Boqueria Market Tour, Paella Cooking Class, Sangria & Tapas
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Barcelona, Spain
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Unlike other cooking experiences that can be packed full of people, this Barcelona small-group cooking class lets you master the art of Spanish paella in an intimate setting. First, hit up a local market with your chef-guide to pick up fresh ingredients. Once back at the studio, drink local wines and craft your own paella. Come hungry and create a full meal—with skills to take home.
- Explore a local Barcelona market with your chef leading the way
- Learn how to make traditional Paella—and enjoy your creations
- Local sangria, wines, and other Spanish goodies provided
- Group size zapped at 12 for a fun, small-group experience
Sample Menu
Starter
Catalan TAPAS & Pica Pica
- Pan con tomate: Do the signature Catalan move: rub ripe tomato on bread! - Artisanal jamón & cheese platter - Cava welcome drink
Main
1. Golden SEAFOOD PAELLA **Default**
• Prawns • Norway lobsters • Mussels • Squid • Cuttlefish • Bomba rice • Secret sofrito (learn our trick!) • Home made broth
Main
2. Mushroom VEGETABLE PAELLA
Notify in advance for mushroom/Vegetable Paella
Main
SANGRIA
Sangria Workshop - YOUR pitcher: Muddled fruits + Spanish wines - Non alcohol drinks available too (Virgin Sangria, water, soft drinks and juice)
Dessert
Dessert: (Crema Catalana or Lemon Ice cream, seasonal)
Crema Catalana: Creamy local custard topped with caramelized sugar, or Lemon ice cream with a fresh homemade mint & basil oil depending on season
What's Included
- LunchCatalan feast: Traditional starters & Tapas: Artisanal Jamón& cheeses, mussels. Golden Seafood Paella (prawns/lobster/mussels/squid). Free-flowing Sangria, Cava, Wine, soft drinks. Seasonal dessert!
- Dinner️Catalan feast: Traditional Starters&Tapas: Artisanal Jamón &cheese. Golden or BLACK INK Seafood Paella (prawns/lobster/mussels/squid). Free-flowing Sangria, Cava, Wine, Soft drinks. Seasonal dessert!
- Alcoholic BeveragesFree-flowing Sangria, Cava and Wine. Non alcoholic beverages: Virgin Sangria, water, soft drinks and juice
- Paella options: Seafood Paella *DEFAULT* 2. Mushroom/Veg paella available (notify in advance)
- Mon-Sat: Boqueria Market entrance: Rambla 89-91, Look for red umbrella, 5 min before the start time
- Sun/Bank Holiday classes: Meet at Carrer del Notariat, 8, Ciutat Vella, 08001. Extra cooking!!
- 5+ min late for market go directly to cooking school: Carrer del Notariat, 8, Ciutat Vella, 08001
- *NO MARKET TOUR ON SUNDAYS AND BANK HOLIDAYS (Market Closed). Meet directly at cooking school
- *Gratuity
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- La Rambla, 89, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
MON-SAT → Boqueria Mkt main entrance: Rambla 89-91, LOOK FOR RED UMBRELLA, OPENED 5 MIN BEFORE START TIME. LATE 5+min for Market tour → SKIP market, join us at Cooking School SUNDAY & HOLIDAY (Market closed) → Calle Notariat 8, glass door, Paella Barcelona Cooking School
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Authentic paella is naturally gluten-free
- Short stroll from the market to cooking space 300m (less than 1,000 feet)
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
This experience was a hit from every aspect. The tour of the market introduced us to so many delights. The hostess did a great job of building a team environment and getting everyone involved. Oh, and dare I mention that the food was fabulous!
I highly recommend this experience as a way to learn more about and eat authentic Paella.
Reviews
5.0
based on 302 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Very fun tour of La Boqueria followed up with a Paella cooking class. Mateo our chef/instructor was very knowledgeable and very funny. My husband doesn’t cook, but even he had a great time.
