Rialto Market Tour & Cooking Class in the Heart of Venice

"We met Massimo & did a short walk to his home. We learned a lot about Venice & his
background while we made pasta. He had prepared some delicious sides in advance and
we enjoyed the conversation. Will be bringing these recipes home to enjoy!"

"Massimo did an amazing job walking us through the market and giving us some history of Venice and the surrounding area. When we got to his phone we went straight to preparing ana amazing and unique meal. Everything was absolutely fantastic, including the goat cheese and crystalized honey dessert. Can't recommend enough!!"

"Massimo was a fantastic guide and a very gracious host. He gave us plenty of information
about Venetian food. Massimo’s personality is warm and personable. The cooking and
eating experience was absolutely incredible. We had a truly delightful experience!"

"Delightful morning. This was one of the best meals that I had in Venice. Massimo is an engaging host, as well as an excellent cook. Everything was delicious, and her helper an amazing artist. We love the cooking class experience and always try to book one whenever we travel, but this was the best.From the visit to the Rialto market until the food reach a table full of candle light. I highly recommend booking with Massimo on your next trip to Venice. Massimo was so kind in emailing me the recipes, we eat fabulous 8 courses of amazing food of the region....really as he tell at the beginning " from the high mountains to the sea of Veneto region" .
Unbelievable.
Nice location and nice host.
Sure we come back"

"This was one of our best experiences in Venice. Our 10 year old son loved it. Massimo was very friendly and welcoming. It is such an authentic and unforgettable experience being invited into a local's home. Massimo took us to the local market and then was so good with our son, showing him how to prepare the meal."

"We are not ones to partake in Group Tours, or carefully curated experiences - we prefer to explore on our own, and enjoy the spontaneity of the moment.

I gave that summary to my stepson, and for Mother's Day, he found this experience for us - the word "Private" was the key - and we were excited to arrive in Venice and have this be our experience for the evening.

Ahead of our evening, we communicated with Massimo (Max) who asked if we had any food allergies or preferences, and arranged a meeting place that was easy to find, despite us never having been in Venice previously.

From the square, we met at 6pm, and from there walked through the labyrinth of the Venice streets to arrive at a corner courtyard, where Massimo used his key to open the gate, and inside and up the stairs we went. This was completely unexpected, as we had no idea where we were headed - outside a second floor window, we stopped and picked some herbs from the window garden, as it dawned on us that we were going to spend the evening in his home.

The simple kitchen, with cookware from his grandmother (politely borrowed), the opening of the sparkling wine kicked off the evening in a very unexpected way - we were not participating in a commercial venture, we were guests, welcomed from our travels with a home-cooked meal in which we would participate.

The stories, the process of cooking, the passion for flavor and the "old ways" made the preparation for the meal one of the most memorable experiences of our trip. We learned as we prepared, focaccia, pasta (hand rolled), and a sauce of our choosing, with an amazing protein (which he obtained from the market that morning) and then the final presentation - the atmosphere, the ambience, everything came together perfectly as we dined with our new friend.

An overall amazing experience that we will never forget, and one that we can never hope to repeat. Can't say enough about our time with Massimo."

"Massimo, our home chef instructor, was a gracious host and great teacher. He showed us the Rialto fish market, its history and explained which fish were in season as he selected the ingredients for our cooking and lunch experience. He taught us to make focaccia with different toppings, a pasta by hand, and a fish stew/sauce that went over the pasta. Delicious! He also offered wine, and a cheese plate. He’s fun, interesting and informative. We had a great time learning as well as a delicious meal in his home. A great way to spend 3.5 hours if you love great food and good company! Thank you Massimo!"

"I booked this for my 3 adult kids (ages 19-25) traveling together in Europe - and they said this was the best! Talking about the rest of their trip, they kept comparing all the other stuff they did to this, and it kept coming out on top! Besides being an excellent cook and providing one of the most delicious meals of their trip, they said the host was fun and insightful and made the entire evening one of the most enjoyable. They did the dinner option. The host was responsive and communicative throughout the process. Summary: Don't hesitate - it is worth every penny!"

"Massimo was a great chef and tour guide of the Rialto market. Definitely add that on to your activity!! I have a gluten allergy and Massimo went out of his way to ensure I was able to enjoy the dish that was being prepared and even made special bread so I would be able to have that as well. This was a highlight of our trip book. This experience now to have truly a memorable vacation."

