Every sushi making class NYC has to offer is in one place — from a 3-hour pro workshop in Midtown Manhattan to a laid-back evening session at a Brooklyn craft brewery. All ingredients included, beginner-friendly, free cancellation on most — check availability to book your date.
Top Rated — 4.5★, 19 Reviews Best Sushi Making Class NYC — 3-Hour Workshop with a Professional Chef
Join a professional sushi chef in Midtown Manhattan for a deep-dive sushi workshop that covers handrolling technique, Japanese knife skills, and the cultural history behind each dish. You'll finish by sitting down to eat everything you made — a full sushi dinner included.
Three hands-on sushi making classes in New York City — from a 3-hour deep-dive workshop in Midtown Manhattan to beginner-friendly 2-hour classes at a Brooklyn brewery. Every class includes all ingredients, bamboo mats, and the full meal you make.
from $125 
from $79 
from $79 | Class | Price | Book | Duration | Location | Group Size | Cancellation | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Workshop (Midtown) | $125 | Check Availability | 3 hrs | Midtown Manhattan | Max 20 | Non-refundable | Deep dive & serious learners |
| Fun Class — Chef Shota | $79 | Check Availability | 2 hrs | Brooklyn, Williamsburg | Max 25 | Free 24h cancel | Date night & social |
| 2-Hr Class — Chef Davis | $79 | Check Availability | 2 hrs | Brooklyn, Williamsburg | Max 25 | Free 24h cancel | Beginners & couples |
Every sushi making class in NYC covers the same three fundamentals: rice, technique, and presentation. You'll start by preparing sushi rice from scratch — washing, cooking, and seasoning it with rice vinegar until it reaches the exact sticky texture that holds a roll together. It sounds simple, but getting the rice right is the skill that separates good sushi from great sushi, and your chef will walk you through every step.
Once the rice is ready, you'll move on to knife skills — learning how to slice avocado, cucumber, and other fillings cleanly and evenly. The chef will demonstrate the proper hold, angle, and motion before you try it yourself. After that, everything comes together at the bamboo mat: laying the nori, spreading the rice, adding the fillings, rolling, pressing, and slicing. By the end, you'll have made two or more complete rolls and sat down to eat them.
The exact rolls depend on which class you book. The two Brooklyn classes (Chef Shota and Chef Davis) both teach two classics: a California roll with avocado, crab sticks, and cucumber, and an American-style veggie roll with mango, avocado, and cucumber. These are the best starting points for a beginner — they build the core rolling skill and taste great.
The 3-hour Manhattan workshop goes further. In addition to rolls, you'll learn nigiri and sashimi preparation, which involves hand-pressing rice and slicing raw fish rather than rolling. You'll also spend more time on Japanese food culture and the history behind each dish — the instructor brings a background in food anthropology that reviewers consistently highlight.
| Roll | Ingredients | Available In |
|---|---|---|
| California Roll | Nori, sushi rice, avocado, crab sticks, cucumber | All three classes |
| Veggie Roll | Nori, sushi rice, mango, avocado, cucumber | All three classes |
| Nigiri | Hand-pressed rice, fresh fish topping | 3-hr workshop only |
| Temaki (Hand Roll) | Nori cone, rice, fillings of your choice | 3-hr workshop only |
The two Brooklyn classes are hosted at the Wandering Barman in Williamsburg — a local craft brewery with exposed brick walls, Edison lighting, and craft beer on tap. The atmosphere is relaxed and social, making it ideal for date nights, friend groups, and anyone who wants a fun evening out as much as a cooking lesson. Drinks are available at the bar (not included), and the casual vibe means it rarely feels like a structured class.
The Manhattan workshop runs out of a professional kitchen in Midtown at 325 W 37th Street. It's a more structured 3-hour experience with a deeper emphasis on technique and cultural context. The chef covers Japanese food history, teaches more advanced skills like nigiri, and includes a full dinner and soft drinks. If your goal is to genuinely improve your sushi-making skills or impress someone with a dinner you prepared from scratch, the Manhattan class is the better choice — just note that it is non-refundable.
| Manhattan Workshop | Brooklyn Brewery Classes | |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Professional kitchen, Midtown | Craft brewery, Williamsburg |
| Duration | 3 hours | 2 hours |
| Price | From $125 | From $79 |
| Vibe | Structured, educational | Relaxed, social |
| Cancellation | Non-refundable | Free up to 24 hrs |
| Drinks | Soda included | Bar at own cost |
Sushi making classes are consistently one of the most-booked date night experiences in New York City — and it's easy to see why. You're doing something together, you're learning, and you're eating what you made at the end. The Brooklyn brewery classes in particular have a natural social energy that makes them feel less like a lesson and more like a shared adventure. Multiple reviewers mention booking again with colleagues or returning for a second date.
For team building, both Brooklyn classes accommodate up to 25 guests in one session, and the hands-on format naturally encourages conversation and collaboration — far more so than a dinner reservation. Group bookings are available through Viator for both sessions.
