Best Pizza Making Classes in NYC Key Takeaways:
- NYC’s top pizza classes cater to all skill levels – from one-night beginner workshops to multi-day master courses for serious enthusiasts.
- Hands-on learning: You’ll practice dough mixing, fermentation, sauce making, and oven techniques (even without a wood-fired oven at home) under guidance from expert instructors.
- Value-packed classes: Expect to get all ingredients and tools provided, enjoy your own freshly baked pizzas (often with wine or BYOB), take home recipes (some even offer dough to-go), and in advanced courses, earn a certificate of completion.
New York isn’t just famous for its iconic slice – it’s also home to world-class pizza schools and workshops where you can learn directly from award-winning Chefs and passionate instructors.
From quick evening classes designed for fun date nights to intensive week-long programs for serious pizza entrepreneurs, the city has something for every type of learner.
If you’ve ever wanted to master the art of dough, sauce, and that perfectly blistered crust, these classes will give you the hands-on guidance you need.
1. Pizza School NYC – Lower East Side
This highly rated class (run by owners Mark and Jenny Bello since 2010) is often called NYC’s #1 pizza-making experience.
It’s perfect for beginners and seasoned home cooks alike, thanks to a fun, step-by-step approach and personal attention in a cozy kitchen setting.
Pizza Making Topics & Techniques You'll Learn
You’ll start by mixing and kneading real pizza dough from scratch, learning about flour types, yeast, and proper hydration.
The instructors reveal “the secrets of the sauce” – a simple yet delicious 60-second tomato sauce – and teach you how to stretch dough and form the perfect crust (yes, you’ll even try tossing it in the air).
Topping selection and balance are covered as you build your pies, and importantly, you’ll learn to get the most out of a home oven for crisp crusts.
What’s Included in This Pizza Making Class
The class is very hands-on and all ingredients and equipment are provided – you just show up ready to cook and eat. Every student makes up to four personal pizzas (dough prep, topping, and baking), so you won’t leave hungry.
You’ll taste fresh mozzarella from a famous NYC cheese shop and an array of high-quality toppings as you create different pizzas.
Any leftovers can be boxed to take home, and extra dough balls are provided for you to practice again at home.
The session is BYOB-friendly for beer or wine (or you can purchase craft beer and wines on-site) to enjoy with your pizza.
As a bonus, every participant receives a detailed recipe booklet and access to post-class support – including an amusing “dough emergency hotline” you can email or call if you have pizza troubles later.
- Location: Lower East Side, Manhattan (371 Grand Street).
- Format: In-person, one-session workshop (approximately 4 hours long).
- Pricing: Tickets run about $225 per person (or $325 for a two-person team booking) for the all-inclusive 4-hour workshop.
- Website: Pizza School
2. Goodfella’s Pizza School of New York – Staten Island
Founded by a team of world champion pizzaioli (the Goodfella’s owners have won 4 national and 9 regional pizza titles and even “World’s Best Pizza” honors), this school provides one-on-one instruction that can take you from absolute beginner to professional-level pizza chef.
Classes are typically one student at a time for maximum hands-on learning, literally working alongside the masters.
Pizza Making Topics & Techniques You'll Learn
The curriculum is extremely thorough, covering every aspect of pizza making and even restaurant operations.
You will learn to make multiple styles of dough (New York thin crust, Neapolitan, Sicilian, etc.), with deep dives into flour types, yeast and fermentation techniques, dough handling and stretching skills – “until you have the technique mastered”.
Sauce making is another focus: you’ll craft classic tomato sauces as well as gourmet varieties (vodka sauce, porcini mushroom cream, seafood sauce – you name it) for a full range of.
The training doesn’t stop at pizza: students also learn to bake Italian breads, whip up fresh mozzarella cheese from curd, and even create sweet dessert pizzas.
Every day you’ll be firing pies in a real wood-burning brick oven, learning to manage the fire, temperature, and timing like a pro.
By the end, you’ll have mastered the use of a brick oven – lighting it, tending the fire, and cooking pizzas and breads to perfection.
For those on a management track, Goodfella’s also offers advanced modules on menu development (you’ll develop your own signature gourmet pies), ingredient sourcing, food cost control, and other business skills.
It’s essentially a bootcamp for aspiring pizza entrepreneurs.
What’s Included in This Pizza Making Class
Because the courses are one-on-one, you truly get to do everything yourself with instructor guidance – mixing large batches of dough daily, baking pizzas during real restaurant hours, etc.
