Italian Vegan Feast: Ancient Recipes & Tasting

Join us in exploring the recipes of traditional vegetarian dishes from Italy, and savor a range of vegan and vegetarian meals. Experience the vast array of Italian vegetables. Plus, enjoy making pizzas and focaccias with ancient grains and fresh pasta!

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Campiello Santa Maria Formosa - VVV Vegetarians and Vegans in Venice, you are warmly invited!
    At this historic venue in the heart of Venice, enjoy a vegetarian/vegan cooking class featuring the finest vegetables sourced from the local market of Venice, complemented by unlimited wine. Join a shopping trip (or simply opt for the cooking class) at the…
What's Included
  • Licensed or certified guide
  • Vegan and Vegetarian Cooking Class
  • Lunch
  • Alcoholic beverages
What's Not Included
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Hotel pick-up and drop off
Meal Options
  • handmade pasta with pesto (there are many varieties of pesto!) - This is just an example! I cook only seasonal vegetables and the cooking class is based on your wishes and many surprises!
  • Vegan pizza…with radicchio di Treviso and veg mozzarella - We can do many types of pizza and focaccia mix ancient types of flours, we can use veg mozzarella or…
Additional Information
  • We only serve alcoholic drinks for travelers 21 years old and above.
Location
Caffè Vergnano 1882
We meet at the Caffè Vergnano 1882, a nice cafe really clos e to the Rialto Bridge at 10:15.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(31 Ratings)
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1 star
Daytrip34131451256
Apr 1, 2026
The Pure Taste of Freshness and Tradition - This vegetarian cooking class in Venice was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. Massimo, our wonderful host, guided us through the vibrant Rialto Market, full of colors, scents, and authentic flavors. Back in his beautiful Venetian home, we cooked using simple, traditional techniques and fresh ingredients. The highlight was without a doubt the best peppers I have ever tasted, cooked in his grandmother’s old pan. We prepared stuffed peppers with a creamy fava bean mousse, basil, and a delicate blend of garlic and chili. Slowly cooked in olive oil, they turned into something truly extraordinary. Served with perfectly crispy bread, every bite was pure joy. The recipes were simple yet incredibly satisfying, easy to recreate at home. The whole evening felt warm, genuine, and full of laughter, especiallywith an extra glass of wine. An ecstatic an delicious experience I would absolutely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Boutayebh
Mar 27, 2026
Veggie Paradise Found - An unforgettable private vegetarian cooking class in Venice! We discovered vegetables we had never seen or tasted before, thanks to Massimo’s passion and creativity. Walking through the market with him was a highlight—every ingredient carefully chosen and full of flavor. The radicchio di Treviso with balsamic glaze was simply exquisite. We also loved the eggplant with parsley, garlic, lemon, and olive oil inside warm rosemary focaccia—did you know focaccia can be made with potatoes? Delicious! Everything was tailored to us, exactly as we wanted, with top-quality ingredients from the olive oil to the house wine. The fried zucchini flowers were a must—absolutely spectacular. We will definitely come back, even just to share another glass of wine and laugh with Massimo!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rachelsa5889qb
Mar 22, 2026
Hands-on Cooking, Uncovering Venice’s Vegetable Traditions - This was a truly special experience in Venice. It was a completely private cooking class, tailored just for us—something very rare in such a touristy city. From the start, we felt a genuine connection with our host and chef, Massimo, which made everything even more enjoyable. One of the highlights was the delicious vegetable lasagna, made with fresh ingredients we picked together at the Rialto Market, including amazing zucchini. Massimo knew many of the vendors, adding an authentic touch to the experience. We also made focaccia using an ancient type of flour, with sweet-and-sour onions and rosemary freshly picked from his garden. The wine was excellent, and the whole experience felt unique. I highly recommend this kind of experience—a true hidden gem away from the touristic path.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
467marielaq
Mar 7, 2026
Secrets of a Venetian Kitchen, a colorful Vegetarian Experience - Our vegetarian cooking class in Venice was a truly special experience. It was a private class in a very small group, which made everything feel intimate and authentic. With Massimo, an incredible chef and wonderful spirit, we discovered the real soul of Italian vegetarian cuisine. The kitchen was full of colors, aromas, and fresh ingredients. We visited the Rialto Market together and bought wonderful vegetables coming directly from the Venetian lagoon. Massimo knows the local growers and farmers who bring some of the best organic produce in the whole city. We tasted eggplants,peppers, and sweet tomatoes, and even picked many herbs from Massimo’s garden. The mint we used came straight from the garden and went into a delicious farro with almonds, lemon peel, dried fruit, and fresh mint. Inside a beautiful 600 year-old Venetian palace, we also prepared an ancient bread called pampepato with traditional flour. It was an avalanche of flavors, stories, and discoveries—thank you Massimo, we will definitely come back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Erikbq6734bf
