Private Paella Cooking Class and Market Visit with Personal Chef

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Barcelona, Spain

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

3 hours (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· Marina_P ·

Apr 2026

Our host Mateo was amazing. He made a whole experience extremely fun and memorable. We would do it again! Highly recommended!

· Margaret_B ·

Apr 2026

The whole experience was wonderful!! A lot of interaction and hands on preparation. The food was great!

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Overview

Learn how to make one of Spain’s best-loved dishes in this private paella cooking class. Join your personal chef at the famous La Boqueria market to source your ingredients and ease yourself into your culinary experience by mixing up a sangria to sip throughout your class. Roll up your sleeves for the hands-on paella making and savor your freshly prepared dish with dessert.

Delve into the proud culinary traditions of Spain with a professional chef
Nibble on traditional tapas and enjoy unlimited Sangria as you work
Navigate Barcelona’s must-see La Boqueria market with a native speaker
Receive the recipes to help you recreate your dishes at home

Sample Menu

Starter

Spanish Tapas

Homemade Croquetas, cured meats, premium olives marinated to perfection, artisanal cheeses freshly baked bread. (**items may vary based on season)

Main

Seafood Paella

Prawns, squid, mussels, clams in a Chef Gabriel's famous Seafood Paella. (**Chicken or Vegetarian options are also available)

Dessert

Tarta de Santiago

Tarta de Santiago, a traditional Spanish almond cake that captures the essence of Galicia with a moist center.

What's Included

World famous La Boqueria Market visit with chef to collect your fresh ingredients
Intimate hands-on Paella Masterclass with your personal Chef
Spanish style dessert with instruction
Digital group photo to remember the experience
Apron, all ingredients and cooking utensils for use
Bottomless beverage service (Spanish Sangria, wine, bottled water, juice, coffee and/or tea)
Complete set of recipes to recreate the experience at home

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Gastronomic Arts Barcelona / GAB LAB
Carrer de Lancaster, 10, Bajo 1a, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to avoid unplanned delays. BY FOOT: From La Rambla, walk down Nou de la Rambla. First LEFT on Carrer Lancaster (fruit store on corner). Halfway down on right (Sangria mural on door). Your chef will be waiting

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Mercat de la Boqueria

La Rambla

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Stroller accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation is wheelchair accessible

Wheelchair accessible
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
As everything is made fresh most allergies can be accommodated at the start of the class.
Choice of Seafood, chicken or vegetarian paella option
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

mrsstampas

This was an amazing experience and Nestor was awesome. Our family of five were treated to an unforgettable tour of the marketplace, answering all of our questions along the way and while we were there. For example, we learned how to select shellfish for cooking. While we waited for Nestor to buy our fresh ingredients, he patiently waited while we ate oysters sea urchin, directing us to his favorite vendors. Them back in the kitchen, we made Sangria with non alcoholic options for my youngest, and then the cooking began. He showed us how to prep the vegetables and seafood, and walked us through, step-by-step on how to make paella. He was so good with the kids. The paella came out amazing, with more than enough for the 5 of us, the Sangria was delicious, and Nestor was the star of the show. I highly recommend Nestor for your private family paella-cooking experience.

Reviews

5.0

based on 106 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

The best cooking class in Barcelona!

Marina_P, Apr 2026

Our host Mateo was amazing. He made a whole experience extremely fun and memorable. We would do it again! Highly recommended!

The whole experience was...

Margaret_B, Apr 2026

The whole experience was wonderful!! A lot of interaction and hands on preparation. The food was great!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you, Margaret. We are so happy to hear your private class was such a wonderful experience. It is great to know you enjoyed the interaction, the hands on cooking, and of course the food. That is exactly the kind of atmosphere we hope to create. We would love for you to try the recipes again at home, and next time you are in Barcelona, you are very welcome back for another class.

Fun and hands on experience!

mari_p, Mar 2026

This experience was fun, educational and immersive. The food was delicious and I highly recommend if you are looking for an education on traditional Spanish cuisine.

Impressed and worth it

Victoria_B, Mar 2026

Gabriel was a lovely host and has so much passion for his business. We learned a lot and had good conversations while doing so!

Great paella, better host

mrsstampas, Mar 2026

This was my family’s...

