🍅 Cooking Class
- Cook authentic Sicilian recipes.
- Visit Ortigia Market.
- Enjoy lunch together.
Live Sicily.
Don't just visit it.
Cook. Taste. Meet local people. Create unforgettable memories.
Cooking Classes · Food Tours · Private Chef Experiences
Authentic experiences in Syracuse & Ortigia.
Book your Sicilian experience
More than a cooking class.
- We welcome you like friends.
- You'll visit local markets.
- Meet Sicilian producers.
- Cook traditional recipes.
- Share lunch around one table.
- Discover the stories behind every dish.
- Leave with memories you'll never forget.
Choose your Sicilian experience
Three ways to live Sicily firsthand: culture, food and traditional recipes.
Meet your host
Hi, I'm Alessia.
I don't teach recipes.
I share the Sicily I love.
Together with my team, we welcome travelers from all over the world into our home, our markets and our traditions.
Because the best way to discover Sicily...
is to live it.
Cooking Class
We start in the heart of Ortigia, among the stalls of the historic market, where we choose fresh seasonal ingredients together directly from local producers. Then we move into the kitchen and prepare a real Sicilian menu, following traditional recipes, techniques and secrets passed down over time.
You don't need to know how to cook: here you learn Sicilian food culture while having fun. At the end you taste the dishes you've made, paired with a good local wine.
What you get
- Guided walk through Ortigia Market
- A complete Sicilian menu prepared by you, step by step
- A shared lunch or dinner with Sicilian wine included
- Authentic recipes to recreate at home
Food Tour
A walking tour through the most beautiful streets and squares of Ortigia, guided by a local chef who knows Syracuse's food culture inside out. We cross the market tasting the most beloved specialties — arancini, fried fish, the famous Sicilian sandwich, octopus salad, caponata and excellent local wine — among monuments and views that tell the city's story.
In summer it ends with a boat ride from the ancient Porta Marina, with the chance to swim in the clear waters of the island.
Highlights
- All-inclusive tastings of real street food specialties
- Visit to Syracuse market with a local guide
- The most evocative monuments and corners of Ortigia
- In summer: boat ride along the coast (and a swim, if you like)
Practical info
- All-inclusive price: from €65 to €85 (adults) · from €15 to €35 (children 1–14)
- Children under 6: free, they share the tastings
- Minimum 2 participants · also available as a private experience
- Special diets welcome: gluten-free, lactose-free, veg, vegan, low-sodium
- Flexible payment: cash, card, bank transfer or PayPal
- On request: private round-trip transfer and half-day shopping
Private Chef
Enjoy authentic Sicilian flavors at your home. Our team of chefs creates a tailored experience with traditional menus, local ingredients and recipes from Sicilian tradition — for an intimate dinner, a shared lunch or a special occasion.
Just immerse yourself in the aromas and flavors of the island — we take care of the rest.
Two options
- Chef Base — Ideal if you already have the ingredients. The chef prepares the meal with what you have in the kitchen and cleans the utensils and surfaces used.
- Full Personal Chef — The worry-free experience: personalized menu, shopping for fresh ingredients, cooking at your home and cleaning of utensils and surfaces.
Extra services
- Table service and thorough kitchen cleaning
- Sicilian cooking class at home, with lunch or dinner included
- Typical Sicilian menus to choose from
🎁 10% off for bookings over multiple days or multiple services on the same day.
Request info on the Private Chef →People come for the food. They leave with a little piece of Sicily.
Why travelers choose us
#5 of 28 classes & workshops in Syracuse
«A truly unmissable experience with Alessia. The location is beautiful and the garden is charming. She…»
«Wonderful experience. Alessia will take you to Ortigia Market among the vendors she knows…»
«Wonderful experience!! Alessia is an amazing person! I wanted to give a gift to my boyfriend and…»
«Arriving in Syracuse with a friend, the lovely Alessia welcomed us with some of her team to…»
See all reviews on TripAdvisor · @alesmileandfood on Instagram
Why choose Smileandfood?
- Small groups
- Local chefs
- Real Sicilian recipes
- Vegetarian & Gluten Free
- Families welcome
- Private experiences
- English speaking
Tell us your Sicilian dream. We'll take care of the rest.
Fill in the form: we'll reply within 24 hours with availability and details, with no commitment.
- Personal reply within 24 hours
- No commitment — decide at your own pace
- Advice on Food Tour, Cooking Class and Private Chef
- Special diets and groups: we're here to help
Thank you!
We've received your request. We'll reply within 24 hours. In the meantime, take a look at our experiences on Instagram @alesmileandfood