would definitely do it again”

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Farm & Agriturismo Cooking Classes, Farms, Food & Drink, Italy Pasta Classes, Pasta Classes, Pasta Classes with Wine, Pasta Classes with Wine in Sorrento, Pizza Making Classes, Pizza Making Classes in Sorrento, Sorrento Pasta Classes, Tour Reviews, Wine Tours

Pizza School with Wine and Limoncello Tasting in a Local Farm

4.Pizza School with Wine and Limoncello Tasting in a Local Farm

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 845 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $96

Meet Francesco and Lia at a working Sorrento farm for a hands-on pizza class using farm-made ingredients. Shape dough, bake your own pizza in a wood-fired oven, and share appetizers, wine, dessert, and Nonna Angela’s limoncello while enjoying countryside and sea views.

“This was one of our greatest, heartwarming experiences in Sorrento. Francesco and his family provided a very authentic pizza making experience in a family orientated setting. They opened up their home to us, and we felt like family. Francesco's daughters were very entertaining, especially, Anna. Thank you for an unforgettable experience. Grazie mille!!”

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Super Fun Pasta & Gelato Class by Vatican with Wine + Oil Tasting

5.Super Fun Pasta & Gelato Class by Vatican with Wine + Oil Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 726 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85

In a friendly English-language class near the Vatican, you’ll make pasta from scratch, prepare seasonal sauce and gelato, taste bruschetta, and enjoy drinks with your meal. Chefs including Massimo, Carla, Luca, Carlo, and David have led sessions for beginners, families, and experienced cooks.

“Excellent class taught by a very knowledgeable chef. Worth the money. It was fun and very enjoyable. There were 2 young children in the group who had a wonderful time learning to make pasta and gelato. The chef kept them thoroughly engaged.”

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Florence Pasta Classes, Food & Drink, Italy Pasta Classes, Pasta Classes, Pasta Classes with Wine, Pasta Classes with Wine in Florence, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wine Tours

Florence: Countryside Tour with Wine Tasting & Pasta Class

6.Countryside Tour with Wine Tasting & Pasta Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 546 reviews · 7 hours · from $71

Travel 45 minutes from Florence to a family farm in Fucecchio with guides such as Christina, Naomi, and Angela. Walk among vines, olive trees, animals, and a botanical garden, taste five organic wines, then make pasta with a chef and eat it together.

“Great fun. Met some lovely people. Wine tasting was great and informative and so much fun making the pasta. Only wish we could have walked around the vineyards more.”

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Cheese, Farm & Agriturismo Cooking Classes, Farms, Food & Drink, Italy Pasta Classes, Mozzarella & Cheese Classes, Pasta Classes, Pizza Making Classes, Pizza Making Classes in Sorrento, Sorrento Pasta Classes, Tour Reviews, Tours

Sorrento: Farm Tour with Cheese Tasting & Pizza Making Class

7.Farm Tour with Cheese Tasting & Pizza Making Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 503 reviews

Join Francesco and his family at Primaluce, a hill farm above Sorrento. Tour the crops, animals, vineyard, citrus grove, and olive area, then spin mozzarella, make pizza, and eat a full farm lunch with wine, limoncello, and homemade dessert. Pickup and drop-off are included.

“This was a wonderful, very personal experience. Francesco and his family were great hosts. Pickup and drop off was straightforward, the farm tour was very informative and fun. The pizza making was very hands on and they took plenty of pictures for us (with our phones). The cheese making demonstration was also a great time. The wine offered during the time was made at the farm and was delicious, same with the Lemoncello. Would highly recommend the whole experience!”

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Bologna Pasta Classes, Food, Food & Drink, Italy Pasta Classes, Pasta Classes, Tour Reviews, Tours

Bologna: Food Tour with Pasta Tasting & Local Specialties

8.Food Tour with Pasta Tasting & Local Specialties

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 312 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $86

Follow a local guide through Bologna for pasta, mortadella, tigelle, a traditional main course, dessert, coffee, and one drink. Guides such as Luca, Angelica, Eugenio, and Giada add food stories, city history, and useful tips. Expect a small group, plenty to eat, and several sit-down stops.

“Eugie was excellent. Very friendly and knowledgeable and there was so much food and drinks! We felt bad we couldn’t finish it all! I highly recommend this tour to get a taste of all the classic foods Bologna has to offer! We were even able to get a table at a place that didn’t take reservations and enjoy all their wonderful pasta!”

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Florence Food Tour with Truffle Pasta, Steak & Free Flowing Wine

9.Florence Food Tour with Truffle Pasta, Steak & Free Flowing Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $156

Join an English-speaking guide such as Kat, Jamie, or Katarina for a four-hour evening walk through Florence’s Oltrarno and historic center. Taste aged balsamic, truffle cheeses, prosciutto, pasta, Florentine steak, several wines, and artisan gelato with a group capped at 15.

