It’s no secret that Virginia knows its way around a good meal — and a well-made drink. From coastal restaurants showcasing the freshest seafood to mountain eateries putting an elevated spin on Appalachian traditions, the commonwealth is brimming with delicious inspiration. Behind the bar, talented mixologists are shaking, stirring, and garnishing their way to inventive cocktails and mocktails, often with fresh, local ingredients.
So why leave all the fun to the professionals? Across Virginia, home cooks and cocktail enthusiasts can get behind the scenes, roll up their sleeves, and pick up a few tricks of the trade. Whether you’re dreaming of mastering fresh pasta, perfecting a pastry or learning to shake a proper cocktail, these culinary experiences offer a chance to make something delicious and take the know-how home with you. Consider it an excuse to impress your dinner guests, add some flair to your next beach or mountain getaway, or simply turn a Tuesday night at home into something worth lingering over.
People are also reading…
Charlottesville
Every Friday and Saturday, budding mixologists can pull up a stool at The Aspen Bar at Birch & Bloom, the restaurant at The Forum Hotel nestled in the heart of UVA’s campus. Participants get a spirited introduction to the history and evolution of cocktails before diving into the finer points of mixing and garnishing the perfect drink, from selecting quality ingredients to mastering the techniques behind the bar.
Themes change with the seasons, with some sessions spotlighting particular spirits or styles. This fall, that might mean concoctions of apple, spice and bourbon; spicy and smoky or dark and dramatic cocktails for Halloween; or autumn harvest cocktails just in time for Thanksgiving.
The 41-acre organic garden, overseen by Head Gardener Celina DeBrito, produces seasonal produce such as herbs, leafy greens, lettuces, tomatoes, squash, and peppers.
Roll up your sleeves and come hungry to one of Virginia’s most picturesque vineyards. Pippin Hill’s cooking classes offer hands-on instruction along with helpful pointers and tricks of the trade. Participants can butter up their culinary IQ while learning to make homemade pasta, seasonal soups, wood-fired pizza, and more. The classes make an especially fun outing for groups, celebrations, or date nights.Â
C-ville Bites
Celebrating the flavors, stories, and people that make Charlottesville such a vibrant city, C-ville bites offers regular food tours as well as classes and events focused on mixology, pasta making, in-home gourmet cooking classes, and more. At The Art of the Cocktail: Martinis, Sours and Timeless Classics, participants can shake up something tasty while discovering the little details that bring each drink to life. Or roll up your sleeves for Perfect Pasta, where fresh pasta is prepared step by step before participants sit down to a three-course meal featuring their creations and wine pairings.Â
Richmond
At the Virginia Distilled event at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture on Sept. 12, VIP ticket holders can sharpen their home bartending skills with Richmond mixologist Rebecca Edwards, who holds WSET Level 3 certification and a distilling certificate from the Institute of Brewing & Distilling.
Every half hour, guests can pick up both basic and more advanced techniques for creating classic cocktails. There’s plenty more to sip and savor, too, including unlimited samples of local craft spirits, live music and master class discussions on Virginia’s moonshining history and the collaboration behind the Virginia Spirits 250th Celebration Trio Pack. Guests can also vote for their favorite cocktail from six of the state’s top bartenders before the 2026 Virginia Cocktail Games Cocktail of the Year winner is announced live.
Â
Richmond’s Virago Spirits regularly hosts its signature Art of the Cocktail events, with each session bringing a new theme to the bar. Some follow the seasons, such as Thanksgiving cocktails, while others explore a particular style or concept, including drinks designed for sharing — from a signature serve simple enough to make its way from bar to bar to the one cocktail a particular establishment becomes known for.Â
Â
From novices to seasoned home cooks, chefs of any level can hone their cooking skills at Downtown Richmond’s Mise en Place, which offers in-depth, hands-on cooking classes. The schedule spans a wide range of culinary traditions, including Greek, French, Spanish and Australian influences, along with classes devoted to seasonal ingredients and dishes.Â
Â
Coastal Virginia
Where better to learn the craft of a great cocktail than at the distillery making the spirit itself? Just steps from the Atlantic Ocean, Waterman Spirits produces a line of organic, coral-filtered vodka and naturally flavored liqueurs — and invites guests behind the scenes for a taste of the craft.
Small private cocktail classes welcome up to 16 guests in the distillery’s exclusive cocktail room, where participants create three signature drinks with guidance from a skilled instructor. A sharable food menu can be added to the experience, and a brunch cocktail class offers another spirited option for team-building events, celebrations, or gatherings with friends.
Â
For home cooks who believe cooking is as much art as science, Untamed Chef offers small-group experiences inside a professional kitchen. Participants get recipes, ingredient know-how, equipment guidance, and plenty of instruction while building their culinary confidence.
Options range from fully immersive Standard Classes, which explore different cuisines and techniques alongside communal cooking and dining, to Date Night Classes with wine or bourbon included. Quick Bites offer a shorter format focused on specific culinary skills. For those who would rather let someone else do the cooking, Untamed Chef also offers culinary entertainment, including Chef Table Experiences with demonstrations and plated multicourse dinners, Supper Club gatherings with communal seating and family-style meals, and Bourbon & Bites, a social-club-style evening of curated cocktails, flights and bites.
Fredericksburg
For those who prefer to watch, sip, and learn rather than get their hands dirty, The Kitchen at Whittingham offers a more relaxed approach to culinary education in downtown Fredericksburg. Guests gather around a kitchen island as chefs and caterers from the region share their expertise. The chef handles most of the cooking, though willing volunteers may find themselves stirring a soup, chopping a vegetable or lending a hand. The result is part cooking demonstration, part dinner party with the chef providing the entertainment, food, and wine while guests simply enjoy the experience.
Roanoke
At The Flour District, industry professionals are eager to share the techniques that make their craft so delicious. The schedule runs the gamut from pasta making and baking basics to wine tasting, with sessions designed for a night out with friends, a date or a family gathering.
The best part? These are techniques you can put to work long after class is over. Offerings include introductions to puff pastry, brunch essentials, gluten-free baking, pâte à choux desserts, pickle workshops, perfect roast chicken, and more. Come for the fun, leave with something delicious — and perhaps a new favorite recipe for the home kitchen.