We started by meeting at the main entrance of La Boqueria open air market. Our chef, Mateo, explained how to purchase fresh shell fish/seafood. Next, we walked to the school, which was set up and equiped very nicely. Mateo led us through the preparation of paella, which we ate with wine/soft drinks. Before making the paella, we learned how to prepare a tapa, and had those with wine. Very tasty! We also had lemon gelato for dessert after the paella lunch. Super tasty! I should also mention that we were a small group of six, which really made the experience more intimate and enjoyable. Mateo was thorough, detailed and organized with a great sense of humor. This class experience has been a highlight of our trip! I would definitely recommend you try it!
During our visit to Barcelona, John hosted an engaging masterclass that covered ingredient selection, sangria preparation, and, most notably, paella cooking. The experience was a standout highlight of our trip, offering a hands-on learning opportunity that was both educational and enjoyable. The practical insights provided—along with the valuable guidance on how to recreate these dishes at home—proved to be an invaluable takeaway. Truly a memorable and enriching experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Chris, thank you for sharing your experience. We’re delighted to read that it was a standout highlight of your trip. We focus a lot on the balance of fun and education to ensure a well-rounded experience, and to make sure our customers leave with knowledge about the local culture and cuisine. John will be so happy to read your review. Thank you for joining us for your paella culinary adventure!
Such a fun experience! Chef John was very understanding about us arriving a little late. I hadn’t read the details about the alternate meeting place on Sundays since the market is closed that day. John kept it exciting, was very informative, had the mood set with great music and a very relaxing atmosphere. Met 2 lovely couples from the states. Overall very nice experience and would highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for joining us, Carla. We always try to make sure that we balance education and fun in the classes, so that guests leave feeling educated about the local cuisine. Paella is all about community, so we’re very happy to read that there was a connection with the other guests. Thanks for the recommendation!
We had a great time! Matteo was wonderful from the tour around the Boqueria Market, to showing us how to make Sangria, to making the garlic tomato bread, to cooking seafood and veggie paella, and everything in-between! The teaching kitchen was immaculate and a perfect spot for our class! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Jennifer, thank you for sharing your experience. We are delighted to read that you found the class not only fun but educational. Our market activity definitely separates us from competitors with the way we stop at different stalls for tastings and educate clients on the different ingredients we purchase. Matteo really knows how to balance a class with fun and education. Thank you for the recommendation and for joining us.
Chef Mateo was very fun, knowledgeable and made the cooking class so memorable. Would highly recommend. Highlight of our trip.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Tyler, thank you for sharing your experience. “Highlight of our trip”, that is just so great to read. We are delighted! Thank you for joining us; Chef Matteo will be delighted to read this!
My mum and I had a wonderful time cooking with John! There was another large group that we were supposed to be with that cancelled a few days before, so it just ended up being the two of us, but we still had a lot of fun! We visited on a Sunday so there was no market tour as it is closed, but we honestly didn't feel like we missed anything. We started with some lovely Spanish charcuterie and local wines, made our own sangria, and made the paella. After dinner, John served us a lemon gelato with mint glaze on top. Delicious! After the class we received the recipe in our emails so we can (try to) make it ourselves at home. John was a wonderful host and teacher. We would definitely recommend this class to others!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Holly, thank you for joining us and for sharing your experience. We are delighted to read that you and your mom had a great time, what a lovely memory together. Our Sunday classes are a bit special because there is extra cooking, activities, and it’s the traditional meal for Paella. John will be so happy to read your comments. Hopefully the paella turns out great!
What an amazing experience! The chef was amazing and we got to experience hands on how to make paella and sangria. It’s definitely worth adding this to your list!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much, Lauren! We are delighted to hear that you had an amazing time and enjoyed the hands-on aspect of the class, including the paella and sangria. The best way to learn is by doing. Thank you for your recommendation.