“Our guide, Sylvia, was fun, friendly, and informative. Our small group (off season in November) sampled a wide selection of typical Tuscan foods at a variety of restaurants. I selected this tour specifically for the Fiorentino steak… I am a solo traveler, but the steak is huge and served only to two people. This tour enabled me to experience the steak dinner with a nice group of people. The tour was in the Oltrarno section, which is lovely… just across the bridges. My favorite restaurant was Babae, we had wine-window drinks and then went inside for a crostini appetitive course. Babae is cool and trendy, operated by young owners. Second…”

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Venice: Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio Area Food Tour: Pasta Wine Gelato and More!

10.Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio Area Food Tour: Pasta Wine Gelato and More!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 274 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $143

Spend four hours walking through Venice’s Jewish Ghetto and Cannaregio, stopping for pasta, wine, spritzes, bakery treats, seafood, and gelato. Guides such as Vanessa and Denys add context about Venetian and Jewish culture. Expect a generous meal, but not a kosher tour or synagogue visit.

“Had a wonderful guide, who added lots of information about the Jewish Ghetto and traditional foods popular to the area.”

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Napolitan Secrets: Pasta & Tiramisù Class for Food Lovers

11.Napolitan Secrets: Pasta & Tiramisù Class for Food Lovers

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 189 reviews · 3 hours · from $29Best value

Join Chef Gino and Claudio in a central Naples restaurant for a hands-on class in fresh pasta and tiramisu. You will mix, shape, and prepare the dishes, then sit down to eat with a glass of local wine. Explanations are offered in Italian, English, Spanish, and French.

“Awesome value experience. The chef teaching us was very skilled and has even got experience working in Michelin restaurants. The waiter helping, was basically a comedian - with many laugh out loud moments. Delicious food and lots of it! We basically had to be rolled out of the restauraunt. 5/5 for sure.”

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Florence Food Tour: Home-Made Pasta, Truffle, Cantucci, Olive Oil, Gelato

12.Florence Food Tour: Home-Made Pasta, Truffle, Cantucci, Olive Oil, Gelato

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 187 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $54

Walk from Piazza dell’Unità to Santa Croce while tasting home-made pasta, truffle, olive oil, cantucci, Florentine dishes, and gelato. Guides such as Francesco, Anna, Lorenzo, and Marilisa mix food with city stories. The morning market visit makes the timing worth checking.

“Anna was wonderful and knowledgeable. We’ve learned a few things that was very interesting. Although, the lunch menu can be improved.”

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Bologna: 3 Pastas, Tiramisu and Unlimited Wine Tasting

13.3 Pastas, Tiramisu and Unlimited Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 186 reviews · 3 hours · from $97

Join Federico, Fred, or another English-speaking host in a spacious Bologna home for pizza, three handmade pastas, two sauces, unlimited Italian wine, and grandmother’s tiramisu. The three-hour class is hands-on, social, and suited to vegetarians, though it is not wheelchair accessible.

“I loved everything about this cooking class. We had a great group of people, Fred was generous with his knowledge and he gave lots of tips along the way. It was a hands on class and when we were finished preparing Fred completed the cooking. we sat down and enjoyed the meal with so lovely wines and then finished with a beautiful traditional tiramisù. Would highly recommend this class”

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Taormina: Pizza Making Class with Lunch and Wine Tasting

14.Pizza Making Class with Lunch and Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 145 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $88

Meet your chef near Porta Messina for a hands-on Sicilian cooking class in central Taormina. Make homemade pasta and pizza, taste cheese and wine, share a full meal, and take home recipes and a certificate. Chefs such as Luca, Maurizio, Francesca, and Giovanni lead sessions.

“Lovely traditional feeling restaurant with a very passionate guide/host. We started off with some pasta making, then had a break for nibbles and wine. Next we made the pizza dough, learned about the different recipes and traditions and created our own toppings. We were then able to eat our creations along with the pasta made earlier, again, accompanied by plenty of wine. We finished the evening with Cannoli and Limoncello. Great experience for the evening. We even got to keep our aprons and were sent the recipes for the food we had made. Going home to buy a pizza oven…excellent!”

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Small Group Pasta Making Class Wine Tasting in a Tuscan Castle

15.Small Group Pasta Making Class Wine Tasting in a Tuscan Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 142 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $157

Spend 3.5 hours at Castello del Trebbio, about 30 minutes from Florence, touring old cellars, making tagliatelle and tagliolini with Chef Jerry, and eating a wine-paired meal. Guides such as Lisa, Tommaso, and Simone explain the estate, while vegetarian dishes can be arranged in advance.

“The tour and the cooking class were excellent. No complaints. The chef was amazing and we learned many new things, even though we aren’t beginners in the kitchen. The chef made sure every student got a chance to participate and everyone was having a great time. The only issue with this experience is that transportation is not included. They will arrange it for you if you call several days in advance. But taxi’s charge double for the trip.”

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