Private Tour
Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Venetian Sailor
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
I'm a sailor but I learned to cook from my mother and grandma, we own an old and traditional restaurant and my father is a winemaker. I travel a lot with merchant ships all around the world but I never get tired of getting to know new people! I love to share my passion for food and my city. Many old dishes you cannot find anymore in the restaurant you can find in my home with a big selection! I'm open at your request (allergies or food you wanna try it).I m specialized in sea food, let's check what offer the beutiful Rialto market.But also if you don t like fish, will be a trip inside at the foods of Veneto region! From the high mountains to the sea. Welcome to my home, we will become friends!
Additional Info
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
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
We can discover the fresh market and buy delicious seafood, but not only, as Veneto region is rich in ingredients and my cuisine is rich in imagination. When we reach home we can cook old family recipes and travel through flavors, from the sea to the mountains we will discover many dishes. I m a story teller, stories from the sea, from ancient Venice, and from an old true Italian family. Welcome to my home: it will be a precious opportunity to discover Venice and local food from inside an ancient Venetian house. Let´s cook, have fun together... and eat well!
Sample Menu
main
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.
starter
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.
starter
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.
What‘s Included
Hosts father is a wine maker!
Food Purchased in Rialto Market
All Fees and Taxes
Cooking Class
Hotel pick-up and drop off
Options
cooking class NO market tour
Duration: 3 hours: meeting point Campo Santa
Maria Formosa
Cooking class and dinner !
Cooking Class with a Venetian Sailor
Duration: 3 hours
dinner and cooking class!: You are welcome in my home in the heart of Venice , i can tail for you a cooking class and enjoy the time together!
Reviews
58 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A Perfect Family-Friendly Venetian Cooking Experience
DayTrip34131451256,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This cooking class in Venice with my group was truly something special and deeply authentic. Massimo, a Venetian sailor, welcomed us into his world with incredible stories about the Republic of Venice and his life at sea. His passion and warmth made us feel immediately at home, like guests rather than tourists. Cooking together was the highlight, especially preparing fresh pasta and seafood with such simple yet powerful flavors. The mussels were outstanding, fresh from the sea, lightly cooked with tomato and perfectly balanced in taste. Every dish reflected quality, tradition, and a deep respect for ingredients. The dessert was another surprise, made with an exceptional goat cheese of the highest quality. But more than the food, it was the connection with Massimo that made everything unforgettable. We laughed, shared stories, and felt part of a real Venice, far from mass tourism. It was genuine, beautiful, and like meeting a true friend.
More Than a Cooking Class: Stories, Sea, and Authentic Venice
rachelsA5889QB,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This private cooking class in Venice was truly unforgettable. It was just for us, which made it feel incredibly authentic and personal—something very rare in such a touristic city. We started the morning at the Rialto market, choosing fresh fish alongside a real Venetian mariner who knew all the fishermen. Then we went to his beautiful 600-year-old home, complete with a charming garden and an ancient well, where we even used fresh rosemary he picked himself. We cooked an amazing meal: fresh sea bass, spicy sautéed mussels, and homemade focaccia with excellent Italian olive oil. While cooking and eating, Massimo shared fascinating stories about Venice and the sea, making the experience feel like time spentwith a friend. We also enjoyed wine made by his father and a unique dessert with fresh goat cheese, honey, ginger, andhomemade grappa infused with sage. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a genuine and intimate Venetian experience.
A Magical, Private Culinary Journey in the Heart of Venice!
555lucieg,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An intense, true, and beautiful experience. The atmosphere was electric and the company was joyful. I made the best pasta of my life! If you want a real taste of Venice, this is it. If you are looking for an authentic Venetian experience that goes beyond the typical tourist paths, this private cooking class is a must-do. We spent an unforgettable day at the home of a local Venetian sailor. His house is an ancient, magical oasis right in Venice that felt like stepping back in time. It wasn’t just a lesson; it was a private party just for us. The day was filled with laughter and stories. Our host is incredibly charismatic—we spent the entire time joking and having fun. It felt less like a formal class and more like hanging out with an old friend. The Secrets of the Kitchen He shared incredible "trade secrets" and professional tricks that he learned from his grandmother, who used to run a historic restaurant near Venice. You can tell these recipes have been perfected over generations. Without exaggeration, this was the best fish I have ever eaten in my life. Fresh, perfectly prepared, and full of flavor( orata ). We did a deep dive into some exquisite local cheeses that were absolutely delicious. Everything was simply stunning. We didn't just learn how to cook; we gained a new friend and a favorite spot in Venice. If you want to see the "real" Venice through the eyes of a sailor in his beautiful home, do not miss this.
Magical Venetian Cooking Class for Families & Friends
418villem,Mar 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A true gem of a day in Venice! Massimo, a real Venetian sailor, welcomed us into his stunning 16th-century home for a cooking class like no other. We shopped at the Rialto Market for the freshest fish, then cooked together while laughing from start to finish. Massimo shared beautiful stories, making us feel like old friends, and we listened to the best vinyl records I hadn’t heard in years. His home was magical, a true treasure, and every dish — sautéed mussels, warm focaccia, fresh wine from his father — was sublime. We felt incredibly lucky to experience Venice this way. A real touch of class and unforgettable fun. Thank you, Massimo!
Sea, stories and Venetian kitchen
467marielaq,Mar 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful and surprising cooking experience in Venice with Massimo, a Venetian sailor with more than 25 years at sea. What began as a simple cooking class quickly turned into an evening full of friendship, flavors, and incredible sea stories. Massimo took us through the hidden corners of the Rialto Market to buy the freshest seafood, and then welcomed us into his beautiful old Venetian home.What make this cooking class special was all the stories from the 7 seas...an we drank delicious wine made by his father, laughed together, and listened to stories about distant places and Venice itself. The food was unforgettable: a fantastic spicy mussel stew with warm focaccia and the best seafood we have ever tasted. We finished with a fresh chocolate mousse with frozen raspberries, a recipe Massimo discovered during a voyage to Russia. It didn’t feel like being guests, but like being friends in the home of a sailor. A truly special experience—we will definitely come back.
Cooking in a Real Venetian Sailor’s Home
X1710YIf timas,Feb 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was not a formal cooking class, but a true immersion into authentic Venice. We were incredibly lucky to enjoy a completely private experience inside the cozy home of one of the last real Venetian sailors. No chef uniforms, no staged atmosphere — just laughter, good wine, friendly pats on the back, and real lagoon stories. The fish was bought that very morning at the Rialto Market from his fisherman friends, who brought it in incredibly fresh. For the first time, I tasted canoce (Venetian mantis shrimp), an ultra-local delicacy I had never even heard of — fresh, delicate, unforgettable. We also prepared homemade gnocchi with shrimp, zucchini, chanterelles, and sweet datterini tomatoes, all made by hand. It felt like stepping back in time — a rare and genuine experience in a city where true locals are becoming fewer and fewer. A real journey into the heart of Venice, thanks Max !
From Strangers to Friends in the Heart of Venice
251ajh,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I 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.
Unforgettable Class with the Sailor Chef!
angellT6254EJ,Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This 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!
A really great experience!
U1020KTmarkh,Sep 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We 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.
Wonderful market tour and cooking experience with a great guy
danielhU9427UT,Aug 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We 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.
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