"When do you get to say you are welcomed into a strangers home and within minutes you feel like family? We did! Massimo shared his family’s farm recipes, culinary treasures and stories with my family of four, including two teenage daughters. The night was less cooking and more sharing stories over an incredible meal. We had an amazing time and have a new “cousin” in Venice for sure!"

"Massimo is super friendly, fun and a delicious cook! We enjoyed walking around the market
learning about foods, wine and the culture. Spending time cooking g in his home was great.
We had a fantastic meal!"

"We had the best afternoon with Massimo. We started with a visit to the fish market where we picked up the freshest catch before making our way through the streets of Venice to Massimo’s flat. There, he cooked us up the most delicious meal and enthralled us with stories of his life in the city. His home is so lovely!! We had the most wonderful afternoon and we left feeling like we had an authentic day as a Venetian!"

"Intimate private class with Massimo, who was quite personable. He tailored the class to our interests, gathering what we needed as we strolled through the Rialto Mercato. We learned how to make a light risotto, then enjoyed eating it and foccacia he made. This is less hands on than other classes, but was still a rich experience. Thanks Massimo!"

"My husband and I booked a private cooking class that a few days before our trip got canceled. We were devastated, but then Massimo stepped up and offered to host us last minute and we are so glad he did! Massimo is a fantastic cook and an even better host! My husband and I both agree that our homemade pasta and tiramisu we made with Massimo was some of the best food we had during our trip! The whole evening felt not like a typical cooking class with an instructor and students, but like three friends cooking together and enjoying each other’s company. Would recommend Massimo over and over again!"

"Such an amazing time! Massimo was a fantastic host! We got a mini city tour while we
explored the market. One of the best meals we had our entire time in Italy. Don’t hesitate to
book this experience!"

"This was the highlight of our trip! My wife and I enjoyed a special evening and cooking
experience with Massimmo! He was so well prepared, entertaining and welcomed us into
his home!"

"What a wonderful experience! Massimo charmed us with his Italian cooking and stories. He made delicious focaccia and pasta. My girlfriends and I helped! This delightful opportunity gave me insight into living in Venice, Italian families and culture. I highly recommend Massimo and his fantastic cooking adventure!"

"Massimo was so personable, entertaining and informative. The food was amazing and such a good representation of what it would be like to live in Venice.

We are already hoping to return."

"Massimo is professional, personable, and very intelligent. What a great day for everyone
one of us. Our 24 year old daughter had a fabulous time. The food the wine and the
conversation was wonderful. This is a must do for anyone that visits Venice."

"Our private chef Massimo was very professional, extremely personable and provided us with a wonderful culinary demonstration and meal. It was our wedding anniversary and he went well above to make this a very special experience. We highly recommend this cooking and meal experience."

"it was really nice — thank you! Nice house, good location, very friendly, It was a unique
experience if you want to learn about Italian food."

"I have never been in this kind of a activity and had no idea what to expect.
After experiencing it I can recommend this for everyone! This was amazing experience which I would like to do again.
Grab your friends and book this for guaranteed fun and stomach filling time.
You don't need to be MasterChef for this, since you will get great instructions. I'm not a good cook,but even I managed to make something good.
Overall the host and the whole crew are super nice, and felt like we had known them for years. Very warm atmosphere with lot of laughter.

You book this or regret it for the rest of your life."

"Massimo was an incredible host from start to finish! We learned so much at the Rialto market about the history, the fish and the produce as we bought our ingredients for the lunch we would soon prepare. The walk back to his apartment was full of more history and stories as we got to know each other better. Once at Massimo’s place we began to cook an we drank and laughed and then ate one of our best meals in Venice! The best part was that Massimo was able to customize the entire meal to suit our dietary needs."

"Massimo was an incredible host from start to finish! We learned so much at the Rialto market about the history, the fish and the produce as we bought our ingredients for the lunch we would soon prepare. The walk back to his apartment was full of more history and stories as we got to know each other better. Once at Massimo’s place we began to cook an we drank and laughed and then ate one of our best meals in Venice! The best part was that Massimo was able to customize the entire meal to suit our dietary needs."

"Massimo personalized a great itinerary for us, including food menu and drink, with a side of sight seeing and cultural experiences all rolled into one. He was friendly, quick to respond, and had suggestions to cater specifically to us.
Was glad to have met him and found this amazing experience in Venice!! It helped make our short visit all that much more special. Highly recommend booking with Massimo!!"

