Paella Cooking Classes in Malaga: Spain Food Sherpas Review

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On a recent trip to Malaga in December, I had the chance to take part in one of the most memorable and delicious experiences of my travels – a paella cooking class with Spain Food Sherpas.

One of my favourite things to do while travelling is to experience the local cuisine – especially in Spain, where tapas and amazing dishes such as paella are on the menu. But when I head home after my trip, I’m always a little sad that I have to leave the wonderful food behind until my next visit.

A freshly cooked paella sits in a large paella pan on a wooden table, made in a Paella Cooking Class with Spain Food Sherpas. There is a glass of sangria behind it and an empty wine glass beside it.

So I got to wondering what it would be like to experience a cooking class in Malaga where I’d learn the tips and tricks of making a traditional paella that I could replicate at home!

We booked our paella cooking class with Spain Food Sherpas. Having previously taken two of their food tours in Malaga and Granada, I knew it would be an experience to remember. Read on for a full review of our cooking class experience in Malaga.

A large jug of freshly-made sangria, filled with various pieces of fresh fruit, sits on a black counter top in a large kitchen. In the background, there are various cooking ingredients and a bottle on Cointreau on the counter.

Spain Food Sherpas Malaga Cooking Class Review

Walking Tour of Malaga Centro Historico

The day began at 10 am with a fascinating walking tour of Malaga’s Centro Historico (Historic Centre), led by our knowledgeable guide, Elise. Elise explained that usually, the class can contain up to 14 people, but today it was just the three of us – Elise, myself and my dad.

As we strolled through the city’s beautiful streets, we learned about the rich cultural heritage that influences the local cuisine and architecture. Elise shared stories and interesting facts about the origins of some of Malaga’s buildings, including information on the Arabic and Moorish influence on the Spanish language and local architecture.

Photograph of a beautiful ornate historic building in Malaga taken on a Malaga walking tour. The sun is shining on the facade of the building which is painted deep red and adorned with pale green shutters.

Atarazanas Food Market

One of the highlights of the walking tour was a visit to the Ataranzas food market, a bustling hub of local produce and delicacies.

We wandered through vibrant stalls showcasing an incredible variety of seafood, colourful vegetables, olives, cheeses and other local products.

We stopped at one stall and tried a variety of olives, sundried tomatoes and a unique local delicacy known as ‘the heart of Malaga’ – a delicious sweet and savoury snack made with figs and salted almonds.

A woman's hand holds a small snack consisting of a dried fig with a salted almond in the middle. In the background, there are huge baskets of fresh olives for sale at Ataranzas Market in Malaga.

A market stall holder hands over a plate of olvies to a customer. He is leaning over his market stall which is filled with a huge variety of fresh olives at Ataranzas Market in Malaga.

Paella Cooking Class

After a 1-hour walking tour, we arrived at the cooking studio, which is around a 5-minute walk from the Ataranzas food market and located in the Soho District. Under the guidance of the skilled local chef, Alba, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.

Our menu for the day featured some classic Spanish dishes – a tomato gazpacho (cold soup), a jug of sangria, freshly-made churros, and of course, the star of the show, seafood paella.

Before starting to cook, we enjoyed an extra virgin olive oil tasting of local olive oils with bread. It was fascinating to see the difference in flavour between the 4 olive oils we sampled.

The tour guide for Spain Food Sherpas Paella Cooking Class in Malaga pours some Extra Virgin Olive Oil into a ceramic dish for the tour group to taste. In front of her on the table, there are several bottles of olive oil, and a bowl of bread croutons.

Next, we tackled the sangria – a typical Spanish cocktail drink made with red wine, orange Fanta and a variety of fresh fruits. Once the sangria was finished, we let it sit for 2 hours to let the flavours marinate.

We then started the gazpacho, which was made with ripe tomatoes, green peppers, cucumber and garlic. As I grow tomatoes myself at home, and often have a surplus during the summer, I realised this would be a great way to use extra tomatoes.

Professional female chef wearing black chefs overalls, pours a jug of cold tomato gazpacho into a large metal collander. She is leading a Paella Cooking Class in Malaga.

Alba explained that the gazpacho can be kept in the fridge for a couple of days to provide a cold and refreshing snack when it’s very hot outside and you don’t feel like eating anything too heavy.

