Barcelona: Paella Cooking Class & Boqueria Market with Chefs

Summary

Boqueria market stroll, Catalan tapas, hands-on paella in a sunlit studio

You’ll wander Barcelona’s Boqueria Market with local chefs, handpick fresh ingredients, then cook classic paella together in a sunlit studio near the Gothic Quarter. Taste Catalan tapas, sip cava and sangria, and finish with a seasonal dessert—all included. Expect laughter, real tips from Hofmann-trained guides, and recipes to bring home.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the clatter—fishmongers calling out in rapid-fire Catalan, knives tapping scales off silver fish. We squeezed into the Boqueria’s maze, our guide Helina waving us over to a stall where the air smelled like lemon and brine. She showed us how to pick prawns (the trick is in the eyes, apparently). I tried bargaining for mussels but mostly just grinned at the vendor’s jokes. It’s only a seven-minute walk from there to their cooking studio, but we kept stopping—Helina pointed out old graffiti on stone walls and told stories about her grandmother making pa amb tomàquet “the right way.” I liked that she didn’t rush us.

Inside, sunlight hit these arched wooden ceilings and everything felt both old and new at once. We got cava right away (honestly, needed after my market nerves) and then started on tapas—rubbing garlic and tomato into bread until my fingers were sticky. María showed me how to slice jamón so thin it almost melted. There was laughter when someone spilled sangria while muddling fruit; no one minded. The main event was learning the socarrat trick for paella—the crispy bottom layer you only get if you’re patient. Mine wasn’t perfect but tasted smoky and rich anyway.

I picked seafood paella, but someone else went for the dramatic black ink version—looked wild, like something from another world. There was free-flowing wine and this sense that everyone wanted to linger longer than planned. Dessert was a surprise—a creamy thing with orange zest from the market that I still think about when I smell citrus now. They sent us home with recipes (and an apron covered in saffron stains). Not everything turned out pretty but it felt real—like being let into someone’s family kitchen for an afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Barcelona Paella Cooking Experience

• Visit Boqueria Market
• Handpick fresh seafood and produce
• Learn fish bargaining from vendors
• Walk through Gothic Quarter to studio
• Make pan con tomate with jamón
• Muddle fruits for sangria
• Cook paella using Hofmann techniques
• Feast on paella with free-flowing wine
• Enjoy seasonal Catalan dessert
• Receive recipes and certificate

Top questions

How long is the walk from Boqueria Market to the cooking studio?

It’s about 700 meters or a 7-minute walk through the Gothic Quarter.

Are there vegetarian or meat options for the paella?

Yes, vegetarian or meat paellas are available if you notify them in advance.

Is wine included during the cooking class?

Yes, free-flowing wine, cava, sangria, soft drinks, and water are included.

Can I request squid ink paella during this class?

Yes, you can choose to make black ink (squid ink) paella upon request.

Is this Barcelona paella cooking class wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas including transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

Do we get recipes after the class?

Yes, you’ll receive digital recipes plus a certificate at the end of your class.

Who teaches this Barcelona cooking class?

The class is led by mother-daughter chefs trained at Hofmann Hospitality School.

What kind of dessert is served at the end?

You’ll enjoy a surprise seasonal Catalan dessert made from fresh market ingredients.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided tour of Boqueria Market with ingredient shopping, all tools and aprons provided in their historic studio near Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, hands-on tapas and sangria workshops with Hofmann-trained chefs Helina & María, your choice of seafood or black ink paella (vegetarian/meat on request), unlimited cava and wine throughout lunch or dinner service, plus a seasonal Catalan dessert before heading home with recipes and your own certificate.