The long courses (often ~5 days, ~50 hours total) are fast-paced and hands-on, but enjoyable and tailored to your level.
Students receive extensive course materials, including workbooks with recipes, theory, and even operational guides (employee training manuals, sanitation procedures – if you’re doing the advanced program).
Upon graduation, you earn a Certificate of Completion to mark your achievement – and more importantly, you walk away a confident pizza artist. The school encourages grads to stay in touch and provides follow-up support for any questions as you apply your skills in the real world.
- Location: Staten Island, NY (at the original Goodfella’s Brick Oven Pizza restaurant).
- Format: In-person, intensive multi-day courses (4-day, 5-day, up to 10-day master classes). If you’re serious about pizza-making as a craft – perhaps even planning to open your own pizzeria – Goodfella’s Pizza School offers the most comprehensive training around.
- Pricing: As you’d expect, this level of personalized training is a significant investment. The flagship course (approximately one week) has been reported around $2,500–$3,000 for a 5-day intensive, and they even offer a 10-day “Master of Pizza” apprenticeship for about $7,500 one-on-one.
- Website: Pizza School New York
3. Kesté Pizza & Vino – Manhattan + Online
Chef Caporuscio, owner of Kesté, is one of NYC’s most celebrated Neapolitan pizza masters (he’s even served as president of the U.S. Neapolitan pizza association).
If you dream of crafting authentic Neapolitan pies – or just want a great night out learning from an Italian pizza guru – Kesté’s classes are a top choice.
Pizza Making Topics & Techniques You'll Learn (Recreational Class)
In the casual group class (often held in the evenings), Roberto leads students through a crash course in Neapolitan pizza history and technique.
You’ll get a primer on the tradition and what makes the Neapolitan style unique – from the super-light dough to the simple San Marzano tomato sauce.
Then it’s hands-on: mixing and kneading dough, learning proper dough fermentation and rise, and practicing stretching that soft dough without tearing it.
You’ll also discuss ingredient quality (like the difference authentic Italian “00” flour and juicy Italian tomatoes make) and assemble your own pizza with classic toppings like fresh mozzarella and basil.
The pizzas are baked on the spot in Kesté’s wood-fired oven, coming out blistered and bubbling in true Naples fashion.
As you cook and eat, Roberto shares pro tips and even some secrets for a perfect Italian pizza – so feel free to ask him anything.
Advanced Courses for Pizza Making
For those interested in a deeper dive, Kesté offers professional training courses as well.
These range from 5-day to 10-day programs (around 6 hours per day) focused on certifying you in Neapolitan pizza craft.
In the 10-day class, for example, you’ll cover everything from dough science and multiple fermentation methods to mastering the wood-fired oven, troubleshooting common pizza-making mistakes, and even learning to make gluten-free Neapolitan pizzas.
Class sizes are kept very small (often 3–5 people) to maximize hands-on practice.
At the end of the course, you receive a certificate and the confidence of having trained with one of the best in the business.
These pro classes are a fantastic option if you are considering a career in pizza or want an official credential in Neapolitan technique.
- Location: Financial District, Manhattan (77 Fulton St) for in-person classes; also online options.
- Format: Offers both a fun 2-hour recreational class and intensive professional courses (5–10 days) under the tutelage of renowned pizzaiolo Roberto Caporuscio.
- Pricing: The recreational class is about $80–$100 per person. The professional courses are pricier (running in the thousands of dollars given their length and depth), with exact fees available on inquiry – but they are a solid investment for serious aspiring pizzaioli.
- Website: Keste Pizzeria
4. Eataly’s La Pizza & La Pasta Workshop Flatiron/Downtown NYC/SoHo
Eataly, the famed Italian food market, hosts hands-on pizza-making classes in partnership with their resident Neapolitan pizzeria experts (Rossopomodoro).
It’s an immersive way to learn authentic pizza techniques right in the heart of a bustling Italian marketplace – perfect for foodies and beginners looking for a fun, social class.
Pizza Making Topics & Techniques You'll Learn
Classes at Eataly’s La Pizza & La Pasta restaurant are led by professional pizzaioli trained in Naples.
They’ll show you how to make Eataly’s delicious Neapolitan-style pizza from start to finish. You begin by learning to mix and knead your own dough from scratch, with tips on achieving the right texture and fermentation.
