Rialto Market Tour and Private Cooking Class in the Heart of Venice
4.8
33 Ratings
Venezia
Immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of Venice with a market tour and private cooking class. Learn to make homemade pasta and warm focaccia bread from a passionate local chef.
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Caffè Vergnano 1882 - Stroll alongside Massimo to the bustling Mercato di Rialto, a central hub for Venetians seeking fresh produce. Engage with captivating tales as Massimo guides you through the vibrant market, unveiling stalls brimming with fresh seafood, and vivid arrays of fruits and vegetables. Select a fresh catch from a vendor, then make your way back to his residence for a culinary lesson.

Subsequently, step into Massimo’s culinary domain to master the art of crafting staple Italian cuisine. In the span of an hour-long cooking tutorial, you’ll gain insight into creating scratch-made pasta and focaccia, incorporating fresh, in-season produce. Absorb knowledge about the nuances and methods of Italian gastronomy, then savor the dishes you’ve contributed to alongside Massimo.

The feast at Massimo’s table may feature oven-roasted scallops or anchovies drenched in a tangy orange dressing, a crisp salad, pasta with fish or meat, and freshly baked focaccia adorned with rosemary. Cap off your authentic regional dining experience with a sumptuous chocolate confection.

What's Included
  • Lunch
  • Hands-on cooking class
  • Private market tour and cooking class with your host Massimo
  • Guided tour of Mercato di Rialto
  • Alcoholic Beverages
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
Additional Information

If you’ve always wanted to master the art of traditional Italian cuisine during your visit to Venice, your search ends here. Accompany your host, Massimo, on this 4-hour journey as you visit the Mercato di Rialto together, purchasing the fresh ingredients needed for your cooking lesson. Follow Massimo to his residence where you’ll be taught to prepare genuine Italian meals, followed by a sit-down meal at his dining table featuring the dishes you’ve just learnt to create. The lesson includes the preparation of handmade pasta and warm, inviting focaccia bread!

Massimo’s culinary skills stem from many generations of his family owning a restaurant. His mother and nonna were instrumental in shaping his love for food. He relishes the opportunity to host tourists at his house to allow him the opportunity to express his fervor for cooking as well as his beloved city.

Massimo resides in a historic 600-year-old structure situated at the core of Venice, boasting a delightful outdoor terrace. He specializes in dishes that represent the Veneto region, encompassing Venice and Bologna. The cuisine showcases a sound tradition of featuring seafood from the coast and meat from the hinterland.

  • If any travelers in your party have any allergies, dietary restrictions or cooking preferences please advise at time of booking - Massimo can offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals.
  • NOTE: Meeting location is different if you choose the cooking class only option (no market tour). Meet Massimo at Campo Sant Anzolo, on top of the Ponte dei frati bridge. You can take water bus #1 to get here.
  • Private, personalized experience
Location
Caffè Vergnano 1882
For your market tour, meet Massimo at Caffe Vergnano 1882, a cafe close to the Rialto bridge. Massimo will be waiting for you outside the cafe. If you choose the cooking class only (no market tour), meet Massimo at his home. Address can be found in the "Before you go" section in your confirmation.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(33 Ratings)
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Jamieml4321yk
Jun 8, 2024
Familia, entertaining, Belissimo - Where can I start. Best experience in Venice. Mazzini was authentic, entertaining , and it was like a family meal prepared with lots of laughs and love. Learned many tips and most importantly when cooking from your heart nothing has to be perfect to be amazing. Food and company in our small group of 5 was so special. We will treasure this memory forever.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Landra_r
May 27, 2024
Amazing experience - Max was amazing! Such a unique experience! We toured the market and got a little history lesson along the way. Max’s home was so charming and the meal was amazing. Learned a lot about the Italian style of cooking and lessons we could take home with us. Would highly recommend this unique experience!!
Review provided by Viator
604landrar
May 27, 2024
Amazing Experience!!! - Max was amazing! Such a unique experience! We toured the market and got a little history lesson along the way. Max’s home was so charming and the meal was amazing!!! We learned a lot about the Italian style of cooking and lessons we could take home with us. Would highly recommend this unique experience!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T6826wfmollyc
May 21, 2024
Best, Must Do Experience in Venice - Could not recommend Massimo and this experience more! My boyfriend and I met him in the market where he showed us around before heading back to his apartment to cook up what we had just picked out. He was full of amazing stories and interesting tidbits but was also extremely attentive and flexible to what we were most interested in, and on top of that is one of the kindest and friendliest people I’ve ever met. The actual cooking was extremely fun and perfect for both experienced chefs and beginners, and they were clearly authentic and long-practiced traditional recipes, which we had a blast learning. I cannot stress enough, if you have time for one activity while in Venice, make it this.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katherine_h
May 21, 2024
Great lunch - Massimo was a great host and chef. Fun and educational. Tasty food and a good teacher. He brought special treats from his family’s viOnstar and farm.
Review provided by Viator
Q5179mhpaulo
May 12, 2024
Want a fun and insightful class in Venice, book this... - What a delight and surprise our tour and cooking class with Massimo was for us. Learning about the availability of produce and seafood local to Venice. Then the surprise of cooking in his flat, the stories of his family and the fun of music, laughter and making pasta and focaccia. Which were have reproduced here back in the states. We both would highly recommend this if you visit Venice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rafaelafp7146zu
May 11, 2024
Priceless! - Massimo is the absolute best! He was attentive, kind, and had great conversation as we collaborated to make the most delicious meal we have had while on our honeymoon in Italy! He even gave us a special surprise because it was our honeymoon. We are thankful for this experience and look forward to the opportunity of welcoming Massimo into our own home in the future!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rafaela_f
May 5, 2024
Priceless - Massimo is the absolute best! He was attentive, kind, and had great conversation as we collaborated to make the most delicious meal we have had while on our honeymoon in Italy! He even gave us a special surprise because it was our honeymoon. We are thankful for this experience and look forward to the opportunity of welcoming Massimo into our own home in the future!
Review provided by Viator
W9583mfrobertz
Apr 1, 2024
Amazing seafood! Thanks Massimo! - Loved the market tour, making the raviolis and eating!amazing seafood We had wine homemade with the meal. Our group loosened up after that! I learned how to make pasta which I have never made before.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
158eslamh
Mar 30, 2024
“Cooking, Love, Wine: Perfect!” 🍝🍷❤️ - The most fun cooking class ever! This was such a fun class, from learning about local fish, meat, veg, balsamic vinegar, and mediterranena flavours at the market to making pasta, bolognese, and homemade focaccia, it was a blast. We had a very fun guide/chef Massimo, and the food was so good! We were here celebrating our engagement and it was fun learning how to make a beautiful Italian meal together complete with delicious red table wine. We'd love to come back and highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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minimum 2 guests
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up to 15 guests
2 Adult
June 2024
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