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Host: Paola

Bologna, Italy

USD
$95-$135 per person

Bologna Market Tour & Cooking Class in a Garden Home

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

Meet Paola

Paola is a lawyer by profession, but her true passion is in cooking and meeting people from around the world. Since 2017, she has been warmly welcoming guests into her charming 1920s villa in Bologna, sharing authentic Italian cuisine and heartfelt hospitality. Paola learned to cook from her grandmother, an exceptional home chef who passed down cherished family recipes from both Mantova, where she was born, and Bologna, where she now lives. Today, Paola lovingly recreates these traditional dishes, keeping the flavors of her family recipes alive. In addition to regional Italian classics, Paola enjoys experimenting with recipes from across Italy and beyond, offering a delicious variety of dishes in her cooking classes and home-cooked meals. This in-home dining experience is set just five minutes from Bologna’s city walls, and is the perfect place to experience real Italian hospitality and cuisine.

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.

Cooking experience: (2-10 guests) Join Paola in her charming 1920s villa, just a 20-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore, for an authentic Bologna cooking class in an Italian home. In this 2-hour hands-on cooking experience, you’ll learn to prepare traditional Italian dishes that have been passed down through generations. In Paola’s home kitchen, learn to cook fresh pasta from scratch, choose from Bolognese lasagna, tortelloni, tortellini, tagliatelle, or garganelli. Then, learn to make a classic tiramisu or cannelloni using a rare family recipe not typically found in restaurants. After cooking, enjoy the meal you helped prepare. In the summer months, it will be served in Paola’s lovely outdoor dining area in the garden. After the experience, Paola will send you all the recipes so you can recreate the flavors of Bologna in your own home.

Market visit: (2-10 guests) Meet Paola at a restaurant near Piazza Re Enzo and begin your guided tour through two of Bologna's most beloved markets: Mercato di Mezzo, located in the heart of the historic center, where you’ll browse fresh produce, regional cheeses, cured meats, and artisanal products; and Mercato delle Erbe, a lively indoor market frequented by locals for its colorful fruit stands, handmade pastas, and gourmet specialties. After exploring the markets, walk to Paola’s home just outside the city walls, for your cooking experience and meal.

This Bologna market tour and cooking class is perfect for travelers who want to explore Bologna like a local, connect with Italian culture, and enjoy a home-cooked meal.

Notes:
1. 1-2 glasses of wine per person is included in the price of the experience.
2. Paola is happy to accommodate guests with dietary needs, including lactose intolerance, gluten-free diets, mild celiac disease, vegetarians, and vegans - please let her know in advance, when booking the experience online.

Languages spoken: Italian, English and French

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.
  • Homemade appetizer
  • Bolognese lasagna, tortelloni, tortellini, tagliatelle, garganelli or cannelloni
  • Tiramisu
  • 1-2 glasses of wine (you can choose between red or white)

Traveler reviews

5.0 (14)
My husband and I really enjoyed our private cooking class with Paola! She is the best instructor and took her time in making sure we understood every step. Her homemade ragu was one of the best dishes we tried on our trip to Italy! Highly recommend booking with her!
- steph March 17, 2026
My husband and I booked a cooking lesson with Paola during our March 2026 trip to Bologna. We were welcomed into Paola’s beautiful home for a fun and informative class on making homemade pasta with ragu, with tiramisu for dessert. Paola is an accomplished cook and was able to walk us through the steps to recreate recipes that have been handed down in her family. We really enjoyed the learning experience and we hope to make our own pasta and sauce on our return home. After cooking, we were served bruschetta, the pasta with sauce, and tiramisu along with wines and espresso, for a delicious lunch. It was really one of the best meals we had in Bologna. I would recommend this experience very highly. Thank you Paolo!
- mariem March 14, 2026
This was one of our highlights of our Italy trip so far. Paola was very professional, hospitable and very friendly. She catered for our gluten free needs very well, even using different chopping boards and rolling pins to avoid cross contamination. We had a delightful time and the food was delicious!
- stella February 19, 2026
Meeting Paola and being able to learn a little about Italian cooking in her company gave us a very pleasant and delicious afternoon. Truly, a wonderful experience.
- eve January 19, 2026
We had a fantastic time with Paola! We visited the market, had a super fun cooking class, laughed a lot, learned to make tagliatelle al ragù and tiramisu, and were treated like royalty! We highly recommend it, go for it!
- bruno January 03, 2026
Read More

Paola

$95-$135 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $95 $95
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $135 $135
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $95 $95
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $135 $135
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-1:00pm 5:00pm-7:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:30am-1:30pm 4:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Paola

