The best meal I ate in Milan was one that I made.
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I’d chalk it up to my skills in the kitchen, but that’s far from the truth.
I wasn’t just whipping up a meal thanks to an online recipe or the wise words of Nona—I had two top-tier chefs helping me (and five others) prepare a meal as part of a cooking class.
In an adorable kitchen in the center of the city, my family and a small group of strangers whipped up truffle gnocchi, a tomato-based pasta sauce, and tiramisu. In only four hours, we had wined and dined ourselves into a stupor.
For the rest of our trip, me and family kept referencing the meal. It was the best we had by a long shot.
My experience in Milan isn’t unique to the city. I’ve had the pleasure of joining cooking classes in Poland, India, and Taiwan over the years. Every time, without fail, I ate well… despite my sub-par cooking skills.
So, if you want to spoil yourself with some Italian specialties, why not cook a few dishes with your own two hands? In honor of my Michelin-caliber meal from my Milan cooking class, I’m heading straight back to the capital of Lombardy.
Here are the best cooking classes in Milan, starting with my top-notch experience.
Best cooking classes in Milan
Gnocchi, Pasta, Tiramisu, and Wine Class
You can have it all with this class: A great setting, delicious wine, and two elite Italian chefs to guide you through the basics.
As you make gnocchi, pasta sauce, and tiramisu, you’re treated to a cultural exploration that covers Italian ingredients and culinary culture. (Plus, a few hand gestures!)
But the magic is the chefs. One of my tour leaders had spent time cooking at a Michelin-star restaurant, while the other was drawing on years of high-profile experience.
Thanks to their guidance, everyone had a great time while also learning a few handy tricks. Plus, the company emails you the recipes covered in class so that you can take what you learned home with you.
The Secretes to Learn Fresh Pasta and Tiramisu
Meet 2023’s Viator Experience Award—a great badge for any official tour to nab.
Once again, the magic falls back to a highly qualified chef who hosts the cooking class—and, once again, this tour’s guide is Michelin-trained.
That ensures you get a few insider tips for preparing fresh pasta and putting together a delicious tiramisu. (Thanks to my class, I know that tiramisu isn’t cooked or baked—just chilled.)
According to reviews, the hosts are also gracious and charming—which goes a long way in creating an exciting and meaningful atmosphere for everyone in the cooking class.
Mamma Mia – Make Your Own Italian Pizza
There’s a lot that goes into crafting a perfect pizza. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of a great pie, start here. The hosts take you into a pizza-making studio where guests learn the ins and outs of classic Italian pizzas.
That means diving into topics like the perfect dough and how to make focaccia, along with tips on cooking the perfect sauce and curating the right combination of toppings.
Apparently, the hosts also know quite a bit about the history and identity of Neapolitan pies, aka the birthplace of pizza.
Milan Cooking Class: Authentic Pizza & Gelato Making
If learning how to bake a great pizza isn’t enough, bundle some gelato lessons in there. What I love about this tour is how demanding both of those dishes sound.
Making a pizza from scratch? And gelato? In a single class…?
According to reviewers, the hosts did an excellent job of breaking down the complex topics into memorable bits. Not only were guests surprised with how well their pizzas and gelatos turned out, but it looks like a lot of them are going to apply what they’ve learned to bread-making in the future.
That tells me that there’s a lot of knowledge being passed down in this class.
Authentic Italian Cooking Class in a Typical House in Milan
I love home cooking—nothing beats it. Guests have the chance to make either pasta or gnocchi, along with tiramisu.
According to reviews, the cooking lessons and final products are both worth writing home about. But there’s another element at play here: The charm of cooking in a small home with a small group.
If you’re on the hunt for a cultural experience and socializing with other travelers, then start here.
