Our place sits on a 1600 sqm block with views of the Blue Mountains National Reserve. Our focus is on creating a Mediterranean oasis in the heart of Katoomba.
Making it the perfect location for our Italian cooking class experiences. Accomodation available A touch of southern Italy in the Blue Mountains NSW
Our three bedroom house (plus converted garage living space) has everything you need to feel at home when all you want to do is escape the rat race for awhile. So much more personal than a motel, shared accommodation or large hotel. Lots of room to s
pread out with outdoor eating area plus a huge backyard for kids to explore. Set on 1020 sqm, overlooking Blue Mountains National Park and down the road from Minni HaHa Falls, this self-contained mountain retreat offers a relaxing backdrop to your stay. Air conditioning and free wifi. BEDROOMS:
One Queen, one Double and two Singles which can be joined on request. Plus our converted garage with double sofa bed, rug, curtains and wall mounted TV). All beds (apart from double sofa) are set up on arrival. Carpeted. Included in the price: sheets, blankets, doona, pillows. Cot set up in one of the rooms, with mattress protector. Cot linen is not provided. No charge for use of cot. BATHROOM:
Continuous hot water. Three way bathroom with shower, tub, toilet and vanity areas. Plus a second toilet in laundry. Heat lamp and floor towels. Included in the price: bath sheet, face washer, hand towel, body wash, hand soap, first aid. KITCHEN:
Goodies supplied in the pantry inc coffee, range of teas, Milo, honey, Vegemite, cereal, oatmeal, salt, vinegar, oil. Microwave containers. Take away containers. Fully stocked with crockery, pots and pans, glassware, cutlery etc. Electric oven and cooktop. Microwave, toaster, kettle, portable electric BBQ. Italian caffettiera for a good coffee. Dishwasher. DINING AREAS:
Large dinner table seating 10. Tablecloths provided. Outdoor chairs and ottomans. Two large gorgeous cane chairs nearby to lounge about in. Cushions provided. Overlooks our lovely large backyard with fruit trees, mini vineyard and seasonal veggie patch. Views to Blue Mountains National Park. Outdoor eating area under the deck: large table with room for 8. LOUNGE:
Flat screen wall mounted TV with internal DVD player. Video player provided. Two sofas with room for 8. Throws provided to rug up into. Large range of coffee table books and magazines to browse through. Movies for young and old provided. Music CDs provided. Family friendly - lots of games, puzzles and toys provided for some great family time. LAUNDRY:
Large washing machine and sink. Laundry powder, clothes basket and pegs provided. Outdoor clothes line. Indoor airer. Second toilet. BABIES / TODDLERS:
(Due to Covid, ask us at booking for any of the following which we will provide on request, cleaned and sanitised.) We provide a large range of items you won't have to pack including traditional cot, change mat, high chair, bouncer, stroller, pram, baby bath, potty and child toilet seat. Plus lots of toys, puzzles and books suitable for young children. WHY STAY WITH US? Read our reviews on Google or .citrus.flour.katoomba
We offer late check out when available. Impeccably cleaned by the owners after every booking. Public bus runs through our street, with nearest bus stop at Minni HaHa Road taking you into the town centre. So you can leave your car at home if you don't feel like driving. The bus driver may drop you off right outside our house on your return - they're good that way. Accessible by car from the Great Western Highway from Sydney. By train, Katoomba train station and town centre is a 5 minute drive away. The Edge Cinema is just around the corner. Huge backyard for your children to explore and let out some energy. NB ground level varies. Ask about our Italian home made meals all you need do is reheat. Some require a short cooking time. See our website (Accommodation Amenities) for details. ITALIAN COOKING CLASSES
Why not organise a group of 4 to 6 foodies with a passion for learning how to cook and eat traditional Italian home made meals? Nonna Maria will demonstrate how to make the pasta dough, set up and use the pasta machine, and how to make a basic but scrumptious tomato based sauce. To name just one of our classes. All participants will take part in a hands-on way, and the best part is, the class is followed by a long lunch of Italian foods. Class includes a three course meal and espresso after lunch. A day spent in great company you'll be ready to show off your pasta-making skills at home. These days make fantastic bonding sessions or a gift with thought. Check our www.fifthavekatoombaretreat.com/classes-and-products page for details.
16/06/2025
Tip:
When making up our traditional tomato sauce, we make enough to fill our largest pot which produces three months worth - plenty to keep the average household going. Make sure you’ve got plenty of freezer proof containers ready and some freezer space! I’m using glass containers now in my effort to reduce plastic in my own household.
What do you put into your sauce to give it a rich and full flavour?
I’ve noticed many restaurants are not using salt in their dishes which is a pity because it makes all the difference and it’s not the same when added afterwards. We do need some salt in our food and in our body.
If you’d like to learn how to make our delicious sauces, contact us and book into a class.
14/06/2025
No assistant today so minimal photos! Starting from dessert and going backwards 😀. We had a great day learning some key tips for making really good pasta. Plus the rich delicious tomato sauce came out to perfection, having cooked slowly over two hours. An enjoyable day and a relaxed atmosphere. I love what I do!
12/06/2025
Our first half of this year has been busy!
Between tailored Italian cooking classes celebrating milestone birthdays from group sizes 4 to 13 (!!), classes that see our regulars coming back to learn more or fun day trips to the state forest, we have had an exciting six months.
Amongst all of this, we have continued our collaboration with Blue Mountains Gin Company, bringing you "Italian Night at the Factory Bar" monthly. This too has seen people returning so we must be doing something right.
Stay tuned for an al fresco cocktail event at the Bar as the weather warms up. You may want to save the date.
Italian Cooking Class Dates/Events for 2025
09/06/2025
Major yard maintenance this long weekend with many hands on deck.
