Madrid: Tapas Cooking Class with Sangria & 10 Dishes

Summary

Cook Spanish tapas in Madrid then share sangría and laughs

You’ll step into a real Madrid kitchen and learn to make 10 Spanish tapas—from garlicky shrimp to homemade sangría—with a local chef guiding you (and laughing along the way). After cooking together in small groups, you’ll sit down for dinner with your classmates and taste everything you made. Expect new flavors, stories from your guide, and maybe a little flour on your shirt.

What’s the experience like?

We squeezed into the little kitchen in Madrid, aprons already a bit crooked, and our guide—Elena—grinned at us like she knew we’d mess up the first tortilla. She started us off with salmorejo, that cold tomato soup I’d only seen on menus before. The tomatoes smelled so sharp and sweet when we blended them—my hands still felt chilly from rinsing them. Elena kept tossing out tips (“more olive oil!”) while someone behind me tried to pronounce “sobrasada” and just gave up halfway through. It was loud but in that good way, everyone bumping elbows and laughing.

I didn’t expect to actually enjoy making lollipops out of Idiazabal cheese (turns out it’s not as fiddly as it sounds). The sangría came out early—Elena poured it into mismatched glasses, fruit bobbing around—and suddenly everything tasted brighter. We made patatas bravas next; my sauce was too spicy but nobody cared. There was a moment when Elena showed us how to flip the Spanish omelette without wrecking it (I almost dropped mine, she caught it midair with this look like “don’t worry, happens every class”).

Sitting down together at the end felt like some weird little family dinner. The squid sandwich was messy but so good, aioli everywhere. Someone asked about Madrid’s food traditions and Elena told us about her grandmother’s kitchen—her voice went soft for a second before she laughed again. I still think about that table: plates everywhere, hands reaching for more bread or olives, everyone tired but happy. We left smelling like garlic and wine, which honestly wasn’t a bad thing.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tapas cooking class and tasting

• Join small group cooking class
• Learn to prepare 10 tapas dishes
• Cook in groups of 3-4 people
• Prepare starters like Salmorejo and Gilda skewers
• Make main dishes including Spanish omelette and Patatas bravas
• Cook dessert Horchata torrijas
• Enjoy homemade sangría with your meal
• Taste all prepared tapas together

Top questions

How many tapas do you cook during the Madrid class?

You’ll prepare 10 different Spanish tapas during the class.

Is sangría included in the cooking class?

Yes, homemade sangría is included for all participants.

Are vegetarian options available?

Almost half of the menu is vegetarian but not all dishes can be adapted.

What is the minimum age for this tapas class?

The minimum age is 14 years old; drinking age is 18.

Do I get to eat what I cook?

Yes, after cooking you’ll share a meal of all the tapas prepared during class.

Is wine included besides sangría?

No, wine is available but not included in the price.

Are dietary restrictions accommodated?

Please advise at booking; however, not all dishes can be adapted to dietary needs.

Can children join this cooking class?

No children under 14 are admitted to the class.

What’s included

Your evening includes all ingredients for ten different Spanish tapas recipes, hands-on guidance from a local chef in central Madrid, plenty of homemade sangría throughout the night, a home-cooked dinner featuring everything you’ve made together, plus a souvenir apron to take home as proof you survived flipping that omelette.