Mar 7, 2026
A Perfect Vegetarian Cooking Class for small Groups - This vegetarian cooking class in Venice was the perfect activity for our group and truly one of the highlights of our trip. Our host, Massimo, created a private experience just for us, combining the discovery of the Rialto Market with simple, healthy recipes that anyone can recreate at home!! At the market we discovered vegetables we had never seen before, and then returned to cook together using beautiful seasonal ingredients. Massimo shared family recipes passed down from his grandparents, transforming simple dishes into something extraordinary.... We made a wonderful polenta using an ancient grain that is rarely used today, served with seasonal vegetables and herbs. We also prepared a delicious Italian chicory sautéed with garlic and a splash of wine, perfect with the warm polenta. Other dishes included a fresh caponata with garden herbs and a fantastic baked dish made with buckwheat and a homemade pesto of spinach, hazelnuts, almonds and sun-dried tomatoes. Everything was incredibly flavorful, but also very healthy! It was fun, educational, and perfect for families or groups. Discovering these flavors and traditions together made it the best thing we did in Venice. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X1710yif_timas
Feb 28, 2026
An intimate vegan culinary journey. - ​If you’re looking for an experience that goes beyond the usual tourist path, this vegan cooking class is an absolute gem. We started our day at the Rialto Market, which was exceptional—an explosion of colors and fresh scents that felt even more special with the chef’s expert guidance. ​The atmosphere was intimate and welcoming, making it easy for our small group to connect and enjoy every moment. The highlight of the menu? The pumpkin gnocchi. They were simply divine—pillowy, flavorful, and a perfect example of how incredible plant-based Italian cuisine can be. ​The "cherry on top" was the wine.We sharedd a bottle of Massimo’s father’s wine, which was honestly outstanding. It added such a personal, soulful touch to the meal, making us feel like guests in a friend's home rather than just students in a class. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Review provided by Tripadvisor
251ajh
Feb 22, 2026
Fresh Veggies, Market Adventure, and Healthy Venetian Flavors - I joined a wonderful vegetarian cooking class in the heart of Venice, and it exceeded every expectation. We chose the menu together, creating a truly personal and engaging experience. For the first time, I finally tasted the real Caponata — authentic, rich, and unforgettable. Together we bought more than ten different vegetables — peppers, eggplants, zucchini, and even Radicchio di Treviso. Watching the boats pass by, loaded with fresh produce for the market, was simply beautiful, and it was right there that Massimo, our chef, decided the menu with us. Pasta, focaccia, caponata, lots of laughter, good wine, and an excellent dessert!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z3045odmohamedl
Feb 17, 2026
A True Vegan Venetian Experience.The Market, the Garden and the Authentic Home Cooking - This vegan cooking class in Venice was truly special and personal. We started at the vibrant Rialto Market, exploring seasonal vegetables with Massimo, who guided us like a true local in a city that can often feel very touristic. Discovering new produce I had never seen before was inspiring and eye-opening. Back at his Venetian home, we picked fresh herbs from his garden and began cooking. The baked eggplants were the best I have ever tasted — incredibly rich and flavorful without any cheese. We prepared fresh pasta and a unique sauce with pistachio, turmeric, sun-dried tomato, and small-batch extra virgin olive oil. Every flavor was vibrant and perfectly balanced. We ended with a beautiful dessert made from ancient flours and delicate Alpine honey. This was not just a cooking class, but a genuine glimpse into real Venetian life. Warm, authentic, and unforgettable. We will definitely return — we can’t wait to book again !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tina_b
Dec 18, 2025
Vegetarian cooking class - Great experience with Massimo. He was a wonderful host and guide to Venice's Rialto market and we made a memorable and delicious meal together. I would recommend this to everyone
Review provided by Viator
A2562azluciel
Nov 14, 2025
Venetian Culinary Magic: Fresh, Simple, and Stunning Setting! - The Private Market Tour and Vegetarian/Vegan Cooking Class was the absolute highlight of our Venice trip! ​We started with a fantastic market tour, sourcing an incredible variety of fresh, seasonal ingredients. The quality of the local produce was exceptional and truly inspiring. ​The class was held in a breathtaking ancient house—a truly stunning and exclusive setting. ​What impressed us most was the remarkable simplicity of the recipes. The focus was on using fresh ingredients to create authentic Venetian flavors with techniques that are wonderfully easy to master. We left with the confidence that we can easily reproduce these delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes in our own kitchen at home. ​If you are looking for an authentic, simple, and beautifully set culinary experience in Venice, this is it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $105
up to 12 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).