"Massimo was a phenomenal guide and teacher! We learned so much about the culture and food during the market tour from him. Then for the cooking class he guided everyone through the steps, explaining the history and culinary importance, and it all tasted amazing! I can’t wait to bring these recipes and all the information I learned back to my family from this wonderful experience.Shared wine at tables and ate our food we prepared. Great way to spend time with couples or families.he created a menu according to our tastes! the house was magnificent, and we immediately became friends and what good wine! an unforgettable experience. He taught us an incredible type of PESTO for pasta... very good! the house and the garden were all beautiful. We picked mint, basil and bay leaves!
unforgettable. The best pasta of my life"

"Massimo was a phenomenal guide and teacher! We learned so much about the culture and food during the market tour from him. Then for the cooking class he guided everyone through the steps, explaining the history and culinary importance, and it all tasted amazing! I can’t wait to bring these recipes and all the information I learned back to my family from this wonderful experience.Shared wine at tables and ate our food we prepared. Great way to spend time with couples or families.he created a menu according to our tastes! the house was magnificent, and we immediately became friends and what good wine! an unforgettable experience. He taught us an incredible type of PESTO for pasta... very good! the house and the garden were all beautiful. We picked mint, basil and bay leaves!
unforgettable. The best pasta of my life"

"Massimo was amazing! Great cooking instructor - charming, funny, and sweet. We had so much fun in our private cooking lesson and market tour , we learned some valuable cooking tips and his venue was amazing! He made this tour one of my favorites! The food was superb and he was friendly, approachable and welcoming.Massimo taught us about Italy and its food culture. The wine was great. I highly recommend this tour to anyone!The class was a blast, instructions were simple, the food was delicious, and the wine never stopped being poured! This class is a must while you’re in Venice!What a fantastic place! He was accommodating at every step, and went out of his way to make sure a small group of travelers were at ease and having fun. If you feel overwhelmed by the cooking class options in Venice, this is the one to pick!"

"FIVE STARS. Massimo was an incredible host, so friendly and welcoming. His food was delicious and he gave us some great recommendations for Venice! One person in our party doesn’t eat fish and he easily worked around that, we visit the fresh market and he found delicious fresh vegetables to cook.His apartment is super lovely and is an ancient venue. Would 100% do this cooking class again next time we are in Venice."

"I can always count on Traveling Spoon to make me look like a Rockstar!!! Most recently my clients used them in Venice. My client's words, "Massimo was absolutely spectacular. He was so personable, and everything was beyond delicious. This experience was truly the highlight of our entire trip! We will be talking about this for the rest of our lives! We are so grateful to you for suggesting this." I LOVE YOU TRAVELING SPOON!!!"

"This was well worth the money! Massimo is such an amazing host and went above and
beyond what I was expected. The food was amazing and I would recommend this
experience to anyone who is looking for a personalized cooking class in Venice."

"We did this for our last night in Venice and we are so glad we did! It was a lot of fun, Massimo were really pleasant, and really sweet, funny, and taught us some cool new things. We made 3 different pastas, and a ricotta cake for dessert. The food came out delicious and we got the recipes to make at home. 100% recommend ."

"We started at the Rialto Market where we met Massimo for a guided tour of the market and the fish market, which was perfect because my son is obsessed with fish. We picked out some shrimp and tuna for lunch along with some beautiful tomatoes. From here we walked with Massimo to his house were he prepared a beautiful lunch for us. He was amazing with my son…involved Jude in making pasta by hand, focaccia from scratch, and of course letting him touch the seafood. He prepared a tomato salad with the Cuore di Bue tomatoes we had purchased at the market, homemade pasta (strozzapreti pasta) with shrimp and tuna, homemade focaccia (half with rosemary and half with onion), artichoke hearts purchased from the market, an array of meats and cheeses with honey from the dolomites, and his families red and white wines from his hometown of Trieste. We were with him for about four hours and felt like we had been welcomed into an old friend’s home for a leisurely candle-lit lunch."

"The hystory of Venice in a plate.FUN - TASTY- AMAZING.
The best seafood selected from a chef/sailor.Charming home.
Thank you ! We come back again!"

"Genuine.Had a wonderful time learning how to make fresh pasta. Massimo is a sailor but also an amazing chef, made the experience extra fun, and eating the pasta at the end was yummy. 10/10 would recommend. He finish with a special game for us- and the ancient Venice was a dream with his stories!
Massimo we come back!"

