SICILY · DINING EXPERIENCES
Good dining experiences fill up weeks ahead; the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Learn pizza and chocolate gelato with a chef in Palermo, then eat your creations with wine. Includes recipes and dinner, in 3 hours.
“This class was fantastic, would recommend to anybody!! Beautiful and roomy work area, extremely well organised and our cook was so much fun. One of my best Sicilian experiences so far”
Hands-on Sicilian cooking class in Catania. Make caponata, fresh pasta alla Norma, and cannoli in a small group, with wine.
“Had a fun day cooking with my friends. Learned some new things. Food was quite delightful. Only thing missing was some Sicilian music to really get the cooking juices flowing!”
Private 4-course Sicilian cooking demo at a Cefalù home with wines and coffee. Meet a local Cesarina and enjoy family recipes.
“Our host Rosa Maria was absolutely fabulous so warm, friendly, a great host into her home and a fantastic Cook. It was a great experience and I’d recommend it to anybody.”
Enjoy a 4-course Sicilian dinner in Palermo with local chef Fulvio, wine tasting, and flexible dietary options in a small group.
“Fulvio is an amazing chef and an even better host. From the moment we arrived, we felt warmly welcomed into his home. The local, seasonal food was outstanding, and it was a privilege to experience Palermo’s culinary culture through someone who is clearly a local institution. A fantastic and memorable way to end our Sicily trip.”
Enjoy a private Palermo home-style 4-course meal with a show cooking demo, Sicilian family recipes, and regional wines, in about 3 hours.
“It was all fantastic. Giovanni and his family were wonderful hosts. The food was fabulous and the cooking lesson really interesting and great fun. It was a lovely evening in good company”
Wellness in Marsala’s pink salt pans on Isola Grande, with a short boat cruise and starlit Sicilian buffet dinner. Guided, 7 hours.
“escursione stupenda, luogo magico da incorniciare, cibo ottimo e non da meno la cortesia e le curiosità inaspettate dai guardiani del luogo. da vivere una volta nella vita!!!”
A private 4-course meal in a Catania home with a show cooking demo, regional wines, and an official apron souvenir, in about 3 hours.
“Maruzio was wonderful, what a fantastic host. There was so much tasty and delicious food. He showed us how to make homemade pasta his kindness and love for cooking really shone through. It was the perfect afternoon. I highly recommend this activity for anyone who loves great food. Such a kind and generous host.”
A private Palermo home cooking demo and 4-course dinner with regional wines, guided in English, for a small group setting with real local hosts.
“Unfortunately, we were unaware that this involved climbing 6 flights of stairs. It would have been helpful to have had this information. We booked this specifically to have a personal exchange rather than cooking experience. Our expectation was that we would be able to learn more about life in the city and to share experiences as we would when we invite guests to our home. The lack of a major commonality of language didn't allow for the intimate informal experience that we were expecting. As a consequence, this felt awkward and uncomfortable.”
A small-group, 4-hour Palermo dinner with a local chef, 4 courses, local wine, and Marsala, served in a warm setting.
“We had excellent time with guide Fulvio. Recomend to eweryone who want to try diferent street food in Palermo with touch of history. Fulvio prepared some food surprises. I can't tell you more. Try it.”
Taormina home dining with a Cesarina: a private 4-course Sicilian meal, show cooking, local wines, and an apron souvenir in 3 hours.
“The description is not accurate. The food was good but the activity was definitely not worth how expensive it was. The food was all prepared prior to us arriving so there really was no cooking demonstration or details on what sets a Sicilian meal different from other areas in Italy. The host left during the second course to visit her Aunt in the hospital which is understandable but she should have given us option to cancel dinner that night. We had dinner with 4 people who stay with host as they attend Italian school so they finished bringing us the dinner. We have done several of these dinners in other…”
Eat and cook like a local in Messina, with a private home demo, a full Sicilian multi-course meal, and regional wine.
“We had an amazing experience with Mariella. Her tutorial while preparing the food was very informative and using translation apps we spoke to each other without any problems and had lovely conversations and enjoyed getting to know about the area of Messina, the food and preparation, and even learning about her family. The food was delicious, from appetizers and homemade ravioli, to the main course and dessert. An experience we will never forget and would love to try again.”
Private 4-course Ragusa dining in a local home with a cooking demo, family recipes, and wine and coffee included.
“This was absolutely incredible. The people in the food were a 10 out of 10.”
Palermo home-style private chef dinner on a balcony over Piazza San Domenico, with a 4-course seasonal menu and Sicilian wine.
“Wow! Dining at Patricia’s house was nothing short of unforgettable. From the moment my cousin and I stepped through her door, we were welcomed not just as a guest but as family. Her warmth set the tone for an evening that felt like a heartfelt celebration of Sicilian culture. The food was absolutely divine. Every dish was a love letter to Sicily. We later learned that Patrizia wrote a cookbook of her amazing recipes and we were quick to take the book home with us. Her home is beautiful and right in the center of Palermo. This is a highly recommended activity.”
Cook Sicilian classics in Catania with a hands-on class and lunch or dinner, plus wine tasting and cannoli, in 3 hours.
“Simona was a fantastic teacher . I can’t wait to get home to cook these meals for my family! She was friendly, easy to understand and there was so much food to eat. We also had a bottle of wine to drink with our 3 course meal. Would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a taste of Sicily !!! Lots of fun xx”
Private 3.5-hour Messina market tour and home dining with a local host, cooking demo, four courses, and Sicilian wine in English.
“Mariella was wonderful and picked us up right near our port. She taught and fed us SO much; even beyond what was listed in the booking. We had caponata, focaccia, pasta, cannolis, fresh bread, homemade wine, eggplant fritters, and ravioli. I highly recommend doing this instead of being stuck in a tour van all day. The host was so sweet and sent me some recipes afterwards. I would definitely love to visit Mariella again and do another class next time I'm in Messina!”
Every kind of day out on the island, and the best of each.
