• Private Experience
• Carbon Neutral

Get your taste buds dancing and experience the typical Roman cuisine in the heart of Rome. That's right, your private home dining experience is right next to the Colosseum! Discover three simple yet authentic pasta dishes and experience how similar ingredients can create a wide variety of tastes.

Destination

Rome, Italy

Category

Cooking Classes

Duration

2 hours

Cuisine

Italian

Available languages

English, Italiano

Included

• Meals

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Massimo.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at approximately Via Michelangelo Buonarroti, Rome to start your culinary journey.

   View on Maps

2. Example menu

   This is what our dinner could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. First course

   Pasta Ajo, Oio e Peperoncino (the simpliest white sauce)

4. Second course

   Pasta alla Carbonara (creamy eggs and pancetta sauce)

5. Third course

   Pasta alla Puttanesca (red sauce with olives and capers)

6. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the menu? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Katrien🇧🇪 Belgium

2 January 2025

We spend a wonderful afternoon in Massimo's kitchen to learn al the inside tips for cooking a wonderful pasta. Teenagers loved this !Fantastic experience in Massimos kitchen

Jimmy🇮🇹 Italy

22 December 2024

I'm never ever going to buy ready made pasta sauce now that we learned from Massimo how easy and fun is to cook a delicious three course meal from scratch in no time. Me my wife and my 12, 15 and 24 y/o children had a blast cooking together with massimo and learning in the mean time about ingredients, history and bits and pieces of fun information. A couple of days after our "cooking lesson" we tried at home and made the most delicious Carbonara by ourselves. Cooking is fun and is a good way to spend family time. Thank you Massimo for your time and interesting conversation. Cooking from scratch made easy & fun

Eva🇬🇷 Greece

1 December 2024

We had an amazing experience with Massimo. We learned a lot during the Carbonara and more cooking lesson, not only about cooking, but also about Rome&Italy. Massimo explained everything very well. Next time in Rome, we will definitely book another experience with Massimo! Grazie milleAmazing experience!

Nicole🇺🇸 United States

12 August 2024

Massimo’s cooking class was one of the best experiences we had on our entire trip! The class takes place in Massimo’s apartment in the heart of Rome, which made the entire experience so authentic. The food was amazing and the recipes were easy to follow and understand for all skill levels of cooking enthusiasts. Beyond the actual cooking class, Massimo told us all about the history of Rome and gave us great recommendations on what to do for the remainder of our trip, which is a very nice added bonus to get one on one time with a true local. We HIGHLY recommend booking a class with Massimo during your trip to Rome – you will not regret it! Amazing!

Marlene🇺🇸 United States

18 July 2024

The food was simple and easy to make but very delicious 😋 Would take another class with him.Amazing

Charlie🇺🇸 United States

3 July 2024

Our family of 4 arrived at Massimo’s home hot and tired from the day’s excursions. We were immediately welcomed with a warm smile, cold beverages and a relaxing atmosphere. Massimo made us feel at home as he prepared 3 different pastas for us~~ explaining each step along the way. You can be involved in the process as much (or as little) as you want. Each pasta plate was delicious and we left feeling full and taken care of. Highly recommend!Great time with Massimo!

Beth

14 June 2024

Massimo made us feel right at home in his lonely Roman home! We made some delicious authentic Italian dishes that were simple and will be easily incorporated into our families dinner rotation! Wonderful home cooking experience!!

stefan.naglis

6 June 2024

It was a great experience! Massimo is not just a great cook but also a lovely host. It was a pleasure being at his place, an authentic Roman apartment and cooking with him in his kitchen. The entire family enjoyed it and we learned a lot. And for sure the dishes we prepared were delicious! Thank you Massimo!Authentic Cooking Class

Sanne 🇩🇪 Germany

14 May 2024

Massimo is a super nice host. He has such a nice and friendly character and from the first minute we really felt like home. The cooking was amazing and more than delicious. If I will be back in Rome I will definitely do another trip with him. Just to recommend. Super nice, any time again

