Cooking Classes in Madrid

Even in a country like Spain, famous for its cuisine, Madrid stands out for its local delicacies and dishes’ richness, diversity, and sheer tastiness. Rich, rustic stews, tasty fried snacks, and various kinds of seafood are incredibly commonplace, and traditional desserts are all the rage, too. 

After having had the good fortune to have lived in Spain for several years, I can confidently say the food in Madrid is some of my favorites across the entire country. It’s hearty, packed with flavor, and varied; tapas is also an absolute staple in the Spanish capital. If you’ve been asking yourself, ‘is Madrid worth visiting?’ I’d say so, even if just for the food alone! 

I’ve tried to master cooking some highlights of the city’s cuisine, like patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo, and had a fantastic time doing so. Adding a cooking class can be a delightful way to enrich your 2 days in Madrid itinerary, offering an authentic taste of Madrid’s culinary culture and the opportunity to recreate the flavors of your journey long after it has ended. If this piques your interest, read on as I delve into some of the best cooking classes in Madrid in this article.

Top 3 Picks: Best cooking classes in Madrid

1. Complete Spanish Cooking Class in 4 Hours

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 4 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

If you’re passionate about Spanish food but will only be staying in Madrid briefly, then this class will likely be your best bet for learning about the local cuisine and getting the chance to prepare some classic Spanish dishes. 

What an amazing experience! We walked to a local market and bought all ingredients for gazpacho and paella. We even made our own sangria!! The chef/owner was patient and personable. The food was delicious. It was an intimate and comfortable setting. Loved it!!

-Bradley_P (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

The perfect addition to your one-day in Madrid itinerary, this class, taught by a professional chef, will see you mastering some of the absolute highlights of Spanish cuisine. You’ll be taught how to make iconic delicacies like gazpacho, paella, and tapas, and will also be able to enjoy a delicious sit-down meal with authentic sangria as a reward for all your hard work. 

2. Paella Class with Endless Wine

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 3 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

‘Endless wine’ sounds a bit dangerous, doesn’t it? Well, I guess one person’s danger is another person’s fun… and this awesome, if a little boozy, class lets you learn how to make delicious paella while you drink all the wine you like! 

It’s not just any wine, either – wine pairings accompany your lesson, so you can rest assured that everything you’ll be sampling goes perfectly with the dish you end up whipping up. And, as if that weren’t enough, you’ll also be treated to a multiple-course sit-down meal, starting with Spanish cheeses, olives, nuts, and charcuterie. 

This was an amazing experience. I would highly recommend it. The chefs were very knowledgeable, pleasant and made the experience very enjoyable. We also made really nice people and had a great time interacting with everyone.

-Melissa_T (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

Then, you’ll be served refreshing gazpacho, tasty fried squid sandwiches, chocolate mousse, and churros. You’ll also make (and eat) pan con tomate and, of course, your own paella.

3. Tapas & Wine: 3 Hours of Joy

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 3 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

Let’s be honest: is there any better combination than tapas and wine? Not as far as I’m concerned, in any case!

Clocking in at around 3 hours, this cooking class is perfect for you if you’d like to prepare some classic tapas dishes without having to dedicate the whole day to doing so. Wine pairings are also provided, so you can rest assured that you’ll have as much fun as possible while whipping up some incredible, classic tapas dishes.

Such a great experience and very interactive! The chefs were upbeat and helpful without being over bearing. The laughter amongst new friends kept flowing as much as the wine and cava. Highly recommend!

-Michael_B (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

And, if you’re still hungry after sampling your creations, you’ll be served a main and dessert to round out the lesson. As far as learning goes, I don’t think that sounds too bad at all!

4. Learn Paella, Tortilla & Sangria Making

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 2 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

Paella, tortilla, sangria, oh my! These three delicacies are all iconic staples of Spanish cuisine, and this class allows you to learn to make all three from scratch. 

Conveniently located near Madrid’s Gran Vía and Malasaña (which, by the way, are both great options to consider if you’re wondering where to stay in Madrid), with this cooking class, you’ll be able to whip up authentic sangria, paella, and tortilla before sampling your creations together with your classmates over lunch. 

Paloma was an amazing host she taught us all the ins and outs of paella and tortilla making! The class was fun and interactive, and the food was INCREDIBLE. Cannot wait to make these recipes for my family at home! Thanks Paloma!

-Molly_D (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

While you might not learn to make some of Madrid’s more traditional, authentic dishes, you can’t go wrong with these Spanish classics. And, besides, we all have to start somewhere!

5. Half-Day Culinary Adventure in Madrid

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 4 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

If your stay in Spain’s charming capital city will be longer, you might be tempted to look into your options for day trips from Madrid. No matter what, I’d encourage you to at least save a half-day for this incredible cooking class run by local chefs, which allows you to get stuck in making either paella or tapas in a friendly, supportive environment.

We had a great time in our cooking class with Laura. She was a lot of fun and really informative. We spent the first part of the morning buying seafood, chicken, fruits and vegetables to use in our course. Making the Paella, Crema Catalon and Sangria was a lot of fun; eating and drinking it was even better!