It was a very mixed group yet Matteo made it a fun and very relaxed experience! We learnt a lot while laughing and enjoying ourselves
Response from Host, Aug 2026
"We learned a lot while laughing and enjoying ourselves" is exactly what we like to hear! Thank you for sharing your experience. Matteo will be delighted to read those kind words!
The chef John was really excellent! The atmosphere was also very contemporary and classy. There was an accident the caused no taxis to be able to get to our ship for two hours after we docked, so my husband and I had to walk over 90 minutes in the heat (got in over 15,000 steps), but it was worth it in the end. I was texted asking where I was when we were about 20 minutes late as we went to the Viator address of the market (really a door near it with some sign that made it seem like we were victims of a hoax, especially as the number Viator had for this resulted in a “scam likely” message telling us to hang up, so Viator needs to correct their info); on Sundays, you meet directly at the cooking class location, and I had that in my phone calendar, but was unfortunately using the Viator app ticket to direct us.
Anyway, they waited for us to arrive before starting to cook (others had chopped fruits for the sangria and veggies for the veggie paella), and we lucked out in having two delightful couples to take this class with.
John served us cava as soon as we sat down, and there were already tapas on the table. It was all just so relaxed and also informative (like I learned not to use orange juice in white sangria, not that I ever had, but it is interesting to know it just isn’t a good idea).
John and his assistant just couldn’t have been nicer. It was a great experience for celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Athena, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It sounds like that refreshing glass of cava after 15,000 steps must have hit the spot. We will be investigating with Viator to understand what they provided, so we can help prevent another customer from having the same issues, thanks for raising that. We are delighted to read that you still had a fantastic 40th wedding anniversary. We always try to mix fun and education, so we’re glad that came through in your class. John will be so happy to read this, thank you for sharing your experience!
John was a wonderful chef, guide and teacher. Kept the session lively and fun. The market place was unique. The cooking class was held in modern kitchen with AC (important in August) .
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thanks for joining us! Our market tour definitely separates us from the competitors, and we’re so glad you enjoyed it. Haha, the feeling of relief when you get back to the AC in the location and met with a refreshing welcome drink before the work begins! Thanks for leaving a review!
Great food and experience. We had Matteo as our head chef and he was fantastic. Learned a lot, he was funny, and kept our group on track to make 2 delicious paella. You had effectively unlimited wine also which was a plus. :)
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thanks for the review Jessica. We are delighted that you had a great time with us and found the paellas delicious. Compliments to the chef (YOU!). Matteo will be so happy that you enjoyed it. Thanks for choosing us!
Emma, our host/chef, was amazing. We had several in our group who were first timers in the kitchen, but Emma made it easy for them to participate. The kitchen and event space is beautiful and well maintained. Whole experience was fun and would definitely do it again.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We would love to welcome you back! Thank you for sharing your experience. Chef Emma reads every review and will be delighted to read this. We cater to first-timers and experienced chefs, there is something for everyone! We really appreciate you joining us and leaving a review.
My husband and I joined this paella class on our first evening in Barcelona, and it was absolute perfection. Chef Mateo is exceptionally skilled, deeply knowledgeable, and generous with his culinary tips and guidance. The drinks were flowing all night, the paella was genuinely the best I’ve ever tasted, and we even walked away with wonderful new friends from our group. We couldn't have asked for a better start to our trip!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Elizabeth, thank you for that lovely review. Starting your trip with a bang! Let's hope we didn't ruin the rest of it because of your expectations! Chef Matteo is fantastic and loves what he does. He will be delighted to read about how much fun you had, but also that the paella was the best ever... wow! One of the best things to read is that you walked away with new friends. That is exactly what Paella is all about! "Worth every penny" now you are making us blush. We try so hard to balance our premium ingredients and value for money, thank you for saying that. We would love to welcome you back one day!