Chad🇺🇸 United States

3 May 2024

We had a great experience learning to cook traditional pasta sauces that were delicious! Massimo was the perfect host from start to finish in his very own kitchen! He made recommendations for ingredients and substitutions if needed as well as emailing the recipes to allow us to make when we return home. We enjoyed three generous portions of pasta with a lovely bottle of wine! Highly recommend this experience! Authentic Italian Cooking Experience

Natasha🇳🇱 Netherlands

22 March 2024

Big compliments to Massimo! He was very welcoming. We enjoyed it to the fulliest to learn to cook authentic pasta dishes in his nice appartement. So many tips to make a perfect pasta carbonara and amatriciana. And the pasta aio, oio e peperoncino was fingerlicking good. We already tried to make it at home with the recipes from Massimo in our hand. So go, learn and enjoy Roman pasta. We can highly recommend this cooking course. Ciao Natasha, Martin and Rover Go to Massimo and enjoy cooking pasta!

Melisa 🇺🇸 United States

20 March 2024

We loved our cooking class with our new friend Massimo in his bright red kitchen. We made three amazing pasta dishes. My teenage son even got into it - especially when it was time to eat!!! Let’s see if we can replicate them at home.Teenager Approved

Francine 🇨🇦 Canada

25 January 2024

This was our first cooking class while traveling. We usually have our food experience in restaurants around the world. Not knowing what to expect, we thoroughly enjoyed learning 3 pasta sauces, and valuable tips with Massimo, a very nice man. He is very knowledgeable on the Roman cuisine, and restaurant tips. The quality of the pasta dishes made exceeded expectations. Eating in the kitchen really made the whole experience authentic. The experience definitely opened our minds to trying this again in different cities or countries we visit.Great experience. Exceeded expectations!

Simone

5 January 2024

Massimo made our first "cooking with locals" experience a true joy! He learned us how to prepare three different, delicious pasta sauces. Even the challenge of cooking pasta carbonara for someone who doesn't eat cheese, was no issue. He changed the recipe easily into pasta amatriciana for me alone, which was a great learning to take home (where we normally have the same challenge with me not eating cheese). Thank you Massimo for the great experience! We would highly recommend this activity to others.Authentic & cosy home cooking experience!

Dennis🇺🇸 United States

4 January 2024

Massimo was very friendly and we had a blast doing the cooking class. His dishes we made together were delicious, and he was very fun to talk to throughout! Through the cooking class, he gave us little nuggets of tips for Italian cooking, and also at the end gave us some advice for touring Rome. Our favorite dish was the puttanesca!Fun, social, yummy experience!

Ilonka

4 January 2024

We visited Massimo at his home. He showed us 3 different pastadishes. We learned a lot. Massimo is a great teacher and he shares his knowledge about the food. Het is also very kind. We loved this experience. Highly recommended! What a fantastic experience!

Dean

30 December 2023

A fantastic Roman experience - Massimo is a warm and gracious host who made us feel very welcome in his home. Our two children (12 and 10) loved the experience of helping out with preparing the dishes and then eating them - absolutely delicious! Thanks again Massimo - highly recommended.A wonderful host

Karen🇺🇸 United States

21 December 2023

We had such a fantastic time learning and immersing ourselves in the cultural food and history of each dish. Massimo was a wonderful host, sharing his love for crafting Roman family dishes. We all walked away completely fulfilled with the experience. Highly recommend visitors to Rome to book with Mossimo!Best experience while in Rome!!!

Tyler🇺🇸 United States

14 December 2023

Massimo was great host and being invited into his home was a great experience. He also was very good at communicating and customizing the experience based on our preferences. The pasta was delicious and Massimo was wonderful to chat with for a couple of hours. Great experienece making Roman pasta!

