Authentic spanish tapas cooking class in barcelona

Barcelona’s Foodies Xp cooking class turns a meal into a hands-on lesson. You help prepare Spanish tapas, learn about traditional rice dishes, mix sangria, and finish with Catalan cream before sitting down to eat on a garden terrace. It is a social way to taste local food without needing much kitchen skill.

I like the beginner-friendly format and the fact that you do more than watch a chef work. I also like the mix of cooking and table time, with cava at arrival, wine and soft drinks included, and a full meal at the end. The main point to consider is the maximum group size of 20, which may feel lively rather than intimate.

Key points

• Chef Vulkano, also called Chef Hug, leads the cooking, with practical tips you can use at home.
• You prepare several Spanish dishes, including tapas, sangria, traditional rice dishes, and Catalan cream.
• The meal is served on a secret garden terrace, giving the class a pleasant finish.
• Cava, alcoholic drinks, dinner, lunch, and soft drinks are included, though alcoholic drinks are not included for anyone under 18.
• The class lasts about two and a half hours, long enough to cook, eat, and ask questions without taking up a full day.
• The meeting point is Foodies Xp at Carrer de Badajoz 115, in Barcelona’s Sant Martí district.

Cooking Spanish food at Roots Gastro Club

The class takes place at Foodies Xp’s new venue, Roots Gastro Club. You begin with a welcoming cava glass in a spacious setting, then move into the food preparation. The venue also has a secret garden terrace, where you eat once the cooking is done.

That opening drink helps set the tone. This is not a rushed demonstration where you sit at the back and watch a chef chop onions. You are there to take part, ask questions, and make food with the rest of the group.

The class is offered in English, which makes it a useful choice if you want food instruction without worrying about a language barrier. The maximum group size is 20 people. That is large enough to create a sociable mood, but it also means you should not expect the private attention of a one-on-one lesson.

For solo visitors, couples, and families, the group setup can be part of the fun. You share tasks and a table, and the cooking becomes an easy way to meet people. If you prefer a quiet class with lots of individual coaching, the group limit is worth keeping in mind.

A first lesson in Spanish rice dishes

Before the main cooking begins, you receive a short explanation of traditional rice dishes. This is a useful touch because rice is central to Spanish cooking, yet many visitors arrive with a blurred idea of the difference between paella and other rice preparations.

The class appears to include rice-focused instruction alongside the tapas work. One session described making paella, while the main outline refers more generally to traditional rice dishes. The exact dish may depend on the class arrangement, but you can expect rice cooking to be part of the Spanish food lesson rather than an unrelated extra.

This section matters because it gives context to the techniques you are using. Spanish rice is not simply rice with toppings. Timing, stock, heat, and the way the rice is handled all affect the final result. A short explanation from the chef can help you understand why the dish is prepared in a certain way.

You should also treat this as a practical introduction rather than a formal culinary course. The goal is to leave with useful ideas and a better sense of Spanish cooking, not to earn a professional qualification.

Preparing tapas with Chef Vulkano

The main part of the class begins with tapas preparation. Chef Vulkano, also known as Chef Hug, leads the session and gives tips on Spanish cooking that you can repeat at home.

The class is designed for beginners, so you do not need previous cooking experience. That does not make it too basic for people who already cook. The feedback from the class points to several dishes, useful cooking advice, and an active role for everyone at the table.

The exact tapas menu is not fully specified, so you should not book expecting a fixed list of named dishes beyond the items described. The class has included Spanish frittata, and the meal has also been supplemented with salad and charcuterie. Those additions help turn the workshop into a substantial lunch or dinner rather than a few small samples.

I like this format because tapas are well suited to a group class. You can work on several preparations, learn how different ingredients are used, and then taste everything together. It also gives you ideas for serving a Spanish-style meal at home without having to reproduce one large, complicated dish.

The chef’s advice is one of the most useful parts for home cooks. Specific tips about Spanish food can be more valuable than a long recipe sheet because they explain how to judge texture, timing, and seasoning. The available feedback highlights this practical side of the class, especially the cooking suggestions given during the workshop.

Making sangria while the food cooks

Once the tapas are underway, the group prepares the famous Spanish sangria. This gives the class a natural pause from chopping and cooking, and it adds a drink-making lesson to the food preparation.

Sangria is familiar to most visitors, but making it as part of the class gives you a chance to connect the drink with the meal. You are not simply handed a glass at a restaurant. You see how it fits into a Spanish table and how a group can prepare it together.

Alcoholic beverages are included in the price, along with soft drinks. Anyone under 18 does not receive alcoholic beverages, so families should plan on the nonalcoholic options for younger participants.

Cava is also waiting when you arrive. Taken together, the welcome drink, sangria, and meal make the price easier to assess. You are paying for instruction and food, but you are also receiving a social dining experience with drinks included.

Eating on the secret garden terrace

When the tapas are ready, you move to the secret garden terrace to eat. This is a pleasant change from standing around a worktable, and it gives the class a clear finish.

