For the best way to indulge in the City's amazing food culture, tie on an apron and head into the kitchen. Whether you want to learn to cook like a pro, study up on a particular cuisine, do something fun and different for date night or a team-building exercise, or just have a great meal out on the town that you prepare, New York City offers a smorgasbord of cooking classes to fit your appetite, schedule and skill level. You'll find hands-on classes taught by bona fide experts, who instruct in the making of fresh pasta, dumplings, cupcakes, croissants and much more. These 17 venues offer classes year-round and on short notice to help you unleash (and educate) your inner chef.Who's it for? Cooking and wine enthusiasts who want to see what it's really like to cook in a restaurant kitchen.What to expect: For more than two decades, chef Abigail Hitchcock has been teaching students from the back of the house of her restaurant, now located in the Lower East Side. Hitchcock is a renowned culinary authority who has appeared on shows like Chopped and is celebrated for her pairings as a sommelier (which you'll sample in class). Most lessons are limited to 10 students and are 3 hours long, though Shop-and-Cook classes, where students visit some of NYC's best international markets, are 5 hours. What you'll master: Choose from classes like Knife Skills, Chocolate Tastings and Baking, Sushi Basics and Thai Market (which includes a shopping trip to Thai markets).Don't-miss class: Fresh Pasta ($150 for 3 hours) is Hitchcock's most popular class, featuring homemade pasta and seasonal sauces.Cost: $150, which includes unlimited beer and wineWho's it for? Francophiles who want to indulge their passion with sweet and savory classes.What to expect: French chef Simon Herfray worked in some of the City's best restaurants before opening this East Village teaching kitchen, where he and his instructors lead groups in learning the fine art of pastry. Classes are fun, casual and BYOB. What you'll master: Eclairs, quiche, creme brulée, croissants, soufflés, tarts, madeleines, crepes and moreDon't-miss class: Beignets (pillowy French doughnuts); $95 for a 2.5-hour classCost: $95 for 2 hours (children 14–17 can accompany adults for $70 tickets)Who's it for? Anyone who wants to learn to "cook like a grown-up," says owner Taylor Erkkenin. Popular for date-nighters and individuals, as well as corporate and group events.What to expect: The Brooklyn Kitchen, a pioneer in recreational cooking classes, has taught all across the City. Post-pandemic, they reopened in Williamsburg, their original neighborhood, in a funky, fully stocked kitchen where instructors teach communal cooking.What you'll master: You'll find 101 classes focusing on knife skills, sauces and dough, along with single-topic classes you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else (Hand-Pulled Noodles, Bao and so on).Don't-miss class: It doesn't get more fun (or delicious) than that Hand-Pulled Noodles option ($125).Cost: $100 for 2-hour class ($125 if it includes a full menu)Who's it for? Food lovers looking to go directly to the source for culinary inspiration. This online platform connects cooks (or groups of cooks) with dozens of chef-instructors across the City. What to expect: Consider Cozymeal the Airbnb of recreational cooking classes: you can browse upcoming menus, search for the cuisine or skill you're looking for and read reviews from previous students. Teachers post thorough descriptions of their offerings (most are 2–3 hours and range from private instructions to collaborative lessons), as well as their bios and photos of their kitchens. Some host in their home or restaurant, while others pack up ingredients and come to you.What you'll master: On any given day, you'll find classes like Classic French Cooking, a South Indian Breakfast Feast, Italian-American Favorites and much more.Don't-miss class: One of the best-reviewed instructors is Chef Ivan, who offers Elevated Bento Box (miso soup, gyoza, sushi, okonomiyaki and more; $135 for 3 hours), among other classes.Cost: $69–$169, depending on the class Who's it for? Foodies and fans of world-renowned chefsWhat to expect: There are two kinds of classes offered at this venerable culinary theater, housed on the eighth floor of Macy's Herald Square: 2-hour demo classes where guest chefs from leading restaurants around the world walk through recipes while students get to watch, ask questions and taste; and 3-hour participatory classes where students get hands on learning (followed by a meal). De Gustibus also arranges classes with some of the City's most esteemed chefs in their own restaurants.What you'll master: The wide-ranging specialties of the visiting chefsDon't-miss class: The syllabus is ever-changing, but De Gustibus has their finger on the pulse of the food world, so look for Michelin stars and James Beard–award winning chefs.Cost: From $140 per personWho's it for? Italophiles who want to learn from experts at the world's largest food emporium dedicated to all things Italian What to expect: Classes are held in the beautiful teaching and demo kitchens at Eataly's Flatiron (La Scuola) and downtown (Foodiversita) locations—stay tuned for