Barcelona: Paella Cooking Class & 10 Tapas with Market Visit

Summary

Paella cooking in Barcelona with tapas, wine and local stories

You’ll walk Barcelona’s lively La Boquería market with your chef before heading into an elegant 18th-century apartment kitchen to cook seafood paella and classic tapas together. Taste ten Spanish bites paired with wine as you learn stories behind each dish. Expect laughter, real cooking, and flavors that linger long after lunch ends.

What’s the experience like?

We’d barely stepped into the old apartment near Plaça Reial when the chef, Marta, handed me a little espresso and grinned like she knew I was nervous. The place still smells faintly of old wood and something sweet — maybe oranges? Our group shuffled out toward La Boquería market, Marta weaving ahead, greeting stall owners by name. I tried to keep up, distracted by the colors and that weirdly comforting fishy smell from the seafood stands. She made us taste a slice of jamón right there. I’m not sure if it was the salt or just being in Barcelona, but it hit different.

Back in the kitchen (which looked like something out of an old movie), we all washed our hands while Marta lined up ingredients for the paella. She cracked jokes about Catalan grandmothers and let us chop onions — slowly, in my case. There were ten Spanish tapas lined up for tasting: manchego cheese, bravas with spicy sauce, anchovies so salty they made my mouth water. Every so often someone would ask about a recipe or mispronounce something (I did both). Wine kept appearing in our glasses; I lost track after the third pour. She explained why you never stir paella once it’s set — “patience is flavor,” she said.

The best part? Everyone actually cooked — not just watching but stirring, flipping tortillas, torching crema catalana until it bubbled brown on top. My hands smelled like garlic for hours afterward (not complaining). Lunch felt like a long table at someone’s home — laughter bouncing off those high ceilings, plates passed around without ceremony. I still think about that first spoonful of paella: smoky rice, saffron clinging to my tongue.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Paella cooking and tapas tasting

• Visit La Boquería market with chef
• Learn history of Catalan gastronomy
• Cook seafood paella in small groups
• Prepare Spanish omelette together
• Make Catalan cream dessert
• Taste 10 tapas with wine pairing
• Enjoy explanations of Spanish tapas

Top questions

Is this paella cooking class in central Barcelona?

Yes, it takes place in an 18th-century apartment in Barcelona’s historic center near Plaça Reial.

Do I get to visit La Boquería market during the class?

Yes, you’ll visit La Boquería market accompanied by your chef or their assistant at the start of the experience.

Are drinks included during the tapas tasting and meal?

Yes, drinks are included during both the tapas tasting and lunch or dinner.

Can vegetarians or vegans join this cooking class?

The menu can be adapted for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or other dietary needs if you advise at booking.

How many people are in each group?

The groups are small—up to 11 participants per class.

Will I actually cook myself or just watch?

You’ll cook all dishes on the menu yourself under guidance from a professional chef.

What dishes do we make during the class?

You’ll prepare seafood paella, Spanish omelette (tortilla), Crema Catalana dessert plus taste ten Spanish tapas.

Is hotel pickup included?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet at the venue in central Barcelona.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walk through La Boquería market with your chef or their assistant; a hands-on cooking class preparing seafood paella, Spanish omelette and Crema Catalana; tasting of ten Spanish tapas paired with wine; all drinks throughout the experience; and plenty of stories about local gastronomy before you head back out into Barcelona’s busy streets.