Barcelona Paella Cooking Class: Make & Eat a 3-Course Meal

You make the paella yourself, not watch someone else make it.

A chef-led cooking class in Barcelona where you prepare paella from scratch, customize it with seafood, chicken or vegetarian options, then eat a full 3-course meal with your fellow cooks. The class runs about 2.5 hours and includes cava to start, wine or sangria with dinner, and instruction in English or Spanish. You'll learn the technique and walk out having cooked and eaten an actual dish, not just tasted samples.

The Experience

Can you actually cook paella, or do you just watch someone else do it? Here you grab an apron and do it yourself. The chef starts with a glass of cava and a rundown of the day's ingredients and the paella variations—seafood, chicken, or vegetarian—so you know what you're building. Then you're at the stove with the tools and ingredients in front of you, working through the steps under the chef's eye. The group stays small enough that you can ask questions without shouting across a room.

Once the paella is done, you don't pack it up and leave. You sit down with the other cooks and eat what you made. The meal is three courses: Spanish pan tomaquet to start, the paella you've just finished, and Spanish Catalan cream to close it out. Wine or sangria flows through the meal. It's the part that makes the cooking real—you're not just learning a technique, you're tasting whether it worked.

The whole thing takes about 2.5 hours from the first glass of cava to the last bite. The class is wheelchair accessible, and the kitchen is set up so you can work comfortably whether you're standing or seated. A guide leads in English or Spanish, so language isn't a barrier to following along.

What’s included

• A glass of cava to open.
• all tools and ingredients for the paella.
• instruction from a professional chef.
• a 3-course meal (Spanish pan tomaquet, the paella you've cooked, Spanish Catalan cream).
• wine or sangria with dinner.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Foodies Xp

Is this one for you?The 2.5-hour window means you can fit this into a morning or afternoon without losing the rest of your day to Barcelona—cook and eat lunch, or cook and eat dinner, then have the evening or the morning free for other plans.

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Top questions

Can I choose what kind of paella to make, or is it the same for everyone?

You pick your paella at the start of the class—seafood, chicken, or vegetarian. The chef teaches the same technique for all three, so everyone learns the method and customizes it to what they want to eat.

Is the 3-course meal included in the price, or do I pay extra for dinner?

The 3-course meal is included: the pan tomaquet, the paella you've made, and the Catalan cream, plus wine or sangria. Nothing else to pay for once you've booked.

How much cooking experience do I need to sign up?

None. The class is built for everyone from first-timers to people who cook at home. The chef walks you through each step, and the group setting means you can ask questions as you go.

What time does the class start and end?

The class runs 2.5 hours total. You'll need to confirm the exact start time when you book, as sessions may vary by day.

Is this class suitable for children, or is it adults only?

Infants and small children can come along in a pram or stroller, and the space is wheelchair accessible. There's no stated age restriction, so families can attend, though the hands-on cooking is geared toward people who can stand at or work comfortably around a stove.