In the kitchen · FRESH PASTA WORKSHOPS IN BOLOGNA
The good benches seat a dozen people and fill weeks ahead. Below: the 12 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Spend 150 minutes with Irene learning to make traditional Bolognese pasta by hand, using flour, hands, and a rolling pin. You may prepare tortelloni, farfalle, and tagliatelle, then eat your creations with sauces, wine, coffee, and dessert in a relaxed home setting.
“I loved it. I had so much fun. I learned a lot and to taste the final dishes among new friends was amazing.”
Join Irene and Marco in Bologna for a 2.5-hour pasta class in their family home. You’ll make three seasonal shapes, often tortelloni, ravioli, and tagliatelle, then eat them with sauces, local wine, and dessert. Pickup is available for an extra €20 per person.
“Superb food and wine. Tours were very good! Tour guides were very knowledgeable We did not know how old the basolmic can be!”
Spend 2.5 hours in Bologna learning traditional pasta shapes and real ragù with an English or Italian instructor. You will cook, eat, and share wine, coffee, and a sweet surprise in a spacious, home-style setting. Ask about group size and return transport before booking.
“Great Class with a Few scheduling Hiccups The hands-on pasta Bolognese class was excellent! The instructor was patient, clear, and made the experience fun and informative. Only downside: too many participants (15) for pasta making section which made it feel crowded. Seems like there were issues with the reservation system. Also, I would ask for Irene to demonstrate how each pasta is dressed for serving. Finally, I would ask host for assistance with travel return plans. The location is outside city center and we could not get a taxi. Ended asking host for help and she directed us to bus around the corner. Still, I’d definitely recommend this experience!!”
Spend three hours in a local Bologna home with a Cesarina, an Italian home cook who teaches three regional pasta recipes. You will work at your own station, learn family kitchen techniques, then share the meal with local wine, water, and coffee.
“The evening was fantastic! We learned a lot about how to make original pasta and what is important to keep in mind. Besides that Oriana was very entertaining and the evening just flew away so quickly. The location was amazing , with a great view overlooking Bologna from the balcony. A wonderful cooking class which I can recommend a lot!”
At Via Sabotino 27, Alessia Fiocchi guides a small group of up to 10 through traditional Bolognese pasta making. Roll dough by hand, shape tortellini, tagliatelle, and farfalle, then eat your work with sauces, wine, and an aperitif. Pol and Ruby, the host’s kittens, may provide company.
“Esperienza estremamente consigliata! Alessia è stata davvero gentile e disponibile, ci ha insegnato passo passo come fare 3 tipi di pasta che poi abbiamo degustato alla fine.”
Join a local Cesarina in Bologna for a two-hour, English-language class on fresh tagliatelle and ragù. Hosts may include Rosa, Federica Alessi, Paola Tassi, Alessandra, or Oriana. You cook, eat, and share aperitivo with local red and white wines.
“We loved our private class with Federica!! She was the sweetest, warmest host. My husband and I were welcomed in to her adorable apartment home with great view of Bologna from the balcony. We made fresh pasta and prepared a traditional bolognese dish. It was delicious and delightful. Federica taught us very helpful tips and tricks how to prepare this recipe. The 2 hour experience included yummy appetizers and champagne. We loved our experience and would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking to make fresh pasta and prepare a traditional Bologna dish in a locals home.”
Join professional chef Antonio in his Bologna home for a three-hour, hands-on lesson in fresh egg pasta, tagliatelle, tortelloni, and ragù alla Bolognese. With a maximum of four people, you get personal instruction, a shared meal with wine, and recipe slides to use at home.
“As you muddle through the vast array of cooking classes feeling unsure about which is the best choice. If they all sound the same and what you are looking for is not only a cooking class but a true Italian experience you are in the right place. This is NOT your typical cooking class! Antonio is far from typical. My daughter and I left knowing that this was a tour we would never forget. We have been on several tours in Italy that were truly amazing and Italy has some amazing things to experience but none that compared to meeting and working with Antonio! It was the best and most…”
Meet Polaris in Bologna for a hands-on pasta class in a real Italian home kitchen. Over three hours, you’ll roll pasta by hand, choose dishes such as tagliatelle, tortellini, or lasagne, prepare dessert, and eat what you make. The class is in English and requires at least two people.
“Polaris was extremely knowledgeable and thorough. Take the extra hour to go to market with her. She will teach you quite a bit. Also, cooking lesson was very good”
Join Paola in her Bologna home for a three-hour English-language cooking class. You’ll roll fresh pasta by hand, prepare two traditional pasta dishes and tiramisu, then sit down to antipasti, wine, and your own meal.
“By far the best food we have had in Bologna was in Paola's Kitchen. She taught us to make the most delicious pasta dishes and desert.”
Sara leads a relaxed 2.5-hour pasta class in her Bologna apartment, where you make organic dough, tortellini, tagliatelle, ravioli, and playful shapes colored with beetroot, purple potatoes, herbs, seaweed, and powders. The vegetarian class is private, hands-on, and suitable for special diets with advance notice.
“We had such a good time at this pasta-making class. The whole experience was relaxed, fun, and very hands-on — perfect even if you’re not an expert in the kitchen. We learned how to make different types of pasta using natural colors from vegetables, which was a cool touch. The class is vegetarian, which was great for us. We took home the fresh pasta and cooked it at home. Everything we made tasted amazing. Sara was super friendly and explained everything clearly, making it easy to follow along. Plus, it felt really personal and not rushed at all. If you’re in Bologna and want to do something different (and delicious),…”
Join Chef Fred at his Bologna home for a three-hour English-language cooking class limited to eight people. Start with pizza and wine, make tortelloni, tagliatelle, ragù, and family-style tiramisù, then enjoy the meal with Italian wine.
“Great teacher. A lot of fun and now I know how to make pastas bolognese! It’s a bit of a taxi ride, so plan accordingly”
Spend about four hours in Bologna with Pio, a professional pasta maker, learning to roll, cut, fill, and cook fresh pasta in his home kitchen. You may prepare tagliatelle, tortellini, or passatelli, sample Pugliese dishes, drink local wine, and hear about his love of American swing dance.
“Pio was a great host and teacher... he obviously loves cooking and sharing it with others. My husband is a novice to the cooking... considering toast a huge culinary victory. I understand cooking and enjoy it but am by no means a master. Pio worked well with both of uRead more”
Pick a city, a shape of pasta, or a bench with the wine left open.
