Authentic Neapolitan Cooking in Naples with a Local

Meet Emanuela

Emanuela was born and raised in Naples, surrounded by the rich culinary traditions of her Neapolitan heritage. From an early age, she was fascinated by the art of cooking, often sneaking into her mother's kitchen with her brother to sample delicious dishes and observe the cooking process. This curiosity evolved into a lifelong love for creativity, which she nurtured as a mosaicist and now as a home cook. As a lover of art and food, Emanuela is dedicated to preserving and sharing the recipes and traditions of her family and the Neapolitan region. For her, each dish is more than just a meal—it's an opportunity to preserve her family recipes and traditions and share it with people from all over the world. Through her cooking classes in Naples, she invites guests from around the world into her home to experience the flavors and stories of her land.

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: (2-15 guests) Emanuela lives in a beautiful terrace apartment with stunning views of the Gulf of Naples. In her home kitchen flavors, fragrances, local ingredients, and family recipes are skillfully combined to share the history and traditions of the region. Join Emanuela on her terrace to enjoy breathtaking views of the sea while sharing a traditional Neapolitan meal together. Some dishes you may enjoy with a glass of local wine are mozzarella in carrozza (fried mozzarella sandwiches) or local sausages with broccoli or local fish, and caprese ravioli with butter and sage or spaghetti alla Nerano (spaghetti with fried zucchini, provolone, and basil), or pizza. End your homemade meal in Naples with a classic limoncello tiramisu, a regional specialty.

Cooking experience: (2-10 guests) Discover the rich flavors of Neapolitan cuisine in a unique cooking class in Naples! Join Emanuela in her home kitchen, with stunning views of the Bay of Naples, for an unforgettable culinary experience. During this hands-on Naples cooking class, Emanuela will share her family’s secret recipes and guide you step-by-step in preparing traditional Italian dishes that you can easily recreate at home. In this 2-hour Naples cooking class, you’ll learn to make fresh pasta or Neapolitan pizza from scratch. You’ll master the art of cooking homemade caprese ravioli with butter and sage or scialatielli with fresh tomatoes and basil or pizza. To finish, prepare tiramisu with a local twist, made with homemade limoncello. After cooking, enjoy the delicious meal you’ve helped prepare in the cozy, welcoming atmosphere of a true Neapolitan home, and savor the authentic flavors of Naples. This Naples cooking class is perfect for couples, families or anyone eager to learn to cook authentic Neapolitan pasta or pizza while immersing themselves in the local culture.

Market visit: (2-10 guests) Join Emanuela for a guided market tour in Naples, followed by an authentic cooking class. In this 1-hour tour, you’ll explore Pignasecca market, one of the best local markets in Naples. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of the market, where you can shop alongside locals, connect with vendors, and discover seasonal produce from the Campania region, such as friarielli (leafy greens), Annurca apples, and percoca (peaches). After the market visit, Emanuela will guide you to her home on Posillipo Hill (either by car or taxi), where you'll enjoy stunning views of the Gulf of Naples and Capri. At her home, you’ll use the fresh, local ingredients to prepare an authentic Neapolitan meal in a hands-on cooking class. This market tour is perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the flavors of Naples and learn how to cook with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Notes: Emanuela can accommodate a vegetarian diet, if informed in advance. Please let her know in advance if you'd like to cook fresh pasta or pizza, when booking your Naples cooking class online.

Languages spoken: English, Italian

Sample menu

• Appetizer (mozzarella in carrozza or local sausages and broccoli or local fish)
• Fresh pasta (Caprese ravioli with butter and sage) or Spaghetti alla Nerano or Pizza
• Limoncello or coffee tiramisu
• 1-2 glasses of wine

Traveler reviews

This was definitely the highlight of our trip. Emanuela was fantastic—she’s like the Italian aunt you never had but always dreamed of. We started with a tour of the local market, where she introduced us to various local delicacies and shared fascinating insights. Then we drove to her home, which has stunning views and is both authentic and charming. We made pizza and pasta from scratch, and she constantly engaged my 11-year-old son throughout the experience. We also prepared tiramisu and she taught me how to make a sauce—hands down, the best sauce I’ve ever made. She even followed up by sending us all the recipes we made that day, which was incredibly thoughtful. This was, without question, the best experience we had in Italy. I highly recommend it to everyone!

- Elane July 18, 2025

Manuela and Maurizio were kind and generous hosts. We had the most fantastic time cooking and chatting and eating and drinking with them. This experience is an absolute gem.

- Tracy July 04, 2025

Our family had a fantastic evening learning to make pasta with, and enjoying the company of Emanuela. She is a talented and kind teacher, providing hands-on instruction throughout the 'class.' After we made the reservation, Emanuela contacted us to ensure we knew how to get to her home, offering several options for transportation. Once there, she was such a gracious hostess, making the entire family feel welcome, and a great conversationalist, able to talk comfortably with several different-aged English speakers. The meal was delicious, and enjoying it in her beautiful home and patio garden with stunning views of the city, of Vesuvius and the bay, made this evening the highlight of our trip to Naples. When the evening was done, she ensured our trip back to our hotel in Central Naples was efficient and comfortable, and followed-up by sending us the recipes for the pastas and tiramisu we made. This was a beautiful and memorable evening in Naples.

- Stacy June 26, 2025

Emanuela and Maurizio were wonderful! They took us on a tour of the city highlights and market as well as stopped at great spots for pictures before going to their lovely home to make delicious pasta, pizza, & tiramisu. The view from their home was spectacular as well as the food! Highly recommend!

- Daria June 21, 2025

Emanuela and her family were amazing hosts. Not only we did learn to make three kinds of pizza and tiramisu (and of course eat it), we also had some homemade wine and limoncello and got to enjoy the most beautiful view of Naples from their lovely patio. A native of Naples, she shared the city's rich history with us and pointed out all of the most important sights. We could not have asked for a better evening or better hosts.

- Elizabeth May 14, 2025

Amazing atmosphere, familiar and cared for in every detail. Despite the rain we managed to have lunch outside on the terrace thanks to the immediate and excellent organization of Emanuela and Maurizio. A buffet full of excellent finger food, exceptional first courses, friendly and competent service.

- Irene May 11, 2025

We celebrated my dear uncles from Naples, 70 years old The legendary Manuela and her collaborators made this event unique and wonderful Care in the presentation of the dishes, typical cold and hot appetizers. Parmigiana, mozzarella, fried food at the top Lasagna zucchini provola topppp Breathtaking view In short, we had lunch in 37 in this wonderful house with better service than a restaurant but the atmosphere of a friends' house. Splendid Manuela with your husband and your staff! We will definitely be back

- Simona May 11, 2025

A fantastic and personal cooking experience in Emmanuela’s home! With a great view of the gulf of Naples we were treated to info on the history and food of surrounding areas. Everything was well thought out and it was such a great experience both cooking and dining. Delicious and fresh ingredients too! We can’t wait to try these recipes at home! Thank you so much Emmanuela and Maurizio :)

- Jacky April 24, 2025

The best experience ever. Emanuela is absolutely amazing. She made everything look and be simple and easy for us to cook while having fun and feeling we re amongst friends. We will definitely return for new recipes and experiences

- Oanapa April 20, 2025

Emanuela was amazing. She picked us up from outside hotel and took us on a quick tour of a couple spots in Naples and gave us some history on the city. We then were welcomed into her lovely home and she proceeded to show is how to make some of the most amazing food we had our entire trip. Please do not hesitate to book, I promise you will not regret it.

- Dev March 30, 2025