updates on their brand-new . From 1-hour cocktail classes and wine-and-food pairings to hands-on cooking classes to full-on winemaker dinners, there's a class type to fit every appetite. Some classes are demonstration-only, but most involve both a lecture and hands-on cooking. What you'll master: You can find the basics (pizza, pasta, risotto) as well as more-specialized classes on regional Italian specialties, wine-and-cheese pairings and more. Occasionally there are classes for kids, though children are welcome to attend with adults.Don't-miss class: Book ahead for the popular Mozzarella Making (1 hour, $85) class, which includes prosecco, tastes of salumi and cheese from Eataly's antipasti counter, a demo and hands-on practice.Cost: $75–$150Who's it for? Women (sorry, guys!) who want to spend the day cooking with a celebrity chef grandmaWhat to expect: The Nonnas-in-Training program was started by Joe Scaravella to support the mission of his Staten Island restaurant, which celebrates the culinary contribution of grandmothers around the world. The restaurant features a rotating cast of nonnas, who serve their family recipes: when you sign up for the class, you'll work one-on-one with the grandmother as she prepares for her dinner shift and passes down her wisdom to you. Only in New York, kids; only in New York.What you'll master: It all depends the grandmother's country of origin: Peruvian, Argentinian, Brazilian, Egyptian and Trinidadian are some of the cuisines on offer.Cost: Free Who's it for? Anyone aiming to improve their home cooking skillsWhat to expect: For the past two decades or so, aspiring cooks have sought out Jennifer Clair's classes, which arms cooks with the tools they need to prepare delicious meals at home. Clair, a professionally trained cook and former magazine food editor, offers classes in two modern, fully stocked kitchen lofts downtown. While kids 12–15 can attend with an adult (older ones can register solo), there are kids-only weekend and holiday classes geared toward younger cooks. What you'll master: Choose from one-off classes like Shawarma, Falafel and Fresh Flatbreads; How to Cook Shellfish; or series like the popular skills-based Culinary Boot Camps ($495–$750), consisting of four or six 3-hour classes. Don't-miss class: Six Basic Cooking Techniques ($110, 2.5 hours), where you'll learn knife skills, meat cookery, pan sauces, vegetable roasting, blanching and cooking leafy greensCost: $110 for a 2.5- to 3-hour classWho it's for: Foodies of all ages looking for collaborative cooking experiences in an industrial-style space.What to expect: The Competition Chef dinners, where you'll dine at a sleek U-shaped bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, while judging two chefs' real-time cooking battle, is delicious date night fun. But the real learning at Hudson Table is their hands-on classes, where up to 16 students prepare meals they'll ultimately sit down to enjoy (with a glass of wine, should you care to order from their well-crafted list). There are classes to choose from every day, plus some geared to families and for kids-only.What you'll master: Dim sum, Korean BBQ, Steakhouse Classics, Homemade Pasta and more.Don't-miss class: Fish Market: Seafood Basics; students tackle techniques like filleting and cooking from NYC's Fulton Fish Market and recipes to take home (note, though, that classes rotate regularly so no guarantees this will be on offer when you are booking your choice).Cost: $115 for a 3-hour class Who's it for? Home cooks looking to gain serious cooking, baking and wine skills at one of the nation's most esteemed cooking schools. Natural Gourmet Center (formerly Natural Gourmet Institute) and International Culinary Center (formerly French Culinary Institute) are now a part of ICE, making it one of the most well-rounded recreational programs on the planet.What to expect: This enormous facility in Lower Manhattan (accessible via The Oculus at The World Trade Center Mall) is home to 12 teaching kitchens that host multiple hands-on classes per day. Lessons range in length from 3 to 6 hours for up to 16 students and all culminate in a meal. Choose from basic, intermediate, advanced and professional level classes.What you'll master: Cuisine-specific lessons with full menus (French Bistro, Georgian Cooking, Korean BBQ), as well as baking (cupcakes, bagels), confectionery (bonbons), skills-based (cheesemaking) classes and suchDon't-miss class: Cooking 101 (three 3-hour sessions, $450), where you learn fundamental cooking skills while mastering great home-cooking recipesCost: From $150, depending on number of sessionsWho's it for? Anyone hungry for international comfort food lessons from NYC's immigrant home cooksWhat to expect: This remarkable program works with women from 14 countries, empowering them to share their stories, cooking wisdom and family recipes in their home kitchens. For most classes, you'll travel to the outer boroughs, and it's well worth the trip: classes are small (six people max) and fully interactive, so you can really connect with the instructor and other students. For larger cooking parties up to 50 people, request a class with your chef of choice at their teaching