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VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Laura

Venice, Italy

USD
$103-$149 per person

Cooking Class in Central Venice with a Fun Loving Local

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Laura

Born and raised in the heart of Venice, Laura is passionate about sharing her city’s rich food, culture, and traditions with guests. She welcomes travelers into her charming apartment in the city center. A dedicated social worker, Laura spends her free time traveling, exploring local markets, watching films and most of all, cooking. Inspired by her mother’s home-cooked meals, she began experimenting with recipes from cookbooks and developed a deep love for sharing food with others.

“While traveling through South America, I discovered the joy of home-cooked experiences and instantly fell in love with the idea. I would be thrilled to share the food and culture of my city with travelers, especially in Venice, where it can be hard to connect with locals.”

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-5 guests) Laura welcomes you into her cozy home, nestled in a charming, authentic Venetian neighborhood just a 20-minute walk from the city center. Laura learned to cook from her mother and loves preparing traditional dishes from the Veneto region using only fresh, organic ingredients sourced from nearby farmers. You might enjoy Venetian dishes like risotto, polenta with creamed cod or handmade vegetable tortelli followed by her signature tiramisu and coffee. This off-the-eaten-path experience offers a glimpse into everyday Italian life in Venice, far from the tourist crowds. You can also pick up insider tips on places to visit from your local expert!

Cooking experience: (2-5 guests) For an authentic, gratifying and refreshingly local perspective on life in Venice, away from the tourist crowds, Laura’s cooking experience is a must-do. Step into Laura’s cozy, well-equipped kitchen and discover the secrets of Veneto cuisine as you enjoy a light appetizer. During this 1.5 hour hands-on Venice cooking class, you’ll learn to prepare a seasonal, creamy risotto (or pasta or polenta if you let her know in advance) and a decadent tiramisù or other Italian dessert. Laura will guide you through each step, from crafting the perfect mascarpone cream to assembling your own individual dessert, while sharing stories about the origins and traditions behind the dishes. After cooking, enjoy the meal you helped prepare over laughter and conversation. If you choose the optional alcohol add-on, Laura will serve a welcome aperitif such as prosecco, followed by red or white wine with your meal.

Market visit: (2-5 guests) On Saturdays, meet Laura at the lively Santa Margherita market, where she’ll guide you through her favorite local vendors and help you discover the fresh, seasonal ingredients that define Venetian cuisine. During this 1-hour guided tour, you’ll explore select shops to pick up ingredients for your upcoming Italian cooking class. After the market visit, enjoy a scenic 20-minute walk to Laura’s home, where your hands-on cooking and meal experience will begin.

Notes:
1. A former vegetarian, Laura is happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other dietary requests. Be sure to indicate any dietary preferences when placing your booking online.
2. On occasion, Laura’s friend and roommate, Ilaria, also a native Venetian in her thirties, may be present during your experience to assist or join in.
3. Like most traditional Venetian homes, Laura’s apartment does not have air conditioning, but she keeps it comfortable with the use of fans and good ventilation.
4. Laura can comfortably host up to 4 guests, but is happy to accommodate 5 if needed - just note that space may be a bit cozy.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish, Italian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Aperitif
  • Focaccia with regional olives, cheeses and honey
  • Risotto with meat, fish or seasonal vegetables or fresh pasta (if you inform her in advance)
  • Tiramisù
  • Coffee and limoncello
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Laura is very friendly and welcoming. Very easy and interesting person to talk to. It was a very interesting experience. Besides that, she is a great cook and she knows how to make delicious food. You can really taste the goodness and freshness in her food. Laura’s home is located in an area which is very local with not many tourists, so you will get to experience a real Italian suburb. Cooking Veneto food with Laura is a great experience. You will learn a lot about the food, how to cook some new dishes and also you will have a pleasure being part of Laura’s company.

Pauline, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (27)
Clients raved about their experience with Laura who was very friendly and welcoming. The food was delicious and they are looking forward to making the recipes at home. I purposely booked this on their last night hoping it would be a nice way to end their time in Italy, and it exceeded expectations.
- kelly June 07, 2026
This was an excellent local experience. Laura did a great job of preparing the meal, teaching us how to do it, and then serving the meal. It’s a very unique experience in Venice. I would recommend it highly.
- laurie April 21, 2026
Laura is a wonderful person and opens her Italian home kitchen to her guests. She is very lovely and personable. Her apartment is small and accommodes 1-3 guests Her home is in the Dorsoduro district that is about a 30 minute walk from Venice central. You can take a water taxi. We walked. GPS amazingly guided us correctly and we felt safe walking late at night. The wine and quality of the products Laura uses is very good. We did not get to go to the market which was dissapointing. Her wine selection was good too. I recommend this experience
- donna January 16, 2026
What an incredible time with Laura. She blessed us by opening her home to myself, my wife and two small kids (8 and 10 year old). Her explanation and cooking was incredible. Dinner was absolutely outstanding. We’ve even blessed to meet her boyfriend and learn quite a bit about their journey in Venice.
- Jeff December 06, 2025
Laura was wonderful and very accommodating. When my sister and I got a bit lost, we called her, and she warmly welcomed us to join the experience despite our delay. She made us feel completely at home. There was no rush it truly felt like spending time with family or close friends catching up. It was an incredible opportunity to be invited into a local’s home and create an authentic Italian meal, and I am excited to bring experiences like this to my clients!
- Tiffany, Signature Travel Advisor December 02, 2025
Read More

Laura

$103-$149 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $118 $103
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $139 $122
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $149 $128
Alcohol
 $14 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $118 $103
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $139 $122
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $149 $128
Alcohol
 $14 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 7:00pm-10:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:30am-2:30pm 5:30pm-9:30pm

Meet Laura

Born and raised in the heart of Venice, Laura is passionate about sharing her city’s rich food, culture, and traditions with guests. She welcomes travelers into her charming apartment in the city center. A dedicated social worker, Laura spends her free time traveling, exploring local markets, watching films and most of all, cooking. Inspired by her mother’s home-cooked meals, she began experimenting with recipes from cookbooks and developed a deep love for sharing food with others.