"I felt like a venetian.Just loved this experience. Took a day class with my family and we visit Rialto market and we do the best cooking class ever. Started at the Rialto Market, then went to the vegetable and seafood- Massimo an authentic saior from Venice was a great guide...and an amazing chef! The highlight is Massimo who is energetic, opinionated, open and welcoming. After picking the most interesting, we prepared a number of amazing dishes. Massimo asked my son to arrange some music and it felt more like a get-together among friends with an interest in cooking than a formal class- we share italian and american colture. If you want a formal class with a white apron and a textbook, this is probably not for you.Highly recommend this experience if you want to feel a bit of what it is to be a Venetian.Ps his ancient house and the quality of seafood was excellent."

"Amazing.A PRIVATE COOKING CLASS FOR MY FAMILY! Best experience. AND Best food of our vacation. Hands-down. Chef is knowledgeable, engaging, and makes the experience and comfortable and enjoyable, but Max is also a sailor full of stories of Venice and sea's stories. An occasion for visit Rialto market with him-taste the best fish- and cooking in his fancy ancient home!"

"When my wife and I booked this, we had read amazing reviews but still did not know what to expect. We met up with Massimo near the market were he taught us a lot about the different seafood that comes into Venice and what it’s suppose to look like to ensure the freshness when cooking. He later on brought us in to his lovely home and treated us just like family. We drank, we cooked and we ate together like long lost friends. It was an incredible experience to learn more about the culture, Massimo himself and also enjoy a fantastic meal in the process. Thank you so much Massimo we hope to do another cooking class with you the next time we are in Venezia!"

"This cooking class with Massimo was fantastic! He is entertaining, charming, and an
excellent chef. We drank, laughed, cooked and ate together in his home. This was truly an
unforgettable experience."

"When my wife and I booked this, we had read amazing reviews but still did not know what to expect. We met up with Massimo near the market were he taught us a lot about the different seafood that comes into Venice and what it’s suppose to look like to ensure the freshness when cooking. He later on brought us in to his lovely home and treated us just like family. We drank, we cooked and we ate together like long lost friends. It was an incredible experience to learn more about the culture, Massimo himself and also enjoy a fantastic meal in the process. Thank you so much Massimo we hope to do another cooking class with you the next time we are in Venezia!"

"Where can I start. Best experience in Venice. Massimo was authentic, entertaining , and it was like a family meal prepared with lots of laughs and love. Learned many tips and most importantly when cooking from your heart nothing has to be perfect to be amazing. Food and company in our small group of 5 was so special. We will treasure this memory forever."

"Max was amazing! Such a unique experience! We toured the market and got a little history lesson along the way. Max’s home was so charming and the meal was amazing. Learned a lot about the Italian style of cooking and lessons we could take home with us. Would highly recommend this unique experience!!"

"Massimo was a great host and chef. Fun and educational. Tasty food and a good teacher.
He brought special treats from his family’s viOnstar and farm."

"Could not recommend Massimo and this experience more! My boyfriend and I met him in the market where he showed us around before heading back to his apartment to cook up what we had just picked out. He was full of amazing stories and interesting tidbits but was also extremely attentive and flexible to what we were most interested in, and on top of that is one of the kindest and friendliest people I’ve ever met. The actual cooking was extremely fun and perfect for both experienced chefs and beginners, and they were clearly authentic and long-practiced traditional recipes, which we had a blast learning. I cannot stress enough, if you have time for one activity while in Venice, make it this."

"What a delight and surprise our tour and cooking class with Massimo was for us. Learning about the availability of produce and seafood local to Venice. Then the surprise of cooking in his flat, the stories of his family and the fun of music, laughter and making pasta and focaccia. Which were have reproduced here back in the states. We both would highly recommend this if you visit Venice."

"Massimo is the absolute best! He was attentive, kind, and had great conversation as we collaborated to make the most delicious meal we have had while on our honeymoon in Italy! He even gave us a special surprise because it was our honeymoon. We are thankful for this experience and look forward to the opportunity of welcoming Massimo into our own home in the future!"

"Loved the market tour, making the raviolis and eating!amazing seafood We had wine
homemade with the meal. Our group loosened up after that! I learned how to make pasta
which I have never made before."

"This was the highlight of our trip! Massimo was amazing and went above and beyond. When we arrived he had apps ready for us along with champagne with a magical game! We then learned to make fresh pasta and focaccia …which was honestly the best I had! Massimo was informative and made us laugh the whole time. His place is a quick walk from the market so very easy to get to. Definitely recommend this if you are spending some time in Venice!"