Digging a trench to lay a border of bricks (which had to be brought down from the front yard!!);
Attempting to level the slope of the path (for the third time!);
Battling the wind to lay cardboard down and newspaper under all the gaps;
Moving gravel onto the cardboard.
I’m sooo grateful to my family for giving up their time to help me get one step closer to a lower maintenance yard. And to my neighbour for saving us back breaking work with his escalator which brought in the majority of the materials to us.
30/05/2025
Today’s Traditional Biscuit Making class was a one on one, with the lovely Jennifer booking to honour her late Nonna’s birthday this week.
Bringing back lots of childhood memories was the highlight of the day. And getting to eat freshly baked biscuits (and one of our cannoli) with an espresso was too!
Book a private class whether you’re solo or in a group, these days make wonderful experiences to remember.
🇮🇹 ♥️
29/05/2025
Our latest 5 Star review - this one is about our Italian Night at the Factory Bar in Katoomba. Come see for yourself.
Next one is Thursday 5th June.
A big thank you to Elizabeth for her wonderful review!
Green IS gold.
How many green leafy vegetables can you spot? Not a fair contest as I’ve chopped them up ready to boil. So I’ll tell you!
Rapa; Swiss chard; stinging nettle; dill; sweet potato leaf; dandelion and Greek basil. And all from mum’s garden. I wish you could smell them as I cut them up. A green freshness!!
Once cooked, add them to your soups at the end or sauté with olive oil and garlic as a side. Don’t forget to drink the water from the cooked greens - it’s a super cleanser.
🌱 ❤️
15/05/2025
House, home cooked meals and garden are ready for my Ultratrail guests. What a beautiful time of year to run in this part of the world. Saying extra prayers that the rain holds off for now. Good luck everyone!
13/05/2025
Bread making day for my upcoming Ultratrail guests. I think they’ll love the bread.
Check out how the bread loaves continue to rise as they rest. Photos are in reverse order. Fork is placed for size comparison.
🍞
06/05/2025
A day of exhilaration in the forest foraging for mushrooms. Your mind clears, your body performs and your spirit sours.
Our group started the day with a demonstration on how to clean and prepare edible wild mushrooms to preserve and pickle, accompanied by a recipe card to take home.
Once we got to the forest, we showed what is edible and safe to pick and what is poisonous and not to be touched. Then we separated into groups of three and wandered amongst the majestic pines, soaking up the peaceful quietude.
With absolutely perfect weather and conditions leading up to the day including the phase of the moon, we gathered together for lunch once everyone had picked as much as they wanted.
Lunch around the picnic table included everyone swapping stories of what they found, interspersed with “yum” and “ooh” over the homemade bread and wine 😀.
Ending the day with glorious views as we drove homeward was the cherry on top.
Thank you to our beautiful bunch of people who joined us. Can’t wait to see what you cook up!
Our last foraging day will be in June. See our calendar in the bio link for dates.
29/04/2025
One of traditional Italian Biscuit making class these school holidays was loads of fun! The children showed great creativity and enthusiasm. A perfect rainy day activity which they can replicate at home.
🇮🇹 🐣
28/04/2025
What do you have for dinner when you’ve found edible mushrooms in the forest? Mushrooms!
We served this selection of Saffron Caps, Slippery Jack and Grey Knights on our hand cut pappardelle pasta. With a simple olive oil, garlic and herbs as the sauce. 😋.
Do you want to experience the joy of finding these beauties in the forest for yourself? Book in with us for our mushroom foraging day trip. Lunch included.
See link to book:
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Now more than ever, we are feeling the need to be in tune with each other and with Nature. Set with a backdrop to the Blue Mountains National Reserve and Minni HaHa Falls down the street, Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat sits on 1000 sqm block and is a relaxing space for 8 where you will experience that 'ahhh' moment instantly. Main tourist attractions are 5-10 minute drive with a peaceful aspect when you return from your Blue Mtns outing.
Presentation and cleanliness is everything to us (well before Covid-19). Our attention to detail could possibly be borderline obsessive – if you consider polishing all the taps til they gleam or lining up the coffee cups so the handles face the same way obsessive. I just call it thorough.
Suitable for small groups and the perfect family accommodation with holiday house essentials and little luxuries – encouraging you to unwind so you focus on time together. It's not too big for couples either.
Consider adding one of our Italian cooking class experiences to your stay. Run with the help of my mother, the quintessential Nonna, our classes give an insight into our southern Italian traditions which focus on food and family.
My grandparents lived in a small mountainous village in Italy and even though I only got to experience their way of life for a few months as a child, it must have rubbed off on me, along with my father's lifelong connection to the land.
So what will you experience when you combine your stay at Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat with one of our classes?
Expect to immerse yourself in how we live – lots of fresh food (including homegrown) prepared in simple quick ways yet so full of flavour, you'll want to come back for more. Pasta alla Norma. Stuffed zucchini. Crisp arancini. Light and fluffy gnocchi. Homemade bread. Wine, espresso and tiramisu. Delectable. In an environment that makes you think of the Mediterranean – our "mini" vineyard, our fruit trees and coming soon, our olive grove.
With so many walks and sites for you to discover in the Blue Mountains, your time in this part of NSW will no doubt include lots of outdoor exploring. Coming home to really good wholesome and delicious homemade food is certainly the icing on the cake!
In fact, participants arrive as strangers and leave as family. They love the hands on aspect of the class and the sit down meal, a long standing custom throughout Italy. What better way to leave your usual routine behind than with such a memorable experience?
Since 2011, guests have remarked on our high standards consistently which shows how essential this is. Guests feel the love and care that has gone into the preparation of the house and the classes each and every time which only comes from a self managed family run business.
We're looking forward to hosting you soon. For details on facilities and amenities, check out our website at www.fifthavekatoombaretreat.com