Stephanie_A, Jan 2026

This was my family’s favorite activity of our trip. Highly recommend this private cooking class and will definitely do it again the next time we visit Barcelona.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear the private cooking class was a favorite for your family. It’s wonderful to know you had such a memorable experience, and we’d be delighted to welcome you back on your next visit to Barcelona!

Private tour with the...

Christine_A, Nov 2025

Private tour with the chef did not disappoint! It was a treat to have Gabriel’s time and attention. Highly recommend for a personalized experience. Can’t wait to make paella at home!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Christine — thank you for sharing this! We’re so happy you enjoyed your private time with Chef Gabriel. Personalized experiences like that can be such a treat. Let us know how your homemade paella turns out — we’d love to hear your twist on it!

Great Paella Class!

Abigail_P, Sept 2025

The paella cooking class was phenomenal! The market tour and walk around Las Ramblas was a bit disappointing… I would have preferred more time cooking (sangria + tapas + paella + dessert) and skipped the market.

Response from Host, Sept 2025

Thank you so much for joining us, Abigail, and for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear the paella class itself hit the mark, from the sangria to dessert, it sounds like you really dove in and made the most of it! Your note about the market tour is truly helpful. We always want every part of the class to feel enriching, so feedback like yours helps us reflect on how to make the balance even better. If you give the paella a go at home, we’d love to see how it turns out, feel free to tag us if you post about it! And of course, if you ever find yourself back in Barcelona, we’d be delighted to welcome you again. Un abrazo from all of us at the kitchen!

Private class in a...

Cheryl_P, Sept 2025

Private class in a professional kitchen. We made our own Sangria, had tapas and learned to prepare wonderful seafood paella. Alberto was our wonderful chef/teacher. I highly recommend this for a fun night with family or friends.

whole experience is very...

The_M, Aug 2025

whole experience is very custom - its your group, your private chef and your meal and they really let you shop, cook and enjoy the process; we would definitely recommend this experience.

Fun Family Cooking in Barcelona

Creighton_H, Aug 2025

My husband and I did this as a private class with our two kids, ages 7 and 11. Gabriel was very personal and fun and has a built a wonderful business. We enjoyed the walk to the market to buy the food, the hands on experience and delicious final product. We loved learning about how to clean and cut the calamari and prepare the paella for the best taste. He had a modified sangria for the kids as well without alcohol. I highly recommend this if your family is into hands on classes.

An Experience Worth Paella For!

Michael_R, Jun 2025

An amazing experience. Our family really enjoyed this activity. Learned a tremendous amount about Spanish food and culture. Maria was fantastic! Very knowledgeable and a joy to be around with her positive energy! Walking trip to the market and our creations were such a visual and savory delight! Would definitely trecommend to others! Many thanks to The Gab Lab!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you for this lovely review and we will be sure to let Maria know just how fantastic she was, we are lucky to have such talented chefs with such positive energy. We are so pleased you came to see us at the Gab Lab and enjoyed this unique experience. Private Paella Cooking Class and Market Visit with Personal Chef.

Great day at cooking class

Theresa_H, Jun 2025

Outstanding experience. We had a great time at the market and then learning a number of techniques to clean squid shrimp and mussel. Was a great time and learning proper way to make sangria ans the almond cake was a big bonus.

Excellent service and...

Marylin_H, Jun 2025

Excellent service and food ingredients. Everyone is very attentive. Thank you, Bibi, for being such a fantastic host and bringing me a great cup of coffee. Highly recommended!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you for that great review of Private Paella Cooking Class and Market Visit with Personal Chef. We will let Bibi know what a fantastic host she was and hope your high recommendation encourages other travelers to come and join us at the Gab lab

Amazing family experience!

Meghan_c, Mar 2025

Can’t say enough amazing things about Gabriel and his team at The Gab Lab! We did a private cooking class for our family of 4 and had the best time and learned so much! Such a memorable experience!

Paella cooking class

Deborah_F, Mar 2025

We had a wonderful time learning to cook paella with Maria. She was really good with the kids. They had a great time. Worth doing!

Amazing Crispy Paella secrets unlocked!!

Benjamin_S, Feb 2025

Loved the experience and the quality of the outcome. Can’t wait to get home to make our own Sangria and Paella with the secret ingredients and recipe steps we just learned. Thanks Gabriel!

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you for that great review Private Paella Cooking Class and Market Visit with Personal Chef. We hope that the skills and secrets that Gabriel taught, that you can recreate at home. Enjoy!