The terrace is one of the more distinctive details of the venue. You get the practical part of the workshop first, then sit down in a more relaxed setting with the dishes you helped prepare. That transition makes the event feel like both a cooking class and a shared meal.

The food has been described as including multiple tapas, salad, charcuterie, and dessert. You may also prepare or taste paella-style rice and Spanish frittata, depending on the session. Since the full menu is not fixed in the available details, think of the class as a broad Spanish cooking workshop rather than a guaranteed list of every dish.

The meal is included, and the class description lists both lunch and dinner. That likely reflects different session times. You should expect the same basic idea, cooking followed by eating, but check the selected time when booking if the meal timing matters to your plans.

Catalan cream for the final course

Dessert is not an afterthought. The group prepares Catalan cream, a traditional Catalan dessert, to finish the class.

This is a smart choice for a Barcelona cooking lesson because it connects the final course to the region. The dessert also gives you one more recipe to take home, and it rounds out the meal after the savory tapas and rice dishes.

The dessert preparation helps keep the class varied. You are not spending two and a half hours on one recipe. Instead, you move through drinks, savory food, and a sweet course, with time to eat and talk along the way.

If you want a class that focuses only on technical cooking detail, the wide menu may feel less intensive. If you want a friendly overview of Spanish food with plenty to taste, the variety is a strength.

What the $120.41 price gets you

At $120.41 per person, this is not a cheap meal. It is also more than the price of ordering a few tapas at a neighborhood restaurant. The value comes from combining food, drinks, instruction, and a two-and-a-half-hour activity.

Your booking includes the cooking workshop, the meal, alcoholic beverages for eligible adults, and soft drinks. You also receive guidance from a chef and the chance to make dishes rather than simply eat them. For someone who values a structured food activity, the package is easier to justify than the price alone suggests.

The class is especially useful early in a Barcelona visit. You can pick up ideas for Spanish dishes, hear practical advice for home cooking, and then use that knowledge when ordering food elsewhere. It also suits anyone who wants an evening activity that is more social than a standard restaurant reservation.

The value is weaker if you are mainly looking for a quick meal or a highly advanced cooking lesson. You will spend about two and a half hours at the venue, and part of that time is social dining. That is a benefit for some people and wasted time for others.

The rating is 4.4 from 14 reviews, which points to a generally positive experience but not a flawless record. Most of the praise centers on the food, the fun atmosphere, the chef’s tips, and the fact that everyone gets involved. One cancellation caused by a chef’s illness was reported, so it is wise not to schedule an essential connection immediately afterward.

Getting to Carrer de Badajoz 115

The class begins and ends at Foodies Xp, Carrer de Badajoz 115, in the Sant Martí area of Barcelona. The location is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying away from the venue.

Because the activity returns to the same meeting point, you do not need to plan a separate finish location. Allow enough time to find the venue and arrive ready to start, especially if this is your first visit to Sant Martí.

The mobile ticket is convenient. You can keep the booking on your phone rather than print a paper voucher. Confirmation is provided at the time of booking.

Service animals are allowed. The class has a maximum of 20 participants, and it is offered in English.

Who should book this cooking class

I would point this class toward several types of visitors:

• First-time cooks who want a forgiving introduction to Spanish food.
• Couples looking for a shared activity that ends with a full meal.
• Families with older children, keeping in mind that alcoholic drinks are not included for anyone under 18.
• Solo visitors who like meeting people through a group activity.
• Food-focused visitors who want more context than a restaurant menu provides.
• Home cooks who want practical Spanish recipes and kitchen advice.

It may be less suitable if you want a private lesson, a small group, or a tightly defined menu. The class can include different dishes and may combine tapas and rice cooking, so the experience is broader than a single-recipe paella course.

The cancellation terms are simple but firm. You receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, and the cut-off follows Barcelona local time.

Should you book the Foodies Xp class?

Book it if you want an active, social introduction to Spanish cooking with a chef, a full meal, drinks, and a pleasant terrace finish. The strongest reasons are the beginner-friendly approach, the range of dishes, and the practical advice you can use after returning home.

Think twice if you want quiet, advanced instruction or a small private group. At up to 20 participants, the class has a lively shared format, and the exact menu is not fully fixed in advance.

For most visitors, the class makes the best sense as a food-centered Barcelona activity rather than a formal culinary course. You cook, eat, learn a few useful techniques, and leave with a better feel for tapas, sangria, rice dishes, and Catalan dessert.

FAQ

Where does the cooking class meet?

The class starts at Foodies Xp, Carrer de Badajoz 115, Sant Martí, 08018 Barcelona, Spain.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the class last?

The cooking class lasts approximately two hours and 30 minutes.

Is the class offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What food and drinks are included?

The experience includes the cooking workshop, lunch or dinner, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks. The food program includes tapas, traditional rice dishes, sangria preparation, and Catalan cream.

Are alcoholic beverages included for people under 18?

No. Alcoholic beverages under 18 are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and the cut-off uses local time.