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Venetian Cooking Class: Seafood & Local Delights
5.0
61 Ratings
Venezia
Join a Venetian sailor for a market tour and cooking class. Discover rare dishes, local wines, and the flavors of Veneto. Book now!
Join a Venetian sailor for a market tour and cooking class. Discover rare dishes, local wines, and the flavors of Veneto. Book now!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255a - Explore the vibrant market and indulge in delectable seafood, along with a variety of other ingredients from the Veneto region, known for its culinary diversity. Upon returning home, enjoy preparing traditional family recipes and embark on a flavorful journey from the sea to the mountains, uncovering a multitude…
- Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255a - Explore the vibrant market and indulge in delectable seafood, along with a variety of other ingredients from the Veneto region, known for its culinary diversity. Upon returning home, enjoy preparing traditional family recipes and embark on a flavorful journey from the sea to the mountains, uncovering a multitude of dishes. The operator is a storyteller, sharing tales from the sea, ancient Venice, and a genuine Italian family. Welcome to this home: it offers a unique chance to experience Venice and local cuisine from within a historic Venetian house. Let’s cook, enjoy each other’s company, and savor delicious meals!
What's Included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Food purchased in Rialto Market
- All fees and taxes
- Cooking class
- Alcoholic beverages
- Food purchased in Rialto Market
- All fees and taxes
- Cooking class
What's Not Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
Meal Options
- fresh pasta with sea food - i m specialized in sea food…but we can choose different sauces; the freshness of the market flavors will meet the unique flavor of homemade pasta.
- focaccia, an excuse to taste the flavors of the Venetian cusine - Focaccia is something between a pizza and bread.Amazing. We can eat it with ham, cheese, salad,it will be our…
- fresh pasta with sea food - i m specialized in sea food…but we can choose different sauces; the freshness of the market flavors will meet the unique flavor of homemade pasta.
- focaccia, an excuse to taste the flavors of the Venetian cusine - Focaccia is something between a pizza and bread.Amazing. We can eat it with ham, cheese, salad,it will be our vehicle among the flavors of the region.
- Flavours of Veneto region - A warm focaccia, the parfume of the warm bread: lets test this speciality with high quality cheese and ham from small producer,salad from the lagoon.
Additional Information
I’m a sailor, but I learned to cook from my mother and grandmother. We own a traditional, old restaurant, and my father is a winemaker. I travel extensively with merchant ships around the globe, but I never tire of meeting new people! I love sharing my passion for food and my city. Many old dishes that you can’t find in restaurants anymore are available…
I’m a sailor, but I learned to cook from my mother and grandmother. We own a traditional, old restaurant, and my father is a winemaker. I travel extensively with merchant ships around the globe, but I never tire of meeting new people! I love sharing my passion for food and my city. Many old dishes that you can’t find in restaurants anymore are available at my home, with a wide selection! I’m open to your requests (allergies or specific foods you’d like to try). I specialize in seafood, so let’s explore the beautiful Rialto market. But if you don’t like fish, we’ll take a culinary journey through the foods of the Veneto region, from the high mountains to the sea. Welcome to my home; we will become friends!
- On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
Location
Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255a
Campo San Giacomo di Rialto
i will wait for you in campo S. Giacomo di Rialto ( a small square by Rialto bridge ) close to the Cafe : ¨ Caffe Vergnano 1882¨, after the market visit ,we proceed to my home, a trip inside an a venetian house with a local.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(61 Ratings)
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251ajh
Feb 22, 2026
From Strangers to Friends in the Heart of Venice - I had an unforgettable cooking class at the home of Massimo, a true Venetian sailor.
It’s an absolute must-do experience—there are so few real sailors left in Venice!
We chose the fish together at the local market, where he seemed to know every fisherman.
The seafood was incredibly fresh, and seeing Venice through a true local’s eyes was priceless.
We laughed a lot, enjoyed wonderful wine, and cooked amazing homemade pasta and his delicious focaccia.
I learned new cooking techniques in a warm, authentic atmosphere.
Cooking in his home—like an old galleon in the heart of Venice—was magical.
It felt exclusive to enter a Venetian palace, and now Massimo feels like a dear friend.
