Riva creates welcoming experiences for locals, travelers, and international guests who enjoy good food, quality service, and a convivial atmosphere.
We offer a selection of interactive food and drink experiences inspired by Puglia’s traditions. Guests can participate in hands-on cocktail and pasta-making classes, tastings, and live presentations of local dishes, learning about their preparation, history, and cultural significance. Each experience invites you to savor the flavors of the region in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that reflects the essence of Bari and Puglia.
Accessible, engaging, and unmistakably Riva: that’s what makes our experiences memorable.
All Experiences
SPRITZ MAKING & APERITIVO
A celebration of Italy’s most beloved pre-dinner ritual! Learn how to prepare three spritzes—Aperol, Hugo, and the Riva Signature— while discovering the rhythm and meaning of the Italian aperitivo. Light, convivial, and designed to be enjoyed slowly, just like in Italy.
ITALIAN COCKTAIL MAKING
A hands-on experience that transforms the art of Italian cocktail making into pure FUN! You’ll shake, stir, and taste three signature cocktails: a Classic Negroni, a refreshing Gin Basil Smash, and a Special Riva Cocktail created especially for this class. It’s a lively, memorable, and informative experience, and the perfect way to bring a little of Riva’s Italian magic home with you.
PANZEROTTI MAKING CLASS
A hands-on culinary experience focused on one of Puglia’s most iconic dishes. Guests will learn how panzerotti are traditionally prepared, from shaping the dough to filling and sealing, while also discovering the techniques and stories behind this beloved local specialty. Interactive, fun, and deeply rooted in Puglia’s gastronomic culture.
PANZEROTTI TASTING & PRESENTATION
Panzerotti are one of Puglia’s most iconic dishes: golden, crescent-shaped pockets of dough, traditionally filled with tomato and mozzarella, then fried until crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. In this hands-on class, guests will learn how panzerotti are made from start to finish, shaping the dough, filling, and assembling them, while discovering the stories, techniques, and traditions of this beloved local dish. A joyful and interactive experience, rooted in Puglia’s gastronomic culture and designed to be shared.
ORECCHIETTE & BRACIOLA CLASS
Orecchiette, the iconic handmade pasta from Puglia, and braciola, a traditional dish of rolled meat cooked slowly to perfection, are the heart of Puglia’s home cooking. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn the techniques of both, then sit down to enjoy what we’ve prepared for a traditional Puglian lunch, combining craftsmanship, culture, and the joy of cooking and eating Italian style.
ORECCHIETTE & BRACIOLA TASTING
Enjoy a tasting of two pillars of Apulian cuisine: handmade orecchiette and traditional braciola, served Apulian-style. With an overview of the dishes, ingredients, and accompanying traditions, this experience offers a simple and flavorful way to immerse yourself in the local gastronomic culture.
SPAGHETTI ALL’ASSASSINA – PRESENTATION & TASTING
Spaghetti all’assassina is one of Bari’s most iconic dishes, known for its bold flavor and innovative pan-cooked method. Guests will be able to watch the preparation, discover what makes it unique, and conclude with a tasting that captures its fresh and slightly spicy flavor.
LOCAL WINE & CHEESE TASTING
This experience invites you to the heart of Puglia’s food, wine, and cheesemaking culture.
Enjoy a tasting of two pillars of Apulian cuisine: handmade orecchiette and traditional braciola, served Apulian-style. With an overview of the dishes, ingredients, and accompanying traditions, this experience offers a simple and flavorful way to immerse yourself in the local gastronomic culture.
PUGLIESE LUNCH
A Pugliese lunch is the Italian way to enjoy lunch: unhurried, with seasonal ingredients, and focused on good food. During this experience, you’ll be presented with carefully prepared local dishes made with seasonal ingredients, with a brief explanation and shared context at the table. After the presentation of the dishes, guests are free to enjoy lunch at their own pace, savoring the flavors and atmosphere. It’s a relaxed way to savor Apulian cuisine while understanding what makes each dish special.
PUGLIESE PIZZA TASTING
Discover pizza through the lens of Puglia with a tasting of three distinct styles, each showcasing local and regional ingredients. Served family-style, this experience invites guests to share, compare, and savor pizza as it should be enjoyed in Italy: at the table, together. Each pizza showcases a different expression of Puglia’s ingredients.
ITALIAN STYLE KARAOKE
A lively evening inspired by the Italian way of socializing. Enjoy authentic Italian pizza while singing karaoke as a group, where participation matters more than performance, and the focus is on sharing the moment, laughter, and connection, in true Italian style.
CHEF’S TABLE
An intimate and exclusive Chef’s Table experience, where our chef personally guides you through an eight-course seasonal tasting menu that expresses the creativity and soul of Riva’s Apulian cuisine.
DINNER & DANCING
Experience a Puglian evening like a true Puglian… The evening begins with dinner at Riva Restaurant, where food and conversation set the tone, then effortlessly transforms into a high-energy club atmosphere with a mix of Italian and international music. A space, a flow, an unforgettable night!
