The best paella class in Barcelona is one where you actually cook, not just watch, and then sit down to eat a proper meal of what you made. A market visit, a clear meeting point, a class in English and a fair cancellation policy are the other things worth checking. Most good classes take about three hours and include drinks. Here is how to compare them, and how ours works.
First, a little paella background
Paella comes from Valencia, a few hours south of Barcelona, where it was traditionally cooked over a wood fire with rabbit, chicken and green beans. In Barcelona you will mostly see seafood paella and other rice dishes, like arròs negre (black rice cooked with squid ink) and fideuà, a similar dish made with short noodles instead of rice. In Spain, rice dishes are usually a lunchtime meal, which is why many classes run in the late morning or early afternoon.
A good class teaches you the things that make the difference at home: building the flavor base (the sofrito), getting the ratio of stock to rice right, and leaving the rice alone so it forms a crisp layer on the bottom of the pan, called the socarrat.
Six things to check before you book
- Do you cook, or watch? Some classes are really a demonstration. Look for one where every guest chops, stirs and seasons.
- Do you eat a real meal? A sit-down meal at the end is better than a tasting. Check whether tapas and drinks are included.
- Is there a market visit? A walk through La Boqueria or another market is a highlight, but note that La Boqueria is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
- What time does it run? Morning and lunchtime classes replace lunch. Evening classes can replace dinner.
- Is the meeting point clear? A named address with someone waiting saves a lot of wandering around the old town.
- What is the cancellation policy? It should be stated clearly before you pay.
How our paella class works
Our paella and tapas cooking class is built around those six points. It takes about 3 hours, in English, and costs from €79 per person.
- Meet at Travellers Nest Bar, Carrer de la Boqueria 27, just off La Rambla and a 3 to 4 minute walk from Liceu metro (line L3). Please arrive about 15 minutes early. Your chef meets you inside the bar.
- Visit La Boqueria for a short wander to talk about ingredients. On Sundays and public holidays the market is closed, so the ingredient talk happens in the kitchen instead.
- Cook together in a real kitchen a short walk away: one large group paella in a traditional pan, plus two tapas that change with the season. Everyone helps with each step.
- Sit down and eat everything you cooked, with a glass of sangría or a soft drink, and take the recipes home.
Classes start at 10:30, 13:00, 16:00 and 18:45, and the live calendar on the tour page shows which times are open on your date. There is free cancellation up to 48 hours before the class. Please arrive on time, because if you are late you will miss the class and we cannot give a refund.
Who it suits
No cooking experience is needed, and confident home cooks enjoy it too. Families are welcome. Alcohol is only served to guests aged 18 and over, so please bring photo ID, and soft drinks are available instead of sangría. A vegetarian paella can usually be arranged, and if anyone in your group has allergies, please tell us when you book so we can say what is possible.
If you just want to eat great paella
Not everyone wants to cook on vacation. If you just want a great plate of paella in Barcelona, a few rules of thumb help:
- Eat it at lunchtime, when restaurants that specialize in rice are at their best.
- Expect to wait. Paella cooked to order takes 20 to 30 minutes. If it arrives in five, it was probably reheated.
- Be wary of photo menus with bright yellow paella on busy tourist streets.
- Expect a two-person minimum at many restaurants, because paella is cooked in a whole pan.
- Head toward the sea. Barceloneta has a long tradition of seafood rice restaurants.
Paella class or tapas tour?
If you love food and only have time for one, think about what you want to take home. A cooking class gives you a skill and a recipe you can repeat, and it is a relaxed, social way to spend a morning or afternoon. A tapas walking tour shows you more of the city and more dishes, but you do not cook. Plenty of guests do both: the class one day, tapas the next.