We had a fabulous time with Chef John even though on Sunday the market was closed so we had to skip that part. We just had more time for tapas, wine, sangria, and meeting the 8 other guests from around the world looking for the same type of experience. Chef did a great job explaining preparation and splitting us into teams to make the various parts of the dishes and the sangria. I would do it again just for the experience, the sangria, and to meet great people. My husband is also a chef and he was not bored, very much enjoying cutting up the cuttlefish. Food was delicious and I didn't even want to eat the cuttlefish, but I did. It was a great prelude to watching Spain celebrate on the night they won the World Cup!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Cindy, thank you for sharing your experience. Paella is all about community. Different people all contributing towards the dish and then sharing stories and having a laugh. It's fantastic reading how you noticed that in your class. Love the rhyme in the subject line (oh I've just done it too haha) "Chef JOHN won't steer you WRONG". The Sunday classes don't include the market; we mention it in the description, the exclusions, upon email confirmation, and the message sent 24 hours before the class. But like you saw, there is extra fun to be had anyway! Thank you for those kind words and for joining us, we would love to welcome you back one day!
This was such an incredible and fun cooking class!! Our chef, Mateo, was so lovely to work with. He was both educational and funny! It was an experience that we would recommend to everyone traveling to Barcelona
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Stacy, we truly appreciate the recommendation "to everyone"! Matteo will be delighted to read your comments. His passion for teaching and having fun is very noticeable, and he loves it when both are mentioned in a review. We really appreciate you joining us!
If you’re considering a paella cooking class in Barcelona, book this one—you won’t regret it.
We were fortunate to have Chef Mateo, and since it was just the two of us for the Saturday 11:00 a.m. class, the experience felt like a private cooking lesson. He struck the perfect balance between teaching, storytelling, and making the class fun.
The market tour was one of the highlights. At every stop, Chef Mateo explained the ingredients, why they were selected, and their importance in authentic paella. If it’s your first visit to the market, be prepared—it can be a bit overwhelming, so having an expert guide you through it makes all the difference.
Back at the cooking school, the kitchen was spotless, cool, and beautifully modern. Throughout the class, Chef Mateo shared the history of paella, demonstrated traditional techniques, explained the purpose of the utensils, and answered every question with patience and enthusiasm.
This was so much more than a cooking class—it was a cultural experience. We left with a delicious meal, the confidence to recreate it at home, and a much deeper appreciation for Spanish cuisine. One of the best experiences of our time in Barcelona. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Judy, thank you for that detailed review! Yes, the market tour really separates us from other "similar" activities. We really want you to feel like a local doing their shopping in the market. We are delighted to read how much you enjoyed it. We take a lot of pride in our location, as it is very unique in the heart of the city. Our chefs are all trained to make the class more than just a cooking class, telling stories about the history of paella, the ingredients, etc. and to create a cultural experience. So to hear those exact words from you is just amazing! Thank you for the recommendation and review.
We had an amazing time with Chef John! Chef John was very informative while making the class an extremely fun and welcoming environment. We would take another class.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
How great to read that you had such an amazing time with Chef John. He has a lot of knowledge about the local culture, and he has a way of sharing it that really makes you lean in! We’re delighted to read that you would come back. We would love to cook with you again. Thank you for joining us.
An amazing time for sure!!! The market tour was great - Chef Emma was very knowledgeable and HILARIOUS! When we got back to the kitchen, we got to make our own appetizer and then the paella (which was DELICIOUS!) The drinks were definitely flowing too! Plus, you get all the recipes after to make at home.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Conor, thank you for joining us! We take great pride in our market tour as a competitive advantage. Most places offer a quick in-and-out for about 10 minutes, whereas we provide a tour across multiple stands with small tastings. We’re delighted that you enjoyed it. Chef Emma is truly special and cares deeply; she will be delighted to read that. Thank you for your kind words, and we hope to see you again one day.