"The most fun cooking class ever!
This was such a fun class, from learning about local fish, meat, veg, balsamic vinegar, and mediterranena flavours at the market to making pasta, bolognese, and homemade focaccia, it was a blast. We had a very fun guide/chef Massimo, and the food was so good! We were here celebrating our engagement and it was fun learning how to make a beautiful Italian meal together complete with delicious red table wine. We'd love to come back and highly recommend!"

"Thank you Massimo. Your cooking class was the highlights of our trip to Italy! Great stories teller, a true sailor and amazing cook.
It was a warm, wonderful experience. We had a lovely time learning how to cook but also learning about Italian culture and way of life."

"We are a big group ...friends , family....and Massimo was one of the group!! From the moment we booked the experiential cooking class, we were looking forward to it more than anything in Venezia! Welcoming and inviting ambience and location the other guests made it fun, we laughed all evening! Massimo and his amazing meal was beyond expectations he explained every delicious course and we ate very well. Highly recommend this as it's not a typical cooking class but definitely unique and most memorable part of our trip for sure! Grazie mille Massimo!"

"This was the highlight of our visit to Venice. We meet Massimo at he took us to the market
which was interesting and fun then back to his place where he prepared a fantastic lunch.
He made us feel like family and we would definitely do it again"

"Massimo was an incredible guide and host. He met us promptly near the Rialto market and gave us a tour of the market while picking up some seafood for our lunch. We then went to his Venice apartment for our class and meal. Massimo was a great instructor and host letting us get as involved as we wanted. He was also very accommodating of my wife’s dietary preferences. Highly recommended tour"

"What an amazing experience! Massimo invited us into his home like we were family. He told
us interesting facts about food from his region and he gave us a super entertaining cooking
lesson. We had a great time and we now have a friend in Venice."

"Massimo was the ultimate host! We were in Venice for the first time and he truly made our experience unforgettable. He was kind, fun, full of knowledge and made us feel at home. The food was AMAZING!!! Massimo sure has some high quality chef skills. Highly recommend this experience:) 11/10 recommend!!!!"

"My husband and I did this tour/shopping trip to Rialto fish market and lunch cooking class with Massimo on my birthday as a special treat while we were in Venice. It was a wonderful experience, Massimo was such fun to talk to about his family and history and traditions of cooking and we made fantastic focaccia, hand made pasta with shrimp and a fish sauce that was scrumptious. We ate the lunch after with him and also had a beautiful local greens salad, wine from his family, prosciutto, cheese to go with the focaccia and ended with a decadent dessert, it was worth every moment and a lovely experience with Massimo. I would highly recommend to anyone who loves good food and learning first hand about some of the food culture of Venice."

"Massimo is an extremely charming host and a talented cook. He is genuinely enthusiastic and friendly. He was also flexible enough to accommodate a vegetarian in our group. We had a really enjoyable time and I recommend this experience unreservedly."

"What a fabulous way to end our Venice trip with a cooking experience with Massimo! We were met at a cafe near the Rialto markets and then taken to the best seafood stall where Massimo carefully and thoughtfully chose the best seafood for our meal: Tuna steak, mussels, scampi and octopus!!! We were welcomed into Massimo’s home where we were taken on a taste tour of flavoursome Italian family cooking! Lots of wine, conversation, food of course and fun. Massimo made us feel like we were old friends.
An experience not to be missed !!!!"

"The ultimate combination of hospitality, local knowledge and good humour. Thoroughly recommend to first time visitors or even locals!"

"Massimo is one of the last sailors of Venice....he guide us to Rialto market and we prepared in his charming Venetian house the best meal of our whole trip!!! he is a true story teller, he cooks very well, and it was the best way to understand this enchanted city. we want to do this experience again as soon as possible!"

"Massimo was genuinely fantastic. We consider it the highlight of the trip. We will treasure his hospitality and shared experiences for a lifetime. If you want a genuine taste of Venetian and Italian life, I can't think of a better way. He also gave us great tips on places to eat"

"Massimo was very entertaining and taught us authentic pasta and focaccia recipes. We had fun and learned a lot too. Thank you Massimo for passing on family recipes."

"In a place supported by and dependent on tourism, it's a rare opportunity to have an intimate interaction with a local doing an everyday task – shopping in the Rialto market, cooking together and enjoying a meal with wine and conversation. We were warmly welcomed to the affable chef's home. Massimo was both attentive and flexible. It was a perfect afternoon."

"We had a great time with Massimo. He received us at his home with ease and shared his family cooking recipes with us in a good mood. We have fond memories of this moment of genuine and warm sharing. Ciao Massimo !! (translated by Google))"