kitchen in Chinatown.What you'll master: Homestyle favorites from places such as Iran, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Lebanon, Mexico and Ukraine. Master recipes like pumpkin hanum (Uzbek steamed dumplings) and okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes).Don't-miss class: Don't make us choose!Cost: $195 for 4.5-hour "immersion" workshops; $150 for 2-hour "taste of" classesWho's it for? Serious food lovers looking to learn from top chefs at their restaurantsWhat to expect: Choose from dozens of upcoming classes on offer or request a lesson from chefs and beverage directors who work with this digital platform. Some of the City's buzziest restaurants (HAGS, Huertas, La Contenta) offer hands-on and tasting classes that range from 1.5 to 3 hours. What you'll master: Depending on the restaurant, you can dive into Ayurvedic cooking (Divya's Kitchen), mochi (Mochii Too) and fresh pita (Pomp & Circumstance), among other food and beverage class offerings.Don't-miss class: For a slice of NYC's food history and culture, sign up for Learn to Make Classic NYC Pizza (2 hours, $125), which teaches techniques from the late "Don of Dough" at Andrew Bellucci's Pizzeria in Astoria, Queens.Cost: $75–$125Who's it for? Amateur cooks of all stripes (individuals, couples, friends and families, and visitors to the City) who aspire to cook like a pro.What to expect: For more than two decades, veteran chef Paul Vanderwoude (formerly of esteemed restaurants Le Zinc and Tartine) has shared his cooking skills with students; now he and his team do it from Miette's Little Italy kitchen loft. Classes for up to 12 students range from technique to cuisine to dish-based, and all culminate in enjoying a stellar multicourse meal with your fellow students at a long communal table. What you'll master: Mostly Mediterranean menus from France and Italy, like Best of the Bistro, Italian Classics for the Modern Vegan, Speedy Gnocchi and Coq au Vin. While adult-centric, children under 15 are welcome to attend with an adult.Don't-miss class: Knife Skills ($135 for 3 hours) teaches how to slice and dice while prepping (then eating) bruschetta, roast chicken with vegetables, roasted potatoes and apple tarte fine.Cost: $135 for 3-hour classes and meals.Who's it for? Beginner bakers looking to make Milk Bar's super-trendy, super-delicious cakes and cookiesWhat to expect: At dessert diva Christina Tosi's flagship Flatiron location, you can choose from the 2-hour Build-a-Cookie and Build-a-Cake class. You'll work at prep tables as instructors walk you through assembling (note: baking is done ahead of time) the colorful treats you'll get to sample and take home. Dates are released a month in advance and sell out quickly.What you'll master: Flavor, color, crunch options as well as assembling and frostingDon't-miss class: Both!Cost: One ticket is for 2 people: $60 for cookies, $145 for cakes.Who's it for? The croissant and macaron obsessedWhat to expect: Students come from all over to study (and taste) these two specialties in the back of pastry chef Olivier Dessyn's popular Greenwich Village Bakery. Classes accommodate no more than eight students and run 2–2.5 hours, and everyone gets to bring home not just their finished baked goods but also dough and batter to practice more at home. What you'll master: All the baking skills involved in these classics, such as working with laminated dough and precise measuringDon't-miss class: Both!Cost: $150 Who's it for? Chocolate lovers looking to delve deeper into their passion.What to expect: Witnessing the production of Raaka's exquisite confections would be reason enough to visit this beloved chocolatier, whose operation is located in a historic warehouse in Brooklyn's waterfront Red Hook neighborhood. But it's their pro lessons, housed in two classrooms accommodating 8–12 students, that draw students each weekend. There are classes on pairing chocolate with tea, beer, champagne and coffee; confection classes where you'll learn hands-on to make truffles; and classes that walk you through the process of chocolate-making—all involve generous samples.Don't-miss class: Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Making ($109 for 3.5 hours)Cost: $60 for 1-hour tasting classes; $90 for 2-hour cooking classesWho's it for? Taste Buds is NYC's leading cooking school for kids by day (think birthday parties, mommy-and-me classes and school's-out camps), but at night it transforms into a space for grown-ups to cook up fun for BYOB date nights and friends' cooking classes. What to expect: This loftlike Chelsea space features two modern kitchens where students of all ages slice and dice their way through hand-on classes. Kids' popular "Junior Chef" classes happen after school and on weekends. Most are one hour, but look for more in depth, longer classes for holiday camps. Adult classes are an ideal group activity, with hands-on cooking followed by a full dinner. What you'll master: Menus from around the world: tapas, street food classics, tasty Thai and more.Don't-miss class: Sushi & Dumplings ($195 for two students) is so popular, it's offered several times a month.Cost: $195 for two adults; kids classes are $59 and up.