While the dough rests, the instructors discuss pizza history and what differentiates Neapolitan pizza (like that super hot oven and soft, blistered crust).
You’ll then get to stretch and top your own personal pizza with high-quality ingredients – think fresh mozzarella, basil, and artisanal toppings.
One unique highlight is that the class takes place in the actual restaurant, so when it’s time to bake, your pizza goes into Eataly’s gold-tiled wood-burning ovens (imported from Italy and built brick-by-brick on site) for an authentic cook in under 90 seconds.
It’s a thrill to see your pizza fired in the same oven used by the pros, and you’ll watch it emerge perfectly leopard-spotted and melty.
Throughout, the chefs will unveil pro tips and “pizza making secrets” to help you recreate the magic at home.
What’s Included in This Pizza Making Class
The class is an all-inclusive experience.
Eataly provides all the ingredients (premium Italian flour, tomatoes, cheese, etc.) and tools.
Each participant makes their own pizza and of course gets to enjoy it fresh out of the oven as the highlight of the class.
You’re also treated to two complimentary glasses of wine or beer during the workshop, making it a true pizza party atmosphere.
Along with your finished pizza, you’ll receive printed recipes, dough to take home (so you can try again later with dough that’s already been proofed), and tasting notes.
The chefs encourage questions, so it’s a great time to ask about anything from home oven tips to ingredient sourcing.
By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp on making Neapolitan pizza and likely some new friends from the shared experience.
- Location: Eataly NYC (Flatiron, Downtown & SoHo locations).
- Format: In-person workshop, ~2 hours.
- Pricing: An Eataly pizza-making class is typically around $80–$90 per person.
- Website: Eataly Classes & Events
5. Taste Buds Kitchen – Chelsea
Taste Buds Kitchen (TBK) is a popular cooking school known for hands-on classes in a fun, social environment.
Their Incredible Handmade Pizza workshop is an excellent choice for aspiring pizza makers of all skill levels – it’s designed to be engaging for total beginners yet still enjoyable for those with some cooking experience.
Bring a friend or date (and a bottle of wine if you like), and get ready for a laid-back evening of pizza crafting!
Pizza Kitchen Topics & Techniques You'll Learn
This class is essentially Pizza Making 101 with some creative twists.
Under the guidance of TBK’s friendly chef instructors, you’ll learn the secret tricks behind working with yeast and dough.
The class starts with the basics: mixing a simple dough from scratch, understanding how to properly activate yeast, and kneading techniques to achieve that perfect elastic consistency.
Since dough needs time to rise, you’ll likely work with dough that’s been pre-prepped as well, so you can move on to forming your pizza.
The instructors will show you how to roll out or stretch a thin-crust pizza base, and you’ll assemble a couple of pies using a variety of toppings (TBK likes to offer a mix of classics like Margherita as well as some inventive topping combos to try).
As the pizzas bake, you might pick up tips on getting a crispy crust in a home oven and how to tell when a pizza is perfectly done.
The emphasis is on how easy and fun homemade pizza can be once you know the fundamentals.
It’s a very interactive class – expect lots of Q&A and maybe even a bit of friendly competition on whose pizza comes out best.
What’s Included in This Pizza Making Class
All necessary ingredients and equipment are provided by Taste Buds Kitchen, so you don’t need to bring a thing (except optional drinks).
Each student (or pair) will make their own pizza – generally one large pie or a couple of smaller personal pizzas – and the class will enjoy them together fresh from the oven.
TBK’s studio is a BYOB space for adult classes, so you are welcome to bring beer or wine to sip on while cooking and dining (they’ll supply glasses and openers).
The atmosphere is cozy and upbeat, often with music playing and people chatting as they cook.
Classes are kept at a moderate size (usually 10–20 people) to ensure everyone gets help when needed and a chance to see demonstrations clearly.
By the end, you’ll have practiced all the steps to making pizza at home – and you’ll take home the dough you made (if it wasn’t used) or at least the recipe, so you can repeat the process in your own kitchen.
Many participants leave saying they feel much more confident about tackling homemade pizza on their own.
- Location: Chelsea, Manhattan (Taste Buds Kitchen Studio, 27th St).
- Format: In-person, one-session class, ~2 hours, BYOB friendly.
- Pricing: The Incredible Handmade Pizza class at TBK costs around $99 per person. This includes the lesson, use of the professional kitchen space, all ingredients (dough, toppings, etc.), and of course you get to eat your creations.
- Website: Taste Buds Kitchen
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