Basque Cuisine Cooking Class in San Sebastian's Old Town

Cook four Basque classics and taste them with local wine

A hands-on cooking class in San Sebastian's Old Town where you prepare tortilla de patata, bacalao al pil pil, stuffed piquillo peppers, and Basque cheesecake under an expert chef's guidance, then sit down to eat what you made paired with txakoli, Rioja wine, and cider. The class runs 2 hours 45 minutes in a small group of up to eight, with recipes and professional techniques to take home.

The experience

You work in one of the private kitchens tucked into San Sebastian's Old Town, a city that sits in the highest concentration of Michelin stars in the world. The chef walks you through each dish step by step: how to get the tortilla creamy and set, how to emulsify the cod in garlic and oil until it reaches the right texture, how to stuff and finish the piquillo peppers, how to bake the cheesecake so it holds its shape. You handle the knife work, the timing, the sauces. The small group size means the chef can watch your cuts and talk you through the tricks that separate a home cook from someone who knows the technique.

After the cooking, you sit down at the table with what you've made. Three glasses arrive: one txakoli (the local white wine, slightly fizzy), one Rioja, one cider. The chef talks through the dishes as you eat, pointing out the seasonality of the ingredients and why San Sebastian's obsession with flavor and technique runs so deep. You leave with the recipes written down and the professional advice on local produce that lets you replicate what you learned at home.

What’s included

• Expert chef instruction.
• all cooking class ingredients.
• one glass of txakoli, one glass of Rioja wine, and one glass of cider.
• the four prepared dishes to taste.
• recipes and professional cooking tips to take home.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 17:45Last departure this season: 30 Jan 2027

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Local Experts Tours

Is this one for you?The class runs 2 hours 45 minutes of hands-on cooking, so you need to be comfortable standing at a counter, handling knives, and following multiple steps in sequence. Children from age 12 can join. Younger kids and people with reduced mobility are not well suited to the setup. Gluten-free options are available, and non-alcoholic drinks can replace the wine if you prefer, but the class is not designed for vegans or vegetarians given the menu.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What dishes do I actually cook in the class?

You prepare tortilla de patata (Spanish omelette), bacalao al pil pil (cod in garlic and olive oil emulsion), stuffed piquillo peppers, and Basque cheesecake. Each one teaches a different technique (emulsification, timing, knife work, and baking) that the chef breaks down as you go.

Is the class in English?

The chef leads in English or Spanish, with translation provided if needed, so language is not a barrier to following along.

What happens after we finish cooking?

You sit down together and taste all four dishes you prepared, paired with one glass each of txakoli, Rioja wine, and cider. The chef talks through the food and the local ingredients as you eat.

How many people are in the group?

The class stays small, with a maximum of eight participants, so the chef can give individual attention to your technique and timing.