If there’s one thing we’re wild for, it’s learning a new skill—and hands-on sessions in a kitchen workshop, crafty studio, or sensory lab are the perfect way to tick that box.
With the satisfaction that comes with mastering a new hobby or skill in mind, these are the best hands-on workshops in Sydney.
Burrata And Bocconcini With Bottomless Bubbles
Omnom Cheese Making, Rosebery | Various days and times
Elevate your love of cheese with this hands-on cheese-making class (that just so happens to include bottomless sparkling wine, making it an epic option for a hens or birthday party). This Sydney workshop starts with how to select the right milk all the way through the heating, stretching, folding and balling process that results in delicious burrata and bocconcini. You'll leave with close to a kilo of cheese to take home, and recipes to keep the ball rolling, and can even BYO snacks to enjoy throughout. Learn more and book here.
Rug Tufting
Tutu Studio, CBD | Various days and times
Adorn your space with a customised tufted rug that you create in this five-hour workshop in the Sydney CBD. Bring along an image and prepare to transform it into a 60x60-centimetre rug using a tufting gun and colourful woollen yarn. The gentle whirring of the tufting gun is super relaxing, and the instructor will guide you to ensure your finished product will be on proud display. Learn more and book here.
Rum School
Brix Distillers, Surry Hills | Saturdays, 1pm or 3.30pm
Step up your at-home cocktail creations with a Rum School cocktail-making workshop at suburban spirits-makers Brix Distillers. The two-hour sessions start with a tour of the distillery so you're across all the stages of the rum-making process, before a mixologist takes you through cocktails like pina coladas, zombies, spiced rum espresso martinis, and more. Once you have the skills, shake up a couple of drinks to enjoy over an antipasto spread with your fellow students—you even get a $10 voucher to use on 700mL bottles of the good stuff. Learn more and book in here—Brix Distillers also offers rum-spicing masterclasses.
Glass Blowing
Among the Trees, Marrickville | Various days and times
Get mesmerised by the age-old skill of glass blowing at these high-heat Sydney workshops. In a two-and-a-half-hour session glass artist Mark Eliott will take you through the fundamentals like glass blowing and sculpting, joining, stretching, and colour mixing using both clear and coloured "borosilicate" glass rods and tubes. Once you know the basics, you'll make at least two objects to take home, which might be small figures, pendants, vessels or abstract creations. Learn more and book a spot here.
Sourdough Making And Baking
Bourke Street Bakery, Banksmeadow | Various Saturdays
If you didn't master it (or at least try to) during lockdowns, there's still time to become a sourdough master; Bourke Street Bakery runs a two-hour Sourdough Masterclass to teach the ins and outs of bread thanks to the help of their professional bakers. You’ll take home some 12-year-old starter to create loaves at home, as well as the bread you’ve baked in class and some fresh dough. Bourke Street Bakery’s Sydney workshops are $150pp and suitable for everyone. Learn more and book in here.
Art Of Perfumery
Ainslie Walker Scentsmith, Marrickville | Selected days and times
Make your own signature scent at this intensive introduction to perfumery, hosted by practising perfumer, product developer and olfactory artist Ainslie Walker. After being introduced to the raw materials that contribute to the world's favourite scents, design and make a fragrance to take home, with a cheese platter and glass of champagne at the end of the class to elevate the entire experience. Learn more and book your spot here.
Pickling
Cornersmith, Marrickville | Various days and times
There just isn’t any other way to cut it: Cornersmith is the place to go for pickling and preserving. Join co-owner Alex Elliott-Howery for a two-hour workshop covering the magic of vinegar and how to pick the right one for your ingredients, different pickling techniques, ideas for enjoying pickles, and safety essentials. On top of all the knowledge, you'll take home three different types of pickles to start enjoying stat. Cornersmith's pickling classes are $200pp—book in and browse their other tasty workshops here.
Cornersmith is currently delivering its classes at Bourke Street Bakery's Potts Point location.
Basket And Bouquet Flower Arranging
Yuga Floral Design, Glebe | Saturdays (10am–11.30am) and Sundays (1pm–2.30pm)
Learn how to create a stunning floral arrangement under the guidance of Yuga Floral Design's owner Setsuko Yanagisawa, who has 13+ years of floristry experience. The 90-minute workshops feature the freshest seasonal flowers, and are kept small in numbers so guests can express their creativity under Setsuko's guidance. You take home your floral arrangement, and can add on cheese platters and sparkling wine too. Learn more and book in here.
Wheel-Thrown Pottery
The Pottery Shed, Surry Hills | Various days and times
Learn how to fill your home with hand-made wares at The Pottery Shed's very beginner-friendly ceramics classes. The basic course is delivered in three, two-hour stages ($69pp each) that you can complete at your leisure, and covers wheel throwing, trimming and glazing. Once you know the basics, you can drop in for $49 practice sessions to keep your hands covered in the good stuff. Learn more about the various workshops and book here
Landscape Photography
La Perouse | Selected Saturdays
If you fancy yourself a decent photographer but know you could use an extra tip or two, look no further than The Aperture Club. The four-hour landscape photography workshop will turn your scenic snaps into works of art, with the session including everything from how to select a subject, playing with light, shade and perspective, getting creative with bracketing, stacking and ICM, and loads more. Classes are delivered by an experienced professional and are $220pp—learn more and book in here. The Aperture Club also does classes in bird photography, studio lighting, macro basics, and loads more.
Keen to break into pottery specifically? Check out this list for more of Sydney's best pottery classes.
Image credit: Brix Distillers, Omnom Cheese Making, Tutu Studio, Brix Distillers, Bourke Street Bakery, Ainslie Walker, Cornersmith, Setsuko Yanagisawa, The Pottery Shed
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