Betsy🇺🇸 United States

25 November 2023

I love to eat, but I don’t love to cook. Taking the class with Massimo changed my mind. It created a desire for me to attempt making pastas and enjoying it. I’m so grateful that Massimo opened up his home and his heart to teach others how to make the most delicious pastas. Simple, fresh, quick, and beyond amazing dishes were prepared and devoured. My husband and I couldn’t decide which of the three were our favorite. We are beyond excited to try to cook these pastas at home. I know it won’t come close to Massimo’s cooking. So we will need to come back to Rome and take Massimo’s class again. :)Desire to cook

Ansonia🇺🇸 United States

17 November 2023

Massimo, is a truly hidden gem. My sister and I had a wonderful experience leaning to some local favorites. We enjoyed the stories, the food and the wine. Massimo was patient and answered all of questions. If you are looking for an authentic experience this would be for you. Local Hidden Talent

Lacey🇺🇸 United States

28 October 2023

This was truly the highlight of my 12 day trip to Italy. The experience was immersive. It was incredible to be able to go into Massimo's home and kitchen, cooking one of our favorite meals. Carbonara. We learned so many new techniques and how easy making from scratch pasta really is, including ravioli! Massimo is welcoming, friendly and so knowledgeable. He really knows how to cook. I highly recommend this experience for the foodie who wants to immerse themselves into local culture and authetic cuisine. The highlight of my trip in Italy

Lawrence 🇺🇸 United States

16 October 2023

We have had a few great With Local experiences at various locations but Massimo’s was by far the best!!!! To leave Roma with fabulous recipes, stories behind the cooking left us with souvenirs to share with family and friends! Massimo was wonderful!The BEST souvenir to leave Roma with!

Hannah-Marie🇳🇿 New Zealand

8 October 2023

I highly recommend doing this class. It was such a fun experience and the food was delicious. Massimo was very welcoming and great to chat with! He is very knowledgeable and even explains while certain ingredients are used and the link to the history. Thanks Massimo! ♥️ Amaxing experience

Jessica🇳🇱 Netherlands

3 October 2023

Het was erg leuk in de kleine keuken van Massimo. Massimo heeft 3 heerlijke sauzen gemaakt hij legde alles goed uit, en wij mochten ze alle 3 proeven,het was erg lekker en snel te bereiden. Leuk om een keer een kijkje te nemen in de Italiaanse keuken bij de local Massimo.Heel gastvrij

Jason🇺🇸 United States

20 September 2023

From the moment we stepped into his home, Massimo was the perfect host. He made us feel immediately welcome and at ease. His knowledge of Roman cuisine is amazing, and his love for his culture, heartwarming. The food creations were exceptional, and we can’t wait to try them at home. Not only did we leave very filled with food, but also with a very rich and rewarding experience! Thank you, Massimo for the beautiful memory!Delicious afternoon!

Cissy🇺🇸 United States

18 September 2023

We had the most perfect afternoon whike in Rome with Massimo. He was very knowledgeable and his culinary skills are remarkable. He far exceeded our expectations and the pasta dishes were divine! We thoroughly enjoyed visit with Massimo about cooking, Italian and American customs. If ever in Rome again his class will be the first thing we do. Perfecto!

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

13 September 2023

We had a beautiful dinner with Massimo. It was so wonderful to have private dinner prepared, in an Italian home. From some moment, Massimo greeted us and felt like part of the family coming for Sunday dinner. Massimo was especially warm and inviting. The food was amazing and frankly some of the best we enjoyed in Rome. To have it prepared in this way made it feel so much more authentic. Of course, with the food was also the story behind the food and how it was a part of the Italian culture. This meal and the preparation was the highlights of our trip to Rome.Dwlightful evening

Neil🇦🇺 Australia

8 September 2023

We had a fantastic time with Massimo and learnt enough to make a real difference when we get home and into our own kitchen. Highly recommended. Fantastico

Georgia🇦🇺 Australia

10 July 2023

Massimo Massimo Massimo. Our favourite tiny Italian! We took the cooking class with 3 pasta sauces and were not disappointed. Massimo showed us how to cook the sauce and the pasta - lovingly telling us the history and interesting details of the meals as he went. We learnt dishes we had never even heard of but will never forget. We had some unexpected travel issues and meant we had to reschedule time - Massimo was very generous with rearranging the time for us last minute. It was truely one of the highlights of our holiday and would recommend it to anyone who comes in Rome.Absolutely Must do in Rome

