Madrid: Paella Cooking Class & Bottomless Spanish Wine

Summary

Paella secrets hands-on in Madrid with endless wine laughter and new friends

You’ll roll up your sleeves in a real Madrid kitchen, learn paella step by step with local chefs, sip endless Spanish wines, and share a five-course meal around one big table. Expect laughter over chopping boards, new friends made over dessert, and flavors that linger long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the pop of cava — that sharp little fizz echoing off the tiled walls as we found our aprons. Madrid felt extra alive that afternoon, like the city was rooting for us to mess up just enough to have fun. Our chef, Marta, grinned as she handed me a glass and pointed out my station. The smell of olive oil warming up hit quick, mixing with the tang of manchego and jamón on the charcuterie board (I may have eaten half my share before we even started chopping).

I didn’t expect to laugh so much over onions. Marta had this way of making everyone relax — she’d correct your knife grip or tell some story about her abuela’s paella rituals, then wink like you were in on a family secret. My partner tried to flip a squid ring and it landed on the floor; nobody cared, except maybe the dog who wandered through from somewhere in back. There was always another splash of verdejo ready. The whole thing felt less like a class and more like joining someone’s kitchen party.

When we finally sat down at the big table (the one with mismatched chairs), I could hear rain tapping outside but inside it was just voices bouncing around — people comparing their seafood paellas, passing baskets of churros, clinking glasses again and again because “bottomless” really meant bottomless. I still think about that crema catalana mousse — soft, citrusy, gone too fast. It’s funny how sharing food you actually made yourself makes strangers feel less strange. Walking out into the wet street later, I smelled saffron on my sleeve and thought: yeah, I’d do this again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Paella cooking and tasting experience

• Arrive at cooking class venue
• Receive welcome glass of Cava
• Go to custom cooking stations
• Work in pairs to prepare paella
• Learn paella recipe from chef
• Enjoy Spanish cheese and charcuterie board
• Taste seasonal gazpacho and bocata de calamares
• Eat handmade paellas with various recipes
• Dine on crema catalana mousse and churros
• Drink bottomless Spanish wine pairing

Top questions

How long does the paella cooking class in Madrid last?

The class lasts several hours including cooking time and communal dining; exact duration varies by group pace.

Is there vegetarian or seafood paella available?

Yes, you can make different types of paella including seafood, chicken, or vegetarian recipes during the class.

Are drinks included in the Madrid paella cooking class?

Yes, there is a bottomless Spanish wine pairing featuring five different wines (sparkling, whites, reds).

What dishes are included besides paella?

The experience includes appetizers like gazpacho and charcuterie board plus desserts such as crema catalana mousse and churros with chocolate.

Is this cooking class suitable for beginners?

Yes; professional chefs guide you step by step so no prior experience is needed.

Is pickup included for this Madrid cooking class?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; public transportation options are available nearby.

Can children join the paella cooking class?

Infants can attend if seated on an adult’s lap or in a stroller; service animals are allowed too.

What’s included

Your day includes hands-on instruction from professional chefs in Madrid’s city center, all ingredients for multiple types of homemade paella (including vegetarian options), four appetizers to snack on while you cook, two chef-prepared desserts at dinner time, and unlimited pours from five Spanish wines—sparkling to red—all shared around a communal dining table before heading out into the night.