Paella Cooking Class in Malaga: Learn Spanish Dishes

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

A 3.5-hour hands-on cooking class in Malaga where you learn to prepare paella, gazpacho, sangría and churros from a chef guide, then eat what you've made with wine and seasonal fruit. The daytime option includes a visit to Atarazanas Market to see the ingredients Spanish cooks use; the evening and Sunday classes skip the market and run 3 hours. Children from age 4 are welcome, and recipes go home with you.

The Experience

Malaga's Atarazanas Market opens the daytime class—a working market where you'll see what's in season and learn which ingredients matter for authentic paella. The chef walks you through the stalls, then you head five minutes on foot to the kitchen. Before you start cooking, there's an olive oil tasting of local award-winning oils, paired with roasted almonds and Aloreña olives, so you understand the flavors you're building with.

The cooking itself is hands-on: you make the paella, gazpacho, and sangría, and you fry the churros. A regional wine is paired with lunch, and you eat together with the other people in the class. The menu shifts with what's available—the operator notes that tastings and dishes may change to reflect seasonal products. Recipes come home, so you can cook these dishes again.

The evening and Sunday classes run 3 hours and don't include the market visit, since Atarazanas closes in the evenings and on Sundays. Both versions end the same way: you sit down to eat what you've cooked. Public transportation is nearby if you need it to get to the kitchen.

What’s included

• All recipes for paella, gazpacho, sangría and churros.
• olive oil tasting with local award-winning oils.
• roasted almonds and Aloreña olives.
• the paella and gazpacho you cook.
• sangría.
• churros.
• selection of seasonal fruits.
• regional wine paired with lunch.

Good to know

Public transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Spain Food Sherpas

Is this one for you?Book the daytime class (Monday–Saturday) to visit Atarazanas Market and learn where Spanish cooks source ingredients for paella; pick the evening or Sunday class if those times suit you better and you prefer to skip the market visit.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the daytime class and the evening class in Malaga?

The daytime class (Monday to Saturday) includes a visit to Atarazanas Market to see seasonal ingredients, then runs 3.5 hours total with cooking and lunch. The evening and Sunday class skips the market, runs 3 hours, and goes straight to the kitchen and cooking.

What do I actually cook in the paella class?

You make paella, gazpacho, and sangría from scratch, and fry churros. The paella is the main dish; the other items round out a full Spanish meal you'll eat together at the end of class.

Is the olive oil tasting part of every class in Malaga?

Yes—before you start cooking, you taste local award-winning olive oils paired with roasted almonds and Aloreña olives. This happens in both the daytime and evening versions.

Can I bring my children to the cooking class?

Children are welcome from age 4. They can participate in the cooking and eat the meal with the group.

Do I need to tell the chef about food allergies before the class?

Yes—dietary requirements must be provided at the time of booking or at least 24 hours before the class. The operator notes they cannot safely accommodate severe or life-threatening food allergies, and cannot guarantee a 100% cross-contamination-free kitchen.

Do I get the recipes to take home?

Yes—all the recipes for the dishes you make come home with you so you can cook them again.