First of all, some sound advice to those who are to do this, just make sure to take a car service from the train station to the home where this is located, or else you will be walking about 80 flights of stairs to get there. It's a workout. Having said that, the location is beautiful, on a hill-side farm area, filled with grape vines, olive trees and other assorted fruit bearing trees. The home is very old, albeit very small, and if I recall correctly, it's owned by the same family for about 500 years. The inside has a modern kitchen the belies its age. The class is run by a no-nonsense woman who is an excellent cook & teacher, whose husband compliments her with his serene mellowness, and his expertise in the kitchen as well. (His bruschetta was truly top notch.) We were served some exquisite bruschetta to start, and subsequently got to work on pasta & tiramisu. Do NOT do anything other that what the chef dictates, or she will get annoyed. I found it funny, but I'm not so sure she did. Anyway, he tips were excellent, and the pasta came out amazing. However, the tiramisu was ultimately a whole other level of excellence. Best I've ever had. Again, follow her instructions well, or pay the price with her annoyance. (Perhaps I was just a bad student.) Lastly, their bathroom door is a bit odd with opening & closing. Best to not try to lock it or else get stuck in there for a while and thinking you broke the door when you find a way out. The doors there are like the windows in Italy, with an odd (from an American perspective) way of opening & closing.

The best experience we had in Italy! Giulia was the kindest host and taught us to make incredible dishes. We loved ever second and will take our experiences back home to make homemade pasta!

Giulia was a fantastic host. She was gracious, knowledgeable, friendly and fun. We enjoyed delicious bruschetta while preparing some of the most incredible pasta and tiramisu we’ve ever tasted 🤤 We highly recommend this experience to anyone who is visiting rioggiamore and was a highlight of our Italy trip!

Absolutely amazing experience in Barbara and Stefano’s incredible home. Barbara is passionate about sharing her love of cooking, friendly, funny, and extremely accommodating. We had an excellent time during our pesto and Gnocci class during our couples trip and wouldn’t hesitate for a second to book another class with Barbara when we are back next.

Excellent!.Barbara and her husband were prepared, fun and wonderful hosts. The food we prepared was delicious. We would definitely do this again.

Giulia and her husband were fantastic hosts-warm and friendly, with great cooking tips. The food was delicious and we really enjoyed ourselves on a day when it was pouring! Forza Inter!

Best cooking class I have ever been too! Great and friendly host and a fun filled night! However, due to the location, it costed us an additional $50 euro for a 5 minute taxi ride.

Barbara and Stefano were very fun and so knowledgeable sharing family recipes for sauce, pasta making, pesto, sage chips, bruschetta and frittata. What a wonderful evening spent with a great couple.

If I could give more than 5 stars I would. This was hands down the best experience of my life! Barbara and Stefano have the most adorable dynamic (and the two sweetest dogs!), and they treat you like family during this class. It really felt like I was in my aunt’s kitchen learning how to make pasta and tiramisu. We had so much fun and laughed so much. Barbara gave us several options of pasta and sauces to make, and Stefano made us the best bruschetta I’ve ever had. Not only is Barbara an incredible teacher, but she makes the experience so fun and unforgettable! She even called us a taxi back to our hotel after we ate dinner. Literally can’t say enough good things about this class. If you do one thing in Riomaggiore, it should be this class!

Our pasta and tiramisu class in Riomaggiore with Giulia was literally the highlight of our trip to Italy. It far exceeded our expectations and left us feeling inspired and grateful for the experience. Here are 7 reasons why: 1) The setting was special. Giulia teaches her class in a lovely apartment with a breathtaking view of Riomaggiore. It was easy to find, well-appointed, and the perfect space to learn her techniques and cooking approach. 2) We were warmly greeted by Giulia and her husband Alessandro, who offered us drinks and appetizers (zucchini quiche, crostini, marinated tomatoes, salame)—all freshly prepared and absolutely delicious. The appetizers alone were a cut above anything we were served at local restaurants. 3) Giulia and her husband are former restauranteurs, so they are experts in their field. You could taste their expertise in our results. 4) The spinach/ricotta ravioli and tagliatelli we made under Giulia's supervision were literally the best meals we ate on our entire 2.5-week trip. Giulia indicated her recipes were in the traditional Ligurian style, and we could taste every ingredient. 5) Giulia's teaching style was warm and precise. She let us watch her first, showing us every step of the pasta-making process, then let us take over, giving us tips along the way. We could not have had a more skillful teacher. 6) I have to mention the tiramisu, a dessert I usually don't like--until now. In the US, the tiramisus we've tried have been clouded with alcohol and wildly inconsistent in flavor. Giulia's recipe had no alcohol and was deceptively simple--but the flavors were complex and incredible. I couldn't stop eating it, and now it's one of my favorite desserts. It's amazing how much a talented chef can change your perspective on a single dish. 7) We left our class feeling energized and inspired, almost like we had been shown the secret formula for creating landmark Italian dishes better than most restaurants can provide. We couldn't recommend this experience more highly. It was unique in every way, resulting from Giulia's formidable talents as a chef/teacher and a very-well-thought-out process in which we felt absolutely welcome and confident from beginning to end. On a scale of 1 to 10, this was easily a 12!

Barbara was an incredible teacher! She shared the history of the dishes, tips on how to use ingredients correctly, and walked us through the steps to make several recipes: fresh bruschetta, two delicious pastas, and tiramisu! We enjoyed spending time at her and her husband’s picturesque home and eating our meal with a breathtaking view! Thanks so much for such a memorable experience!

Barbara was the most welcoming host to her beautiful garden and home, perched atop the hills above Riomaggiore. Her and her husband guided us through each step of the pesto, gnocchi, bruschetta, and tiramisu recipes- including sharing technique and ingredient insights passed down from her grandmother. They were patient, funny, friendly, and so hospitable. We thoroughly enjoyed the full experience! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for you’ll be standing a lot, and have a bit of a trek (with quite the view) to get down to their home from the drop off point on the road. It’s so worth it!

This was a wonderful experience. The vineyards are amazing (with an incredible view), and our host was great too—friendly and informative. Seeing and hearing about the operation was interesting, and the wines we sampled were excellent. Highly recommended!

Wonderful experience! Lovely hosts, beautiful location and delicious recipes! Can’t wait to try the recipes at home.

Luca was amazing to cook with. I feel like I can go home and recreate what he taught us. I would recommend this class to anyone going to Cinque Terre. His place makes you feel like you’re home and has amazing view.