If you're buying a sushi class as a gift, Viator allows you to book for a future flexible date, making it straightforward to package as a gift card experience for a birthday, anniversary, or just-because occasion.
Arrive at least 10 minutes early — both venues ask you to check in at the entrance and confirm you're there for the cooking class. For the Brooklyn classes, the Wandering Barman at 315 Meserole Street is a 10-minute walk from the Montrose Ave L train stop. The Manhattan workshop is a short walk from Penn Station and accessible from multiple subway lines.
Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting slightly messy — sushi rice sticks to everything. You do not need to bring any food, ingredients, or equipment. Everything is provided, including bamboo mats, nori, and all fillings. Come hungry: the meal at the end is a real sit-down dinner made entirely from what you rolled during the class. Dietary restrictions, including vegetarian requirements, can be accommodated if you notify the host at the time of booking.
This was a new and fun experience! Had a great time making sushi and learning about Japanese culture. Oliver and Ormondo were so kind and informative. Great for a date and/or meeting new people!
Armando and Oliver were very helpful and friendly, and made sure to assist us with any trouble or questions we had. The class was very fun and informative, and a good way to socialize as well.
Chef Danny and Ashley were so wonderful! Food was so good and we really got to make everything ourselves which was so fun!
These are hands-on classes, not demonstrations. Every student rolls their own California roll and veggie roll from start to finish — under the chef's guidance but with their own hands.
Fresh nori, perfectly prepared sushi rice, avocado, cucumber, crab sticks, mango — everything is laid out when you arrive. Bamboo mats and knives are provided. You bring nothing.
Every class is explicitly designed for complete beginners. Chefs explain each step before you do it, and they walk the room to correct technique. No Japanese cooking background needed.
The class ends with a sit-down meal: the complete sushi feast you just rolled. It's a genuinely satisfying ending — not a few sample bites, but a full dinner you made yourself.
Choose between a professional Midtown kitchen for a deeper dive, or a relaxed craft brewery in Williamsburg for a more social evening. Two cities, two vibes, the same core skill.
Unlike a one-off experience, sushi making translates directly to your home kitchen. Most students report attempting rolls at home within a week — the techniques are genuinely learnable in 2–3 hours.
No experience is needed for any of the three classes listed here. All are explicitly beginner-friendly, and chefs walk through every step before students attempt it. For the most step-by-step beginner experience, the beginner sushi rolling class in Brooklyn with Chef Davis is specifically built around students who have never made sushi before.
All three NYC classes teach a California roll (nori, sushi rice, avocado, crab sticks, cucumber) and an American-style veggie roll (nori, sushi rice, mango, avocado, cucumber). The 3-hour Manhattan workshop additionally covers nigiri, sashimi preparation, and hand rolls (temaki), with more time spent on knife skills and Japanese food history.
Every class includes all ingredients, bamboo rolling mats, knives, and the full meal you prepare during the session. The Manhattan workshop also includes dinner and soft drinks. The Brooklyn brewery classes include the meal but not bar drinks, which are available for purchase at the venue.
Yes. Both Brooklyn classes (Chef Shota and Chef Davis) are designed to accommodate a variety of dietary needs — notify the host at the time of booking. The Manhattan workshop can also accommodate requirements if mentioned during booking. The standard California roll includes crab sticks (surimi); vegetarian alternatives are available on request.
The two Brooklyn classes (Fun Class with Chef Shota and 2-Hour Class with Chef Davis) both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the class start time. The Manhattan workshop (Sushi Workshop for Home Chefs) is non-refundable — cancellations and changes are not accepted after booking, so confirm your date carefully before purchasing.
Yes — it's one of the most popular couple experiences in the city. The Brooklyn brewery classes in particular have a naturally social, low-pressure atmosphere that works well for dates: you're doing something together, learning a skill, and eating a meal you made. See our full guide to the couples sushi making class in NYC for everything you need to know about the Williamsburg brewery session.
The Manhattan workshop has a maximum of 20 participants per session. Both Brooklyn classes hold up to 25 participants. All three are small-group formats, which means the chef can give individual attention and correct technique in real time — unlike a large cooking class where many students are too far from the instructor to get hands-on help.
Yes. All three classes are available through Viator, which supports booking for a future date — making it easy to purchase as a gift experience for a birthday, anniversary, or any other occasion. The recipient can then schedule the class at a convenient time. Note that the Manhattan workshop is non-refundable, so a flexible date is important if purchasing as a gift. The couples sushi making class in Brooklyn is the easier gift option — free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
The Manhattan workshop is at 325 W 37th St, 12th floor, in Midtown Manhattan — a short walk from Penn Station and accessible via several subway lines. Both Brooklyn classes are at the Wandering Barman, 315 Meserole St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn — a 10-minute walk from the Montrose Ave L train stop. Both venues are wheelchair accessible.