Paola is a lawyer by profession, but her true passion is in cooking and meeting people from around the world. Since 2017, she has been warmly welcoming guests into her charming 1920s villa in Bologna, sharing authentic Italian cuisine and heartfelt hospitality. Paola learned to cook from her grandmother, an exceptional home chef who passed down cherished family recipes from both Mantova, where she was born, and Bologna, where she now lives. Today, Paola lovingly recreates these traditional dishes, keeping the flavors of her family recipes alive. In addition to regional Italian classics, Paola enjoys experimenting with recipes from across Italy and beyond, offering a delicious variety of dishes in her cooking classes and home-cooked meals. This in-home dining experience is set just five minutes from Bologna’s city walls, and is the perfect place to experience real Italian hospitality and cuisine.

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.

Cooking experience: (2-10 guests) Join Paola in her charming 1920s villa, just a 20-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore, for an authentic Bologna cooking class in an Italian home. In this 2-hour hands-on cooking experience, you’ll learn to prepare traditional Italian dishes that have been passed down through generations. In Paola’s home kitchen, learn to cook fresh pasta from scratch, choose from Bolognese lasagna, tortelloni, tortellini, tagliatelle, or garganelli. Then, learn to make a classic tiramisu or cannelloni using a rare family recipe not typically found in restaurants. After cooking, enjoy the meal you helped prepare. In the summer months, it will be served in Paola’s lovely outdoor dining area in the garden. After the experience, Paola will send you all the recipes so you can recreate the flavors of Bologna in your own home.

Market visit: (2-10 guests) Meet Paola at a restaurant near Piazza Re Enzo and begin your guided tour through two of Bologna's most beloved markets: Mercato di Mezzo, located in the heart of the historic center, where you’ll browse fresh produce, regional cheeses, cured meats, and artisanal products; and Mercato delle Erbe, a lively indoor market frequented by locals for its colorful fruit stands, handmade pastas, and gourmet specialties. After exploring the markets, walk to Paola’s home just outside the city walls, for your cooking experience and meal.

This Bologna market tour and cooking class is perfect for travelers who want to explore Bologna like a local, connect with Italian culture, and enjoy a home-cooked meal.

Notes:
1. 1-2 glasses of wine per person is included in the price of the experience.
2. Paola is happy to accommodate guests with dietary needs, including lactose intolerance, gluten-free diets, mild celiac disease, vegetarians, and vegans - please let her know in advance, when booking the experience online.

Languages spoken: Italian, English and French

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.
  • Homemade appetizer
  • Bolognese lasagna, tortelloni, tortellini, tagliatelle, garganelli or cannelloni
  • Tiramisu
  • 1-2 glasses of wine (you can choose between red or white)

Traveler reviews

5.0 (14)
My husband and I really enjoyed our private cooking class with Paola! She is the best instructor and took her time in making sure we understood every step. Her homemade ragu was one of the best dishes we tried on our trip to Italy! Highly recommend booking with her!
- steph March 17, 2026
My husband and I booked a cooking lesson with Paola during our March 2026 trip to Bologna. We were welcomed into Paola’s beautiful home for a fun and informative class on making homemade pasta with ragu, with tiramisu for dessert. Paola is an accomplished cook and was able to walk us through the steps to recreate recipes that have been handed down in her family. We really enjoyed the learning experience and we hope to make our own pasta and sauce on our return home. After cooking, we were served bruschetta, the pasta with sauce, and tiramisu along with wines and espresso, for a delicious lunch. It was really one of the best meals we had in Bologna. I would recommend this experience very highly. Thank you Paolo!
- mariem March 14, 2026
This was one of our highlights of our Italy trip so far. Paola was very professional, hospitable and very friendly. She catered for our gluten free needs very well, even using different chopping boards and rolling pins to avoid cross contamination. We had a delightful time and the food was delicious!
- stella February 19, 2026
Meeting Paola and being able to learn a little about Italian cooking in her company gave us a very pleasant and delicious afternoon. Truly, a wonderful experience.
- eve January 19, 2026
We had a fantastic time with Paola! We visited the market, had a super fun cooking class, laughed a lot, learned to make tagliatelle al ragù and tiramisu, and were treated like royalty! We highly recommend it, go for it!
- bruno January 03, 2026
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $95 $95
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $135 $135
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $95 $95
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $135 $135
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-1:00pm 5:00pm-7:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:30am-1:30pm 4:00pm-8:00pm
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.