Cooking Classes in the Inner West

Getting Cooking Classes Right

Pasta or seafood is the real choice facing a group booking a cooking class in the Inner West, and the answer shapes everything from how many can come to who is old enough to join.

The Coastal Italian, a small cooking school and homewares store run by chef Davide, teaches hands-on pasta and regional Italian food from $80 per person. Sydney Seafood School, set inside Sydney Fish Market, pairs a chef's demonstration in a tiered auditorium with bench cooking and a sit-down meal, from $90 per person.

Which kitchen fits which group:

Couples and small groups of friends: a Pasta Date Night at The Coastal Italian, or a three-hour class booked just for two, which includes a recipe book
Work teams and staff Christmas parties: Sydney Seafood School customises private classes and can pair one with a function in Ngara, its event space next door overlooking Blackwattle Bay
Hens and birthday groups: the seafood school runs private classes for both, while Davide takes private group events by enquiry
Mixed ages: the seafood school has classes for kids aged 7 to 13 and lets 12 to 14 year olds attend with an adult, whereas The Coastal Italian is 18 and over
After-work plans: midweek evening classes at The Coastal Italian run from 6pm to 8.30pm

BYO is off the table at each school. The Coastal Italian isn't licensed and pours a complimentary Italian drink with antipasto, while the seafood school includes drinks with the meal. Raise dietary needs before booking, since not every requirement can be met.

Davide's classes start with dough made from scratch, worked into different shapes and matched with sauces from the Italian Riviera and regional Italy
Regional classes cover Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily and Sardinia, and weekend masterclasses focus on pasta, gnocchi and ravioli
At the seafood school a demonstration comes first, then benches of up to six cook the same dishes with staff helping
Everyone at the seafood school heads home with an apron and a recipe booklet

Worth checking before you book

Guest chef sessions, demonstrations and tastings sit alongside the seafood school's hands-on programme
Closed, non-slip shoes are required at the fish market benches, and it's worth allowing for parking costs or catching public transport
Dietary requirements at The Coastal Italian should go to Davide first, as not all can be accommodated
Weekend classes on Glebe Point Road run for three hours from 10am

Answers to Common Cooking Class Questions

Which Inner West cooking class works for a team-building day?

Sydney Seafood School runs customised private classes for team building days and staff Christmas parties, with the option of a function in Ngara afterwards. The Coastal Italian takes team building and private events by direct enquiry with chef Davide.

Can teenagers join a cooking class in the region?

At Sydney Seafood School guests aged 15 and over can attend on their own and 12 to 14 year olds can come with an adult, and there are dedicated classes for kids aged 7 to 13. Nobody under 18 can join at The Coastal Italian.

Are drinks included, or can we bring our own?

BYO isn't allowed at Sydney Seafood School or The Coastal Italian. The seafood school includes drinks, and The Coastal Italian, which isn't licensed, serves a complimentary Italian drink alongside antipasto.

Do we get to eat what we cook?

Yes. Each class at The Coastal Italian ends with everyone eating the pasta they made, and at the seafood school the group sits down together to eat its dishes with a complimentary drink.

Cooking Classes in Inner West

Find the Right Cooking Class in Inner West