This was just the best experience. John was great, we learned to make the best paella I’ve ever had not to mention the sangria, pan con tomate etc etc. Great tour of the market, gorgeous teaching kitchen and fun small group. We can’t wait to make paella at home. Strongly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Sterling, thanks for taking the time to leave a review. "The best paella ever", now thats what we like to hear (compliments to the chef, YOU)! Our trip to La Boqueria market is very unique vs competitors and often leaves people raving, we are so glad you liked it! We are very proud of our large facility right in the heart of Barcelona, just 300 meters from the market. Thank you for joining us and best of luck with the Paella at home!
I'm Vincent from Hong Kong. Chef John was fantastic! He took us to a local market and explained the traditional Spanish ingredients and seafood used in local cuisine. The class was fun, informative, and hands-on. We learned a lot and cooked an amazing paella. Highly recommended!
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Response from Host, Jul 2026
Vincent, thank you for joining us and for leaving a review. The market tour is one of many aspects that separate us from our competitors; we are delighted to hear that you enjoyed it. 'Fun, informative, and hands-on' is exactly what we are aiming for, and obviously, delicious food. Thanks for the recommendation!
This was an amazing experience. The two chefs were great. Our group had Chef Matteo his instructions were easy to follow. The group got to know each other and had a great time.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Delighted to hear about your experience with us, Renee. Paella has always been a community dish best shared with others over stories and laughter. It is so great to read how that Spanish cultural aspect was something that stood out to you, it's just what we wanted you to experience. Thanks for joining us!
A wonderful experience! We loved it! Amazing chef, lovely atmosphere. Definitely recommend this cooking class experience
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Randi, thank you for the recommendation! It's so great reading how much you enjoyed the experience. We loved having you and would love to see you again one day!
Fun class. Learned so much about making paella. Beautiful cooking school, knowledgeable chef, freshest ingredients. This was a great time.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Cynthia, thank you for joining us and for sharing your experience. Fresh ingredients, fun, and educational. That is exactly what we are after. We are so glad that you had a great time. Hopefully, we will see you again one day!
Worth every penny! Our chef John was so fabulous! Gave us a tour of the Market and taught us what to look for when buying ingredients for the Paella. Also the actual cooking portion was great too as learned a lot on making Sangria, Paella. Was a great way to end our trip!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Phincy, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your time with us / Chef John and that you found it "worth every penny". Our market tour really separates us from competitors. Sounds like you are leaving Barcelona on a high! Safe travels and we hope to see you again one day!
Fantastic experience across the board! The tour through the market to try the ingredients was unbelievable! The chef was absolutely fantastic and made the entire experience excellent. Super relatable and appreciated that he was from the States! Would do this multiple times!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Andrea, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I must say the market tour is really great, we are so happy you enjoyed it. Chef John will love reading this. We look forward to seeing you again and again and again!
The group leader was so fun. It was neat to walk around the Market to get our fresh ingredients. The wine, food and fun was following.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Laura, we really appreciate the review. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Delighted to read that you enjoyed your time with us. Hopefully we can welcome you back one day!
This is truly a special experience in Barcelona. Nothing compares to the care and Catalan culture and cooking! The space is gorgeous and you will leave with an education, full heart and belly and new appreciation for Paella, Sangria & Spain!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Amy, that is a really thoughtful review. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are constantly trying to ensure that the class is educational, cultural, and fun. It also helps that we use quality ingredients and it's delicious! Thank you for jopining us and hopefully we will see you again soon.
Chef Maria was fantastic. She is vet interesting to listen to. I learned so much about the history of paella, how to cook all the different seafood and how to make sangria. She made the whole experience entertaining, very enjoyable and fun.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
You really captured what we are trying to create, Judi: something educational, entertaining, and fun. Chef Maria is delighted reading reviews. Thank you for sharing your experience with us! "Best paella cooking class" now that is what we like to hear!
We had a wonderful experience learning to cook seafood paella, sangria and soffrito! Maria was an excellent teacher and was a lot of fun! We enjoyed meeting the people in our group.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Terry thank you for taking the time to write a review. We really appreciate you joining us. It's so great reading how wonderful you found the class and your chef Maria.
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