Jane🇺🇸 United States

28 June 2023

Massimo took care to explain every part of the sauce making process. He was knowledgeable, engaging and a wonderful host. Excited to try this back home!! Home cooking at its finest

Michael🇩🇪 Germany

30 May 2023

Massimo is not only a good cook, but in addition an excellent host. We learned in a highly entertaining way how delicious everyday dishes can be cooked quickly and learned a lot about the history of Roman cuisine along the way. Absolutely recommendable!A delicious fun

Jacob🇮🇹 Italy

21 May 2023

Massimo taught us 3 amazing Italian Dishes. He was so kind and welcoming and you could tell how passionate he was about cooking and life in Rome. We highly recommend taking classes from him! The food was amazing and the cooking tips we will remember forever. Cooking Class With Massimo was amazing!

Audrey🇨🇦 Canada

7 May 2023

Massimo is a wonderful warm cook who loves food and Rome. He breaks down every dish and suggests possible combinations to make it to taste at home. He provided all the recipes and the conversation was easy. Highly recommend!A wonderful experience

Ben🇦🇺 Australia

20 April 2023

Massimo warmly welcomed our family into his home. In his kitchen, he taught us how to make three regional dishes and tailored the sauces to our dietary preferences. They were all delicious. It was such a unique experience for our family while visiting Rome. We would highly recommend this intimate and genuine Roman experience away from all the crowds. Thanks Massimo!A welcoming and delicious Roman experience

Ellen🇳🇱 Netherlands

22 March 2023

We had a very nice time in the kitchen of Massimo! It was pleasant talking with him and he learned us a lot about Italien kitchen and other cultural things. The food he made was delicious and I am going to make it at home for sure! Thanks for having us Massimo! And if you are in The Netherlands I will give you a cooking class!Enjoyed it!!

jonas🇮🇹 Italy

9 March 2023

I currently live in Rome and my parents had gifted a cooking class with Massimo for my girlfriends birthday. Massimo greeted us at his apartment which is located about 5 minute walk from the colosseum. The apartment is beautifully decorated and we felt very welcomed as Massimo is super friendly and easy going. Throughout the cooking class he showed us how to make three classic Roman/Italian pastas while telling us stories about Italian living. The food was delicious and the carbonara he taught us how to make was one of the best we had. Massimo does make all the food himself, but he describes it in enough details and gives you the recipes so you can duplicate the meals at home. We were very happy and full after the experience, so we walked around Monti neighborhood afterwards. Would definitely recommend! Massimo is super friendly and easy going

Brooke🇺🇸 United States

8 March 2023

My husband and I knew that we wanted to take a cooking class in Rome and couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a private cooking class! Massing was very informative and helped us prepare great dishes. He was willing to customize the class to what we wanted to make. Highly recommend this experience! Massimo was amazing.Unique and wonderful experience!

Barbara🇺🇸 United States

17 February 2023

We couldn’t have asked for a more fun and engaging time with Massimo. He was so welcoming, and he demonstrated and explained the recipes so well. The stories of how the recipes are prepared the Roman way, the ingredients and the origins was so interesting. We have made his recipes several times since coming home and they turn our great. We tell all our friends about this experience. It was well worth the time and price. A Highlight of Our Travels

Nina🇺🇸 United States

4 February 2023

If you want to learn the ancient Roman recipes, Massimo is the best. He explains the simplicity yet depth of flavors of Italian cooking. His small kitchen delivers big robust tastes and style. When you leave Massimo’s kitchen, your belly and heart will be full. Thanks for a wonderful “one of a kind” experience. Classic Italian Pasta

Unknown

3 February 2023

Massimo did an excellent job introducing Italian food culture with historical background. Simple ingredients with amazing results.Massimo is AMAZING!

