11 Cooking and Beverage Classes to Take in Philadelphia

Learning a new skill is rewarding, but there’s something special about making a dish from scratch and savoring your success.

From beginner to advanced, cooking classes offer novice and home cooks the opportunity to explore their untapped culinary skills with the help of industry experts. Whether you want to make dumplings, learn about your cheese, make cider or mix cocktails, there are plenty of workshops to sign up for.

Get your hands dirty with these fun cooking and beverage classes in Philadelphia.

If you’re learning English, check out the free English language learning programs at the Free Library’s Culinary Knowledge Centre. Turn over pancakes and cook new recipes every week, practice English listening, speaking, reading and writing. The program offers online registration for classes (virtual or face-to-face) via email or telephone at the Parkway Central Library and nearby branches.

📍 1901 Vine St., 📞 215-686-5323, 🌐 libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/edible-alphabet

On this Mother’s Day, make dumplings with your mother.

At Dumpling Academy, holiday workshops bring your loved ones together for a three-hour cooking class. Prepare dumpling fillings with handmade skins, cook dumplings and feast. Ingredients and supplies are provided, so all you need to bring is a container for leftovers to take home.

Upcoming workshops are Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and July 4th. Head to Walnut Street for rose-shaped dumplings and fried chocolate ravioli. Register online for seminars, $95 per person.

📍2401 Walnut St, Suite 102, 📞 267-213-6787, 🌐 dumplingacademy.com

Old City Kitchen features chef-led dinners and cooking classes. Roll spaghetti and lasagna into shape with chef Edward Strojan, or whip up a creamy spinach curry with chickpeas and wheat roti with chef Chetna Macwan. By the end of the session, get your hands dirty and plunge into your creation. Tickets start at $95 per person and can be booked online.

📍218 Market St., 📞 609-954-0488, 🌐 oldcitykitchen.com

Begin with a demonstration of knife skills to give you confidence in your blade. Then, let your chef mentor guide you in measuring ingredients and creating a dish from scratch. Hands-on classes entertain and teach cooking for four to five people. Expect to spend an hour and a half to two hours in the kitchen before dropping your apron to eat your artisanal dish.

If you learn by watching, sign up for chef competitions and chef’s table meals. Lessons for children are also available.

Prices for Hudson Table experiences range from $75 to over $100. Buy tickets online.

📍 1001 North 2nd St., 🌐 hudsontable.com/philadelphia

Julia Birnbaum wants to share the magic of cheese with you. Enter a Philly Cheese School (PCS) classroom in South Philadelphia and become a cheese expert who can pair international slices with wine, cider, cereal, and chips. Public class fees range from $50 to $75.

Bring your friends or colleagues for a private Cheese 101 class for $90 per person. This option is suitable for 6 to 16 people. Online private lessons are also available for $170 per person, plus an $80 cheese choice.

Classes are BYOB and only open to adults 21 and older. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required.

📍701 S 9th St., 🌐 phillycheeseschool.com

Plan your week’s meals at Rittenhouse’s Plant-Based Gluten-Free Café by taking a meal planning class on the third Thursday in April, May and June. Plan your weekly meals in this two-hour workshop with the guidance of an in-house professional. The café offers meal plan templates and tips for arranging meals. Online tickets are $65.

📍1706 Locust St., 📞 215-985-1706, 🌐 puresweets.com

Step into the kitchen of this West Philly café for a hands-on empanada class. Using a Northwest Argentinian empanada recipe and spice mix, learn dough-making and cooking techniques, as well as how to assemble them. Includes 12 empanada dough circles, chimichurri sauce, vegetable garnish, and dessert. Tickets for the June 4th class are $95 per person.

May 11 Learn the art of making alfajores, Argentinian cookies, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee for $50 per person. Plus, there’s a special Mother’s Day empanada class for you and your mom on May 13th — $180 per person. Reserve your place online.

📍206-208 S 45th St., 📞 215-554-7380, 🌐 jezabelscafe.com

Taste five City Winery wines at $15 per person, Wednesday-Friday 4-9 pm and Saturday-Sunday 1-7 pm with guidance from wine expert Nasinne Campos, Campos Discuss the basics of wine tasting, grapes, and vineyards, and answer any questions you may have. Book your place with Resy – but welcome to check in directly.

Go behind the scenes at the winery and witness old country winemaking methods and modern technology making wine in an urban winery. While no reservations are required for wine tasting, tours are a scheduled event with ticket purchases during harvest season or late September/October-November.

📍990 Filbert St., 📞 267-479-7373, 🌐 citywinery.com/philadelphia

Mural City Cellars opens the doors of its Amber Street winery for an intimate tasting experience just for you and your friends. For parties of 4 to 12 guests, the winery is all yours for an hour and a half to two and a half hours. Sip wine and munch on small bites when visiting this space. Also included are reserve cask tastings and a sneak peek at a selection of vintages that have yet to be released. Morning, afternoon and evening tastings range from $350 to $950, depending on when booked and the number of guests. Sign Up Online.

A nearby bar also offers Saturday wine classes, but the April, May and June sessions are sold out.

📍2011 Amber St., 📞 215-240-1318, 🌐 muralcitycellars.com

On Thursday nights, cheer up at Old Town’s interactive bartending. Use unconventional glassware, garnishes and toppings for Your Phone Drinks First class. Or try non-alcoholic spirits in the zero-level cocktail class and bourbon and rye in the introductory class.

Learn how to make chocolate and espresso or Prohibition-era cocktails on Fridays. And dive into fresh fruity sippers and herb-spiced concoctions on Saturdays.

Book online and pay $250 to $300 per class for two people.

📍 16 S. 2nd St., 📞 267-702-3404, 🌐cocktailculture.co

Elevate your coffee with workshops that walk you through the basics of roasting and brewing at this small-batch coffee company.

On April 14, study the coffee roasting process, taste roast samples and discuss with the class. Coffee and other supplies are provided. Practice making espresso and pour over latte art on April 15th, or learn to brew by hand on April 16th. $75 per person per class – includes supplies. Buy tickets online.

📍 319 North 11th St., 🌐 vamocoffee.com

Classes at the Philadelphia Beer School are arranging beer brewing and tasting events. Learn about brewing or explore beer history, styles and flavors through fermentation and hops. These classes and tastings are aimed at all levels of beer lovers, from those looking to develop their palate to homebrewers looking to learn more. Upcoming classes include a May 20 craft beer and cheese pairing for $75 ($60 for school members). Tickets are online.

📍 109 S 22nd St., 🌐 vinology.com/philly-beer-school

Cider lovers, here’s a workshop for you. This cider and bar just off South Street offers three-hour workshops a night. Owner and cider maker Kerry McKenzie walks you through the history, styles, apple varieties, and step-by-step instructions on how to start your batch at home. You can also sample a selection of ciders.

Workshop tickets are $150 for a single and $250 for a pair (two people make a batch of cider). Sign up for the Cider Symposium mailing list to get updates and sign up for upcoming sessions – Apple plans to host its next workshop in the fall.

📍 613 South 7th St., 📞 267-639-4334, 🌐 haleandtrue.com