“While traveling through South America, I discovered the joy of home-cooked experiences and instantly fell in love with the idea. I would be thrilled to share the food and culture of my city with travelers, especially in Venice, where it can be hard to connect with locals.”

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-5 guests) Laura welcomes you into her cozy home, nestled in a charming, authentic Venetian neighborhood just a 20-minute walk from the city center. Laura learned to cook from her mother and loves preparing traditional dishes from the Veneto region using only fresh, organic ingredients sourced from nearby farmers. You might enjoy Venetian dishes like risotto, polenta with creamed cod or handmade vegetable tortelli followed by her signature tiramisu and coffee. This off-the-eaten-path experience offers a glimpse into everyday Italian life in Venice, far from the tourist crowds. You can also pick up insider tips on places to visit from your local expert!

Cooking experience: (2-5 guests) For an authentic, gratifying and refreshingly local perspective on life in Venice, away from the tourist crowds, Laura’s cooking experience is a must-do. Step into Laura’s cozy, well-equipped kitchen and discover the secrets of Veneto cuisine as you enjoy a light appetizer. During this 1.5 hour hands-on Venice cooking class, you’ll learn to prepare a seasonal, creamy risotto (or pasta or polenta if you let her know in advance) and a decadent tiramisù or other Italian dessert. Laura will guide you through each step, from crafting the perfect mascarpone cream to assembling your own individual dessert, while sharing stories about the origins and traditions behind the dishes. After cooking, enjoy the meal you helped prepare over laughter and conversation. If you choose the optional alcohol add-on, Laura will serve a welcome aperitif such as prosecco, followed by red or white wine with your meal.

Market visit: (2-5 guests) On Saturdays, meet Laura at the lively Santa Margherita market, where she’ll guide you through her favorite local vendors and help you discover the fresh, seasonal ingredients that define Venetian cuisine. During this 1-hour guided tour, you’ll explore select shops to pick up ingredients for your upcoming Italian cooking class. After the market visit, enjoy a scenic 20-minute walk to Laura’s home, where your hands-on cooking and meal experience will begin.

Notes:
1. A former vegetarian, Laura is happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other dietary requests. Be sure to indicate any dietary preferences when placing your booking online.
2. On occasion, Laura’s friend and roommate, Ilaria, also a native Venetian in her thirties, may be present during your experience to assist or join in.
3. Like most traditional Venetian homes, Laura’s apartment does not have air conditioning, but she keeps it comfortable with the use of fans and good ventilation.
4. Laura can comfortably host up to 4 guests, but is happy to accommodate 5 if needed - just note that space may be a bit cozy.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish, Italian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Aperitif
  • Focaccia with regional olives, cheeses and honey
  • Risotto with meat, fish or seasonal vegetables or fresh pasta (if you inform her in advance)
  • Tiramisù
  • Coffee and limoncello
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Laura is very friendly and welcoming. Very easy and interesting person to talk to. It was a very interesting experience. Besides that, she is a great cook and she knows how to make delicious food. You can really taste the goodness and freshness in her food. Laura’s home is located in an area which is very local with not many tourists, so you will get to experience a real Italian suburb. Cooking Veneto food with Laura is a great experience. You will learn a lot about the food, how to cook some new dishes and also you will have a pleasure being part of Laura’s company.

Pauline, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (27)
Clients raved about their experience with Laura who was very friendly and welcoming. The food was delicious and they are looking forward to making the recipes at home. I purposely booked this on their last night hoping it would be a nice way to end their time in Italy, and it exceeded expectations.
- kelly June 07, 2026
This was an excellent local experience. Laura did a great job of preparing the meal, teaching us how to do it, and then serving the meal. It’s a very unique experience in Venice. I would recommend it highly.
- laurie April 21, 2026
Laura is a wonderful person and opens her Italian home kitchen to her guests. She is very lovely and personable. Her apartment is small and accommodes 1-3 guests Her home is in the Dorsoduro district that is about a 30 minute walk from Venice central. You can take a water taxi. We walked. GPS amazingly guided us correctly and we felt safe walking late at night. The wine and quality of the products Laura uses is very good. We did not get to go to the market which was dissapointing. Her wine selection was good too. I recommend this experience
- donna January 16, 2026
What an incredible time with Laura. She blessed us by opening her home to myself, my wife and two small kids (8 and 10 year old). Her explanation and cooking was incredible. Dinner was absolutely outstanding. We’ve even blessed to meet her boyfriend and learn quite a bit about their journey in Venice.
- Jeff December 06, 2025
Laura was wonderful and very accommodating. When my sister and I got a bit lost, we called her, and she warmly welcomed us to join the experience despite our delay. She made us feel completely at home. There was no rush it truly felt like spending time with family or close friends catching up. It was an incredible opportunity to be invited into a local’s home and create an authentic Italian meal, and I am excited to bring experiences like this to my clients!
- Tiffany, Signature Travel Advisor December 02, 2025
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $118 $103
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $139 $122
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $149 $128
Alcohol
 $14 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $118 $103
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $139 $122
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $149 $128
Alcohol
 $14 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 7:00pm-10:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:30am-2:30pm 5:30pm-9:30pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.