I’m ecstatic about this experience and can’t wait to return.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angellt6254ej
Nov 9, 2025
Unforgettable Class with the Sailor Chef! - This was an absolutely wonderful experience. Learning traditional Venetian recipes from a real sailor gave the class a unique and authentic charm. The food we prepared was incredibly fresh and delicious, and the host was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this class for anyone looking for a truly special memory in Venice!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U1020ktmarkh
Sep 7, 2025
A really great experience! - We really loved our first trip to Venice learning the history and admiring the beauty of this wonderful city. On top of all that, we had the most fun day with Massimo who welcomed us into his lovely home, giving us a glimpse into the life of a true Venetian. You can tell he really enjoys sharing his heritage through the connection we all have by coming together to enjoy delicious food. We experienced shopping the local market for fresh seafood before we returned to his home where entertained us with his good humor, cooking skills and stories, along with his delicious family made wine. It was one of the best meals during our stay and will highly recommend to anyone planning a visit to Venice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Danielhu9427ut
Aug 11, 2025
Wonderful market tour and cooking experience with a great guy - We had a fantastic time with Massimo. The experience starts in Rialto market, choosing the food you want to cook, including seeing the amazing fish stands. After a short stroll to Massimo's residence, the cooking began. We were made to feel at home / relaxed by his great personality, funny stories, and bottle of bubbly! We made salad, pasta, focaccia, and fish. The food was served in a lovely dining area... And was AMAZING. We came away very full and with a new friend. I highly recommend. For the experience and amount of food (plus recipes to try at home) it is very good value. The communication (including asking about allergies, likes, dislikes etc) was also excellent.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
558stormyg
Jun 29, 2025
The best decision of the trip! - I booked this for my 3 adult kids (ages 19-25) traveling together in Europe - and I'm so grateful I did! When telling us about their adventures, they kept coming back to this as one of the best activities of the trip! Besides being an excellent cook and providing one of the most delicious meals of their trip, their host Massimo was fun and insightful and made the entire evening one of the most enjoyable. It became more a dinner with a family friend than a "class" as they cooked and talked in his home. He even texted to find out about any allergies or preferences beforehand. I can't imagine that anyone who is old enough to cook wouldn't thoroughly enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Summary: Don't hesitate - it is more than worth it! Thank you, Massimo!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_r
Jun 24, 2025
Book this immediately! - If you only do one thing in Venice, this should be it! Massimo was amazing, warm and created the best experience for everyone in my family, from ages 17 to 80! He showed us around the market and bought fresh fruit for us to try, then we went to his home where he and his friend taught us how to make fresh pasta and focaccia bread and cooked us the most amazing meal. As we sat around his beautiful antique table covered by a tablecloth his Grandmother had embroidered with candles lit and wine from his family's winery, we felt like family. We laughed, ate, talked, drank and felt at home. This is the first time I have booked a tour or experience that I would do over and over again!
Review provided by Viator
Azure-moonbeam
Jun 12, 2025
Much more than a cooking class - This was more than a cooking class. From the moment we met Massimo in the market the lesson began. Food, freshness and history all at the same time. Massimo quickly figured out our choices and what to do with them, the result 2 excellent fish and pasta dishes. The pasta, homemade of course in the blink of an eye back at his place. Focaccia too. Fabulous. We thought we would be eating at the kitchen table but ta-da, Massimo swept us into a wonderful dining room where we enjoyed the amazing seafood. Next he produced salad, meat, fruit, cheeses and homemade preserves. All washed down with amazing homemade wine.Wow just wow. Throughly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_t
Jun 7, 2025
Memory, not experience - Mossimo gave us our most memorable experience in Venice. We toured the market, some streets, and he provided small stops and details left off of other tours we had done. He has a unique way of making you feel like he is your cousin who you haven’t seen since you were kids. He is a lovely host who cooks some of the best food we have ever had. You sign up for the cooking and experience but you leave with a memory. Thanks Massimo.
Review provided by Viator
Micaela
May 25, 2025
Amazing food and company - There were many options when choosing a cooking class, but I'm so happy we chose Massimo, because my sister and I had such a great time with him.
After meeting up with Massimo, we toured the market, grabbing the rest of the items we needed for lunch. He's very knowledge and told us all about the history of the area as we walked from the market to his home.
Once there, we clipped some fresh herbs from his garden, then drank some bubbly while learning how to make fresh pasta, pesto, and foccacia bread. Massimo's special technique led to the most delicious foccacia we'd ever tasted. I would have eaten the whole pan if not for all of the other delicious items he served. We were stuffed after all the pasta with pesto, delicious salad with homemade dressing, prosciutto, foccacia, assortment of cheeses with family-made jams, and his family's wine.
Not only was the food fabulous, but the company was amazing as well. We had such a fun time and were sad to say goodbye as we felt we made a new friend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
464lottiep
May 18, 2025
Excellent experience, pick this over other classes!! - Brilliant experience with Massimo, he was very accommodating to my mothers disability and started the experience where it was convenient for us to meet. He gave us a tour of the market where we decided what to cook and on the walk to his home he regaled us with some history of sites we passed.
He welcomed us to his home, opened the bubbles and showed us how to make focaccia and pasta and a sauce with the sea food we'd chosen.
He set his lovely table for us and when we'd eaten our pasta brought out salads, cheese and jams not forgetting the wine from his father's vineyard. We left merry and full.
We highly recommend this experience with him, he was funny and engaging and a lovely addition to our trip :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
