Rome: Enjoy Spritz and Pasta Making in Piazza Navona

Near Piazza Navona, this class turns a Roman meal into something you make with your own hands. You’ll learn to mix a Spritz, work pasta dough into fettuccine and maltagliati, and then eat the results at Restaurant Gusto – Eat and Walk Italy.

I like two things in particular: you make two pasta shapes from scratch, and the price includes a full meal with bruschetta, both pastas, tiramisu, and drinks. It’s also a friendly way to spend an evening with people from different places, rather than just finding another restaurant table.

The main consideration is that this is an active, social cooking class, not a quiet dinner or a chef demonstration. You’ll spend part of the 2.5 hours working with dough, and alcoholic drinks are only for participants aged 18 and over.

At a glance

• Two pasta shapes: Make fresh fettuccine and maltagliati from scratch.
• A Spritz to start: Learn to prepare the classic cocktail before getting to work on the pasta.
• A meal is included: Eat your pasta with sugo al pomodoro and basil pesto, followed by tiramisu.
• Drinks are part of the price: You get a welcome Spritz, water, wine or a non-alcoholic drink, and Limoncello or coffee.
• A central Rome setting: The class meets at Restaurant Gusto – Eat and Walk Italy, just steps from Piazza Navona.
• A good fit for beginners: Chefs guide you through each step, and the class is suitable for children aged four and up.

Starting with a Spritz near Piazza Navona

The meeting point is Restaurant Gusto – Eat and Walk Italy, a short walk from Piazza Navona. That location makes it easy to fit the class into a day of sightseeing in central Rome. You can arrive on foot from the surrounding area, though your exact route depends on where you’re staying.

The class begins with a welcome Spritz and a chance to settle in. Then you’ll learn to prepare the drink yourself. The information provided doesn’t specify a recipe or the precise cocktail-making steps, so think of this as an introduction to making a Spritz rather than a formal bartending lesson.

There’s also bruschetta, toasted bread topped with tomatoes, basil, and oregano. It’s a simple, familiar start to the meal, and gives you something to nibble while the group gets organized.

Making fettuccine and maltagliati by hand

The heart of the class is the pasta work. With an English-speaking chef guiding you, you’ll make fresh dough and shape it into fettuccine and maltagliati. Fettuccine is the long, ribbon-like pasta; maltagliati means roughly cut, irregular pieces. The contrasting shapes make the lesson more interesting than practicing only one cut.

You don’t need previous cooking experience. The instructors demonstrate the steps and help people who need an extra hand, so you can focus on learning rather than worrying about making perfect pasta. The class is designed to be fun as well as practical, and even first-time cooks can take part.

Do expect to use your hands and put some effort into the dough. One participant described pasta making as a bit of a workout, which is a useful reminder that this isn’t a sit-back-and-watch activity. If you enjoy learning by doing, that’s part of the appeal. If you’d rather be served dinner without getting flour on your hands, choose a restaurant meal instead.

Pasta making also teaches something you can take home. The shape and texture come from the work you put into the dough and the way you handle it, not simply from following a list of ingredients. You’ll leave with a better sense of how fresh pasta comes together, even if your first batch isn’t perfectly uniform.

The instructors have included chefs named Maria, Tiziana, Jessica, Jess, and Lory. Your teacher may be someone else, but the class is led in English, and the hands-on guidance is a central part of the format. The approach suits a mixed group: past classes have included couples, solo participants, and families with children.

Sitting down to eat what you made

After the pasta-making session, the kitchen prepares your work for the meal. You’ll taste maltagliati with basil pesto and fettuccine with sugo al pomodoro, a tomato sauce. Having two shapes and two sauces gives you a useful comparison, and it means the activity ends with dinner rather than a small tasting.

That’s a practical advantage at $88 per person. The price includes the cooking instruction, the welcome Spritz, bruschetta, both pasta dishes, tiramisu, water, a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic drink, and a final glass of Limoncello or coffee. If you were to add up a central Rome meal and drinks separately, the class can make good sense, especially if you value the lesson as well as the food.

The meal is also a chance to relax and talk with the rest of the group. You’ve spent time making the food together, so sitting down to eat it feels like a natural finish. If you’re traveling alone, or simply like meeting people over dinner, the shared table is part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

The included menu is substantial, but extras are not covered. Any additional food or drinks beyond those listed will cost more, so check with the staff if you want something beyond the included meal and beverages.