Hetty🇺🇸 United States

31 December 2022

The time we spent with Massimo cooking in his wonderful red kitchen was, according to our adult children, “THE BEST thing we did all week!” From the moment he opened the door to his apartment building and guided us up to his family kitchen to when we bid him Caio with full stomachs, he was entertaining, informative, and just fun to learn from. He shared tidbits of history, traditions his family honors around food, cooking knowledge and hints, stories and insights… we could go on and on. And the pastas we ate were incredible. Each one, the midnight pasta, the carbonara (two versions one with artichokes and one pancetta) and finally the puttanesca, we’re so delicious we are still debating which is our favorite. Yesterday was a truly special day thanks to Massimo. If you do one special tour experience in Rome, this should be it! Guidebooks and audio tours can cover the sights but this “in the local kitchen” experience can not be found elsewhere. We are now awaiting the publishing of Massimo’s upcoming cookbook!Best afternoon of our trip!

juliacharles🇺🇸 United States

10 December 2022

I had the loveliest (and most educational!) afternoon with my parents in Massimo's Roman kitchen! Massimo didn't have any openings when I first reached out to him, but he graciously made time to have us over for some of the very best pasta I've ever had! Massimo is a natural cook and also a natural teacher-- he explained everything as he cooked and was happy to answer any and all questions (including culinary shopping recommendations). I highly recommend Massimo's cooking class to anyone visiting Rome and hope to visit him again next time I'm back!The loveliest afternoon!

farrahcasey129🇺🇸 United States

7 December 2022

Pizza making with Massimo was truly one of the highlights of our trip. My two daughters, ages 9 and 5, and husband are still talking about this experience after being home in the States for over a week now. They have declared the pizza we made "The Best Ever" and I have to agree! He was so welcoming and so great with our children. We felt so welcomed upon arriving to his apartment and loved learning some history along with our cooking journey. I even emailed him days after class and got some awesome recommendations for dining in the city. This class is a must do experience! Highly recommend!An amazing experience for our family

Sina🇩🇪 Germany

25 November 2022

We had a great time, cooking with Massimo. The food was so delicious and Massimo is super kind. He told us a lot of interesting things about the italian cooking tradition, Rome and the locals. We totally recommend this experience and say thank you.Awesome Pasta Variation

Cynthia🇺🇸 United States

19 October 2022

The best part of our visit to Rome was a cooking class with this kind gentleman. Our story was complicated by a stressful time of a loss of a passport. Massimo was immediately helpful attending to this matter before starting the class which took longer than scheduled. Massimo had another scheduled appointment after us, but didn't make a fuss. He kept to his wonderful presentation of three different sauces. We were so full when we left. Massimo walked us from his home up to the Police Station to file a report with the Police for the lost passport. He spoke on our behalf to help bridge the language barrier. All of this was way above and beyond. We enjoyed his cooking class which was full of history for Italian cooking advice. So glad we choose this class instead of the many pizza and pasta making classes. Big bonus was Massimo emailed us many more recipes when we got home. A big thank you to his kindness. We super enjoyed our time with him.Authentic Italian sauces & chef rock

Jen🇺🇸 United States

6 October 2022

Massimo was a fabulous host, who welcomed us into his home on a rainy day, and prepared 3 classic Roman sauces with pasta for us, while providing great tips/tricks for replicating these dishes at home. He customized the class per our request. He provided insight into the ingredients, while he demonstrated how to prepare them. We highly recommend this class to anyone who enjoys cooking. The Italian wine was a bonus!Great Demonstration of Roman Dishes

Unknown

1 October 2022

Massimo taught me and my daughters how to make three pasta dishes in his home. He was a wonderful, welcoming host with a good knowledge of Roman history. The dishes were beyond delicious and he made it look so easy. This was one of the best highlights of our trip to Italy. I recommend him for a wonderful adventure with amazing pasta. Excellent host

Jan 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

1 October 2022

My family and I enjoyed a fabulous afternoon with Massimo in his home learning how to prepare and cook three Italian pasta sauces. He was a great host, with relaxed conversation and easy atmosphere. Clearly confident in his knowledge and skills. We left full and inspired to cook 😊Fabulous afternoon

Unknown

30 September 2022

We did a cooking lesson with with Massimo and it was so fun! We learned how they cook their pasta and sauces, enjoyed 3 different dishes and some wine, it was all so good. It was fun learning about how they live in Rome (we are from CA). I would definitely recommend Massimo to anyone who wants to really experience and learn more about Italy from a local and enjoy their awesome food. Amaxing experience!