Whether you’re looking to level up your own cooking skills or gift someone a creative culinary class, there are plenty of ways to learn how to make something tasty in Pittsburgh.
📍Swissvale
💰$60-$110
Start with an introductory pasta class or a specialty course on ravioli and tortellini, then take your skills to the next level with the Regions of Italy Cooking Club. It’s part cooking class, part dinner party where you’ll learn how to make dishes from all over Italy — then enjoy your hard work (with wine pairings, of course). And don’t forget about dessert; there are tiramisu and cannoli classes too!
- Want a taste before you commit? The founder, Viviana Altieri, goes live on Facebook with new recipes every Friday at noon.
📍Mt. Oliver, or wherever you are!
💰 $75-$105
Have you heard about Pittsburgh’s Secret Menu Social? The chef behind this exclusive pop-up dinner party also teaches classes on everything from knife skills to three-course menus. Plus, she offers kid-friendly tutorials on bagels, pretzels, and cupcake decorating. You just need three people to book a class!
📍Strip District
💰$75
You may have shopped at this kitchen supply store for things like knives, bakeware, or gourmet ingredients, but did you know they offer classes too? Start with the basics like knife skills then graduate to workshops on things like pad thai, gnocchi, and cooking with bourbon.
Travel the world through cheese at Chantal’s. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
📍Bloomfield
💰$60-$100
Immerse yourself in the flavor, history, and culture of cheese from all over the world with a Certified Cheese Professional. Start out with a tasting 101, try specialty varieties with wine pairings, or dip into melty goodness with a fun fondue class.
📍Mt. Oliver
💰$60-$80
Arranging a perfectly balanced board with meats, cheeses, fruit, and spreads is like painting on a canvas — and the Charcuterie Academy will teach you how to master the art.
- The Cheese Queen — aka Megan McGinnis — comes from Pittsburgh grocery royalty: The McGinnis Sisters. She gave us her best tips for plating and pairing. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
📍Strip District
💰$40-$45
Old world wines, martinis you’ve never had, and county fair cocktails — those are just a few of the previous classes at this European-inspired restaurant and market. Book a class, stop in for a meal, and share a charcuterie platter with a pour from their “wine library.”
Don’t forget to grab a bag of biscotti on your way out! (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
📍Strip District
💰$100-$120
It’s not just about the cookies! Enrico Biscotti also offers classes on sauce, neapolitan pizza, bread, pies, and more. And after each cooking class, you get to enjoy a family-style meal with your new friends.
📍Oakland
💰In-person $55-$80, virtual around $35
A Phipps Conservatory membership doesn’t just get you access to the beautiful botanical gardens — you can also snag a discount to culinary classes. Make focaccia with a floral design on top or cook flavorful Chinese food that’s “better than takeout.”
📍Bloomfield
💰$90
This shop makes handmade pasta in the heart of Pittsburgh's Little Italy, and you can get in on the fun. Keep an eye out for new class announcements on Saint Ravioli’s Instagram; they’re normally announced a month or two in advance and fill up fast. You’ll learn traditional techniques and be inspired by their variety of inventive flavors — like wedding soup ravioli!
The City Cast Pittsburgh team made fermented blueberry soda with Community Cultures. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
📍 Various locations / virtual
💰 $20-$25
You can find Trevor Ring’s wild fermented soda — erm, I mean pop — at farmers markets, or learn how to make some yourself at his workshops. Get to know the world of good bacteria with lessons on kombucha, wild kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, ginger beer, mead, and more.
📍South Side
💰$60-$200
With classes nearly every day, there’s something for everyone to learn, from soul food and tacos to sushi and fine cooking. Plus, Gaynor’s hosts couples classes, Mommy & Me cooking geared toward kids ages 2-5, and a teen baking camp on the weekends for ages 13-18.
📍Bloomfield
💰Average $95
Take a deep dive into the cuisine of the Amalfi Coast, learn Thai and Vietnamese favorites, prepare a spread of Chinese Dim Sum, master the art of Neopolitan pizza, and more. Classes are BYOB and typically last three hours.
All baked goods are good at Third Space Bakery. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
📍Garfield
💰$30-$100
This co-op bakery and teaching kitchen will train you in everything you need to know about sourdough (their most popular class) — plus help you build other cooking, baking, and hosting skills with classes on appetizers and cocktails, Mediterranean food, cookie decorating, and more.
📍Millvale
💰$100
Learn how to make a luxury box of chocolate truffles from the shell to the ganache and chocolate piping. Or get a lesson on confections like caramel sauce, vanilla-flavored marshmallows, and candied nuts. Both classes are nearly three hours of sweet fun.
BONUS: Keep an eye out for pop-up classes with WorkshopPGH, Grow Pittsburgh, East End Food Co-op, Teetotal Initiative, and Community Kitchen.
City Cast Pittsburgh's Sophia Lo contributed to this article.
