Tour operator
Artviva
A Florence tour company founded in 1996, known for its Original Florence Walk, skip-the-line Uffizi and Accademia tours and after-hours museum visits.
In Tavola Cooking School
An Oltrarno cooking school near the Palazzo Pitti offering hands-on classes in handmade pasta, pizza and gelato and Florentine dinners with professional chefs.
At a glance
- Type
- Cooking classes
- Area
- Oltrarno, Florence, Italy
- Official site
- intavola.org
Good to know
- Group and private classes
- Professional chefs
- Dinner included in evening classes
Why we recommend it
In Tavola is a cooking school in the Oltrarno, on Via dei Velluti, a short street between Via Maggio and Piazza Pitti. It was set up to share the food and wine traditions of Italy and Tuscany with people who want to learn traditional Italian cooking, and its lessons are led by professional chefs. Classes are aimed at both beginners and more experienced cooks, and there are options for individuals, groups and private parties.
The scheduled classes are hands-on and practical. The Handmade Pasta class, held at lunchtime or in the evening, teaches you to make fresh pasta dough by hand and shape it into different forms, then cook sauces to go with it. The Pizza and Gelato class, held in the late afternoon, is a favourite with families: you stretch and top your own pizzas and learn how gelato is made. The 4 Course Dinner class covers a full Italian menu, and the shorter Florentine Dinner focuses on local dishes. Most classes last around three and a half hours, and you eat what you have cooked at the end.
Beyond the scheduled classes, the school offers gourmet and master cooking lessons for more serious cooks and private lessons tailored to your interests, as well as student discounts. Prices for the group classes are moderate for a hands-on experience that includes a meal, and they make a good alternative to a restaurant dinner on one evening of your trip.
Book ahead, especially in spring and autumn, as classes fill up. Let the school know about allergies and dietary requirements in advance. Classes are friendly and social, so they suit solo travellers as well as couples, families with children old enough to help in the kitchen, and groups of friends.
The school is about three minutes' walk from the Palazzo Pitti and five minutes from the Ponte Vecchio, which makes it easy to combine a morning at the palace or the Boboli Gardens with a lunchtime pasta class. You can contact the school by phone, WhatsApp or email. Wear comfortable clothes you do not mind getting a little flour on, and arrive a few minutes early to settle in before the class starts.
In Tavola Cooking School FAQs
Where is In Tavola?
At Via dei Velluti 20r in the Oltrarno, near the Palazzo Pitti.
What classes are offered?
Handmade Pasta, Pizza and Gelato, a 4 Course Dinner and a Florentine Dinner, plus private and master classes.
How long are the classes?
Most scheduled classes last about three and a half hours; the Florentine Dinner is about two and a half hours.
Do you eat what you cook?
Yes, classes end with a meal of the dishes you have prepared.
Are classes suitable for beginners?
Yes, lessons are designed for both beginners and more experienced cooks.
Is the Pizza and Gelato class good for children?
Yes, it is popular with families with children old enough to help.
How can I contact the school?
By phone on +39 055 217672 or by email at [email protected].