-Fritz (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

This fantastic class is kid-friendly and can cater to all kinds of dietary requirements, so pretty much everyone can attend! What’s more, if you opt for making paella, you’ll also have the option of tagging along to a visit to the local marketplace before you get started in the kitchen. There’s really no better way to get a taste of authentic Spanish food culture than this. 

6. Private Tapas Cooking Class

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 3.5 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

If you’re incredibly passionate about Spanish cuisine and want to learn as much as you can about it, you might want to consider booking this private tapas cooking class right in the heart of Madrid. 

Under the guidance of a professional chef, you’ll be able to make some tasty tapas dishes and sample them when you’re done. With an emphasis on sustainability, this class focuses on utilizing seasonal produce – as a result, the menu changes frequently, resulting in a wildly different experience for students from week to week.

This was one of the best experiences in Madrid! The chef was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. The dishes prepared were absolutely delicious! We highly recommend this experience for anyone traveling to Madrid!

-The_L (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

So, if you’re trying to figure out the best time to visit Madrid for you, maybe consider when your favorite ingredients are in season!

7. Market Tour & Cooking Class Combo

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 3.5 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

Madrid’s bustling markets are arguably one of the best things about the city. Authentic and rustic, they’re a great way to familiarize yourself with the local cuisine and Spanish culinary culture more broadly. 

If this appeals to you, and you’d like to make the most of a market visit in Madrid, why not combine it with a cooking class? This class sees you stopping by a local food market with a guide before heading straight for the kitchen to whip up some classic dishes, including paella, tapas, and a special dessert. 

Andrea was an excellent cook! She brought us to the market and then to the restaurant to prepare tapas and an aperitif. She was knowledgeable, humorous, enjoyable and cultured. We loved this Spanish cooking experience!

-AnnMarie_J (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

Then, you’ll have the opportunity to hear more about the history of paella and different Spanish cooking techniques that you can use back home. I think this is a fantastic way to get to know the food of Madrid better in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

8. Small Group Class for Tapas Lovers

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 2.5 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

You can’t go wrong with this class if you’re an absolute tapas fiend. Limited group sizes and guidance from a professional chef mean you can make the absolute most of your learning as you get down and dirty preparing up to 10 different tapas dishes in a few hours. 

This was so much fun and the instructor was wonderful. It made me excited to try making the tapas we learned how to make because they are so simple yet so incredibly delicious. Excellent experience and my young adult children liked it too!

-Janice_B (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

You’ll also have the opportunity to sample several delicious Spanish wines. All in all, if you love tapas, then I can’t recommend this class highly enough.

9. Quick Spanish Cooking Workshop

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 2.5 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

This cooking class is an excellent option for anybody looking to learn more about Spanish cuisine without wanting to spend the whole day doing so. You can craft churros, gazpacho, and paella before sampling the delicious dishes you’ve created!

What’s more, you’ll meet your guide in the San Miguel Market, which you’ll find smack-bang in the center of Madrid. This is especially handy for travelers trying to see as much of the city as they can during their trip – time is of the essence, after all! 

This was so much fun and the instructor was wonderful. It made me excited to try making the tapas we learned how to make because they are so simple yet so incredibly delicious. Excellent experience and my young adult children liked it too!

-Janice_B (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

I’ll be honest: if you’re looking for something a little more in-depth, this particular lesson might not be quite right for you. Planning on having a packed-out schedule when you visit Madrid, though? If that’s the case, then this class should be perfect.

10. Small Group Paella and Tapas Class

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Cooking Duration: 3.5 hours | 📅 Check Rates and Availability

It doesn’t get much more intimate than this! Passionate fans of Spanish cuisine will love this class; you’ll have the opportunity to visit the home of a professional chef, who will walk you through preparing paella and some very typical tapas dishes. 

The recipes you’ll be using have all been passed down by the chef’s family, so you can be sure they’re about as authentic as it gets. I guess they aren’t family secrets – feel free to steal them and use them to impress your friends back home!

This was the highlight of our trip to Madrid! Lola was an incredible teacher, the space was gorgeous and the food we prepared was traditionally Spanish and delicious. I would recommend this to all of my friends and family who come to Madrid and hope to return to cook with Lola soon.

-Amy_O (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

Drinks are provided as part of the class, too, and once you’re done cooking, you can sit down and enjoy the incredible food you’ve created. Bon appetit!

Final Thoughts: Cooking classes in Madrid

Food is so much more than just fuel; no matter which culture you’ve grown up in or belong to, cooking and sharing meals together is a universally fundamental experience that brings people together. It doesn’t matter what our differences are – we all love to eat, after all! 

I’ve loved learning about Spanish cuisine, and the various delicacies I’ve tried in Madrid have a special place in my heart. Being familiar with the grocery stores in Spain has allowed me to prepare some delicious Spanish dishes at home. It has been such a rewarding process and made me feel even more connected to the culture of Spain. 

So, I hope that, if you do visit Madrid, you decide to give one of these cooking classes a go. I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll be surprised by how much you get out of it.