What the 2.5 hours feel like

The experience is built around a clear sequence: welcome drink and bruschetta, Spritz preparation, pasta making, then a meal with dessert and a final drink. The listed duration is 2.5 hours, which gives you time to learn and eat without taking up a whole day. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

The pace is social and hands-on. You’ll be following demonstrations, working at your own pace, and getting help as needed. It’s not a private lesson, and the class may be more enjoyable if you’re comfortable sharing the activity and meal with other people.

The atmosphere is one of the strongest reasons to book. The cooking is approachable, the chefs aim to keep it relaxed, and the meal brings everyone together. This is not a deep technical course in Italian cuisine; it’s a fun introduction to two pasta shapes and one well-loved cocktail, with enough instruction to make the experience useful at home.

Some past participants have received recipes or photos after class, but these are not listed as guaranteed inclusions. If you want a take-home recipe, ask your instructor whether one is available that day.

Who will enjoy this class most

This is a good choice if you want an activity that mixes food, a little learning, and conversation. Couples can make it a shared evening out, solo participants can join a table, and families with older children can turn dinner into something more engaging than a standard restaurant meal.

Children under four are not suited to the activity. Children who are old enough to participate can enjoy the dough work, but the class still lasts 2.5 hours, and young children may need help staying engaged. Alcoholic beverages are restricted to participants aged 18 and over; a non-alcoholic beverage is available as the meal drink option.

The class is also a smart pick if you want to take home a skill, not a souvenir. Fettuccine is a familiar shape you can try again in your own kitchen, while maltagliati offers a less exacting cut that’s forgiving by design. You’ll learn by doing, and you don’t need to arrive as a confident cook.

It may not suit you if you want a small, private group, a long technical lesson, or a meal with lots of menu choices. The listed sauces are basil pesto and tomato, and additional food and drinks are extra. If you have dietary needs, contact the provider before booking, since no dietary accommodations are specified in the activity details.

Is $88 a fair price?

At $88 per person, this is more than a simple meal, but less than paying separately for a cooking lesson, dinner, and several drinks. You get a 2.5-hour activity, guidance from a chef, two handmade pasta shapes, bruschetta, two pasta dishes, dessert, and a choice of wine or a non-alcoholic drink, plus a welcome Spritz and Limoncello or coffee.

The value depends on what you want from your Rome evening. If you’d otherwise choose a restaurant meal, the class adds a hands-on activity and a shared social setting for the extra cost. If you’re mainly seeking the cheapest dinner, you may find better value elsewhere, especially if you don’t care about making pasta.

You should also count the location as a practical plus. The meeting point is only steps from Piazza Navona, making it easy to pair the class with time in central Rome. You won’t need to travel out of the city to get the experience, though the exact walking distance from your accommodation will vary.

Practical details before you book

The class is in English and lasts 2.5 hours. It is wheelchair accessible, and pets are not allowed. Participants must be at least four years old, and only those aged 18 or older may have alcoholic drinks.

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Rome plans are still taking shape. The activity also allows free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Check the available start times before choosing, since they depend on the date.

Should you book this pasta class?

Book it if you want a central Rome activity that gives you more than a meal, but still ends with one. The standout combination is making fettuccine and maltagliati yourself, then eating them with tomato sauce and basil pesto, with the welcome drink, bruschetta, dessert, and other listed beverages included.

I’d especially recommend it for first-time pasta makers, couples, solo visitors who enjoy a group setting, and families with children old enough to take part. Skip it if you’d rather have a quiet dinner, need a highly specialized cooking course, or prefer to avoid group activities. For a lively evening with food, instruction, and a useful skill to bring home, it’s a strong use of 2.5 hours in Rome.

FAQ

Where does the class meet?

It meets at Restaurant Gusto – Eat and Walk Italy, just steps from Piazza Navona in Rome.

How long does the experience last?

The class lasts 2.5 hours. Available starting times depend on the date.

What language is the class taught in?

The instructor teaches in English.

Which pasta shapes will I make?

You’ll prepare fettuccine and maltagliati from scratch.

What sauces are served with the pasta?

Maltagliati is served with basil pesto, and fettuccine is served with sugo al pomodoro.

What food is included?

The included food is bruschetta, maltagliati with basil pesto, fettuccine with sugo al pomodoro, and tiramisu.

Which drinks are included?

You get a welcome Spritz, water, a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic beverage, and a glass of Limoncello or coffee. Additional food and drinks are not included.

Can children take part?

Children under four are not suited to the activity. Alcoholic drinks are only for participants aged 18 or older.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel or reserve without paying right away?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.