Rialto Market Tour & Private Cooking Class in the Heart of Venice
Description
If you're looking to learn to cook traditional Italian food when in Venice, then look no further. Join your host Massimo on this 4-hour experience and explore Mercato di Rialto together while you'll shop for fresh ingredients for your cooking class. Walk to Massimo's home where you will learn to cook authentic Italian dishes before siting down at his dining table to share the meal you helped prepare. Learn to make homemade pasta from scratch and warm focaccia bread! Massimo learned to cook from his family who owned a restaurant for many generations. His mother and nonna were influential in his appreciation for food. He enjoys hosting travelers at his home so he can share his passion for cooking and his city. Massimo lives in a 600-year-old ancient building in the heart of Venice with a beautiful outdoor terrace. Massimo cooks dishes from the Veneto region - this includes Venice and Bologna. There is a strong tradition of serving both fish from the seaside and meat from the hills.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Massimo is a fun and entertaining Venetian (and officer with the Merchant Navy) passionate about sharing his love for Venice and his family's recipes. If you choose the market tour option, begin your culinary experience with a guided tour of Mercato di Rialto, Venice's main market where the locals shop. Explore the market on foot and discover fresh and seasonal produce from Massimo's favorite vendors. Purchase fresh fish from a fishmonger before returning to Massimo's home on San Marco for your cooking class.
Join Massimo in his historical home kitchen to learn to cook regional Italian dishes. During your 1.5-2 hour cooking lesson, learn to make handmade pasta and focaccia using seasonal ingredients. Learn about the tips and techniques involved in cooking Venetian cuisine before enjoying the meal over laughter and stories with Massimo. Your meal includes prosecco and Ribolla Gialla from Massimo's family's vineyard or red wine. A truly off-the-eaten-path way to enjoy Venice with a local. Below is a sample menu: • Homemade rosemary and caramelized onion foccacia • Baked scallops or prosciutto and Alpine cheeses • Fresh salad in an Italian vinaigrette • Strozzapreti, hand-rolled pasta in a homemade sauce • Italian dessert served with liqueur 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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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 Santa Maria Formosa for the cooking + meal experience (no market tour).
- Private, personalized experience
Reviews(127)
On the very last day of our time in Venice, Massimo welcomed us into his home and prepared a phenomenal three-course meal for my family. He generously shared not only his recipes, tips and techniques, but his dining table, his family’s wine, and his grandmother’s porcelain. The food was delicious, and that is coming from a very discerning foodie. We truly felt as though we had an authentic Venetian experience hosted by a new friend. I would enthusiastically recommend this experience to anyone, but those who value intimate, meaningful experiences will find it especially memorable.
Wonderful experience. Max is a terrific host and chef. It was truly something we won't forget. Everything Max prepared was delicious.
Massimo is incredible. He’s thoughtful and welcoming. He made great food and was an expert of the region and its history. He makes the experience very special and has a strong connection to family and Northeast Italy.
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with Massimo. It's wonderful to know that his warm hospitality, delicious food, and deep knowledge of the region's history helped create such a memorable experience. We love that you were able to connect with the local culture through Massimo's personal stories and strong ties to his family and Northeast Italy. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We hope to welcome you on another Traveling Spoon culinary adventure soon!
A wonderful experience! An authentic, delicious entertaining, and enjoyable meal and evening with Massimo and his assistant Matilda.
Amazing time great host he had great stories and great food
This was truly a highlight of my family’s 4 day visit to Venice. Massimo is a true artist - a great chef - very engaging - best sense of humor - a fun person to spend the afternoon with. His kitchen is cozy - the ambiance fantastic - and the food we learned to cook - magnificent. I highly recommend Massimo if you are looking for an authentic Venetian cooking experience. You will not be disappointed!!
Once in a lifetime experience. Massimo and team made the experience very personal and interactive, and the food was the best I’ve had, and I’ve traveled all over the world.
Massimo, was absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The food he showed us how to make was so so so so good!!!!! His helper Matilda was so nice and great as well. Definitely coming back again. The food was phenomenal
Massimo welcomed us to his home for a private dinner. He shared 126 year old family recipes. He gave cooking tips, shared about his family and provided a wonderful meal. During the meal, he shared more about his life and answered our questions about living in Italy. Highly recommend for a intimate experience
Our cooking experience with Massimo was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Venice. From the moment we stepped into his 600-year-old Venetian home, we felt less like tourists and more like welcomed family. The setting itself was unforgettable—a historic home in the heart of Venice with a charming outdoor terrace that provided the perfect backdrop for an authentic culinary experience. Massimo guided us through the preparation of a delicious traditional Venetian meal. The ingredients were exceptionally fresh, and his passion for regional cuisine was evident in every step of the process. As a teacher, he was patient, knowledgeable, and engaging, sharing cooking techniques, family traditions, and fascinating stories about Venice along the way. You can immediately tell that his skills have been shaped by generations of family cooking and a lifetime spent appreciating great food. The meal we prepared was absolutely outstanding—fresh, flavorful, and truly representative of the Veneto region. Every dish showcased the quality of the ingredients and Massimo's expertise. Sitting down together to enjoy the meal felt like dining with an old friend rather than attending a cooking class. What made this experience truly special, however, was Massimo's warmth and hospitality. His generosity, humor, and genuine love for sharing his home, culture, and culinary traditions created an atmosphere that was welcoming, relaxed, and memorable. If you're looking for an authentic Venetian experience that goes far beyond a typical cooking class, you must book this experience. It was a wonderful combination of exceptionally delicious food, hands-on learning, local culture, and heartfelt hospitality that we will remember long after our trip to Venice.
