Madrid: Tapas & Paella Cooking Class with Wine

You'll Cook Four Spanish Dishes in One Afternoon, Then Eat Them All

You'll cook ham croquettes, Russian salad, black rice paella, and ajoarriero cod under the guidance of a professional chef in a small, hands-on class near Pacífico metro. Unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks are included, and you taste everything you make. The class takes place in a modern open kitchen where everyone participates at the same time, and the chef shares stories about Spanish food culture and Madrid itself. No prior cooking experience is necessary, and vegetarian and dietary accommodations are available if you notify the organizer before booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tapas and paella cooking class

• Arrive at private eatery in Madrid
• Participate in hands-on cooking class
• Prepare ham croquettes and Russian salad
• Cook black rice and ajoarriero cod
• Taste your dishes with unlimited drinks
• Learn about Spanish culture and cuisine

The experience

The moment your chef Lola hands you a knife and points at a pile of ham, you realize you're about to make croquettes from scratch, and they might actually be terrible. That's the best part. The kitchen is open and modern enough that everyone cooks at the same time (no standing around watching someone else work), and there's enough counter space that you're not elbowing a stranger while you're trying not to drop the black rice. The class moves through Russian salad, ham croquettes, paella, and ajoarriero cod, each one a small puzzle that Lola walks you through without making you feel like you should have known this already.

What catches people off guard is how much talking happens. Lola isn't just correcting your knife grip. She's telling you why paella tastes different depending on which region of Spain made it, which restaurants near your hotel are actually worth the walk, what the market looks like on a Tuesday morning. The wine flows the whole time (red, white, beer, sodas, all unlimited), so by the time you're tasting your own paella, you're already halfway through a conversation with the person next to you about whether you've ever made anything this complicated at home. (Spoiler: most people haven't.) Small groups mean it stays personal. You're not one of twenty people trying to get the chef's attention.

The space sits two minutes from Pacífico metro on line 1, in the Retiro neighborhood, which means you don't need a car or a long taxi ride to get there. Vegetarians work fine here, and if you have other dietary needs, you call or text before you book and they adjust the menu. You show up with enthusiasm and an appetite, no cooking knowledge required, and you leave with four dishes you made yourself, a sense of how Spanish food actually works, and the muscle memory to try it again at home.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes the tapas and paella cooking class itself, hands-on instruction from the chef, all four dishes you prepare, and unlimited white wine, red wine, beer, soft drinks, and water throughout the session.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SaturdayDepartures at 11:00 and 19:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10

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 yesterday

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by Lóleo Eventos

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to learn how Spanish food is actually made without needing a recipe book or a cooking background: the small group and open kitchen mean you're doing the work yourself, not watching someone else do it, and the fixed location near the metro takes the logistics off your hands.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. The class is designed for all levels. Just bring enthusiasm and an appetite.

What exactly do we cook?

Ham croquettes, Russian salad, black rice paella, and ajoarriero-style cod.

Are drinks really unlimited?

Yes. Red wine, white wine, beer, soft drinks, and water are all included throughout the class.

How many people are in the class?

Small groups to keep the experience personalized. Everyone cooks at the same time in the open kitchen.

Can vegetarians join?

Yes. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if you notify the organizer before booking.

Where exactly is the class located?

Two minutes from Pacífico metro station (line 1) in the Retiro neighborhood of Madrid.

Do I need to arrange my own transport?

Public transportation is available nearby. The metro station is a short walk away.

What if I have allergies or dietary restrictions?

Call or text the organizer before the class to discuss your needs. They can adjust the menu.