Learn to Make Paella Like a Pro: Cooking Workshops in Barcelona

Not sure what to do with the exotic vegetables on show at the market? Want to know the secret of a good escalivada? Tie your apron on and take a journey through the world of Mediterranean gastronomy with a hands-on cooking workshop. Professional chefs will teach you how to prepare authentic Spanish and Catalan dishes fit to impress your local friends, and many schools also run trips to the market to show you how to choose the best ingredients. So, put the pasta away and turn your kitchen table into the cornerstone of your home. All the classes listed below are offered in English.

• The Paella Club

  Originally from the Basque country, Alex Betolazahas has worked in trendy restaurants from London to Los Angeles and Miami. While living and working abroad, he was often asked to share his secrets for a good paella—so often in fact, that it gave him the idea to develop a cooking space in LA where he could share the culture and heritage of Spanish cuisine while guiding curious home chefs through a new cooking experience. Now back in his beloved Spain, Alex leads The Paella Club, where he combines his great love of paella with fresh, locally-sourced produce to create fun, interactive gastronomic experiences. If you’re short on time, you can join the two-hour “Amuse Bouche Experience'' for €55  which is held at 13:00 daily. Or, if you’re looking to master the art of paella, the three-hour “Full Menu Experience” for €85 will give you the tools to create the perfect paella right at home.

• Cook&Taste

  These half-day workshops are highly participative. In a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, Cook&Taste’s chefs will teach you how to cook Spanish dishes like paella, gazpacho and tapas. Then, you get to sit back and feast on some traditional fare while they unveil the secrets of Spanish cuisine. The workshop costs €70 per person. Sign up for the Boqueria tour (€12 per person) and the chefs will give you plenty of tips on picking local, seasonal products before the workshop.

• BCN Kitchen

  This fun and friendly workshop is held in a professional kitchen in the Born neighborhood. The chef will take you to the local food market and on the way will fill you in on the neighborhood, gastronomy, history and culture. The lunch workshop consists of old favorites like gazpacho, paella and crema Catalana, which you can then enjoy with a glass or two of Spanish Rioja wine. The price is €70 per person. Several other classes are available in Spanish offering different menus, including gourmet hamburgers, Thai food and sushi.

• Barcelona Cooking

  Barcelona Cooking offers morning and afternoon cooking classes in its kitchens right on La Rambla. The morning class includes a trip to the Boqueria market with the chef where you will help choose the local produce to use in the class. During the class you will get involved in cooking some of the traditional Spanish and Catalan dishes such as paella de marisco and crema Catalana as well as making dishes that experiment with local and seasonal produce. And of course at the end of the class you will be able to enjoy your culinary creations, accompanied by Barcelona Cooking’s own wines. Catering for all levels of cooking ability, Barcelona Cooking’s chefs pride themselves on being knowledgeable, friendly and inclusive. Barcelona Cooking also offers tapas classes, market tours, tapas tours and organizes private events.

  The class is €75 per person, and after the workshop you get to tuck into your culinary creations, accompanied by some good Spanish wine. The more in-depth four-hour evening class includes a visit to the Boqueria and is €88 per person.

• Just Royal

  The Just Royal VIP Cooking Workshop begins with a stroll through the Boqueria to buy fresh ingredients, followed by the workshop where experienced chefs will teach you all you need to know about traditional Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. The classes end with a tasting menu of up to 14 dishes such as Andalusian fish, traditional croquetas and manchego cheese. This is accompanied by fine wines and all served by waiters in the school’s gorgeous private lounge for €99 per person.