Finally, we started preparing the seafood paella – the highlight of the experience. We learned how to prepare the prawns and squid, how to cook the rice to perfection and ensure the delicate seafood was cooked just right.

Zara Aitken stands at a kitchen counter on a paella cooking course, stirring peppers in a metal paella dish. The tour guide is folding her arms and smiling, while she watches Zara cooking.

Watching the dish come together in the large paella pan was mesmerising, with the delicious aroma filling the kitchen and making us hungrier by the minute.

Alba and Elise were on hand throughout the class to answer our questions and chat with us about their culture and favourite dishes. I really enjoyed spending time with them and hearing their stories.

As it was just the two of us – my dad and I – Alba gave us her undivided attention and guided us through the steps to make the perfect paella, although this made the class a little less hands-on than I was expecting.

Zara's dad, David, stands at a kitchen counter on a paella cooking course, pouring wine into a in a metal paella dish. The professional chef is providing instructions while watching David cook the paella.

To top it all off, we made one of my favourite sweet snacks from scratch – churros! Deep frying them to perfection and dipping them in chocolate sauce was the sweetest way to end the day and left us feeling very full!

As a small souvenir, you get to keep the branded apron and take the recipes away with you, too, so you can recreate the Spanish delights at home.

Zara's dad, David, stands at a table laid out with wine glasses and plates and a large paella pan, ready to eat the food they have made during the paella cooking class.

Paella Cooking Class Details

Spain Food Sherpas’ Paella Cooking Class costs €75 per person. It runs from Tuesday to Saturday at 10 am and lasts for 3.5 hours.

The tour meets in the centre of Malaga at Calle Marqués de Larios, 18, which is easy to find.

We enjoyed making 3 different dishes and a jug of sangria, with explanations and information about the dishes and the culture surrounding them.

Two bowls of freshly-made deep-fried churros, a sweet Spanish snack, sit beside half a jug of sangria on a wooden table.

Spain Food Sherpas are able to cater to many dietary requirements, providing tasty alternatives for vegetarians, those with dairy and gluten intolerances, or those who don’t drink alcohol.

The tour group is kept to a maximum of 14 people.

Spain Food Sherpas also offer food tours in other cities: Madrid, Seville and Granada.

Book the Malaga Paella Cooking Class.

A freshly cooked paella sits in a large paella pan on a wooden table, made in a Paella Cooking Class with Spain Food Sherpas. There are empty wine glasses and empty plates beside it.

Is It Worth Booking a Cooking Class with Spain Food Sherpas?

Spain Food Sherpas delivered an authentic, immersive, and delicious experience that I would recommend to anyone visiting Malaga. If you’re looking for a way to dive deeper into Spanish culture and cuisine, this class is an absolute must!

This class is a great way to experience the Spanish culture and develop your cooking skills, especially if you’re visiting Malaga in winter, as it’s an indoor activity that you can do on days when the weather may not be so great.

Several metal bowls of fresh ingredients needed to make paella and sangria sit on a black kitchen counter. In the background, a professional chef wearing black chef overalls is starting to work with the ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this cooking class good for solo travellers?

Absolutely! I always recommend booking a tour or a cooking class when travelling solo, as it’s a great way to meet new people from all over the world and expand your cultural horizons.

Do Spain Food Sherpas cater for dietary requirements?

Spain Food Sherpas are able to cater to many dietary requirements, providing tasty alternatives for vegetarians, those with dairy and gluten intolerances, or those who don’t drink alcohol. You should let them know in advance if you have dietary requirements to ensure they can cater for you.

A large glass of freshly-made sangria sitting on a table in front of an empty wine glass and a bottle of wine. The sangria was made during the Spain Food Sherpas paella cooking class in Malaga.

Zara Aitken sits at a table with a large plate of paella in front of her. She is tucking into the food with ehr knife and fork and is smiling with delight.

Do you get to eat the food you make?

Yes! At the end of the class, we enjoyed a 3-course meal with all the dishes we had made. Gazpacho to start, paella as the main, and churros for dessert, all topped off with a jug of delicious, freshly-made sangria!

What language is the food tour carried out in?

The tour and class are both led by an English-speaking guide and chef.

How long does the cooking class last?

We started our cooking class at 10 am and finished by 1:30 pm – the tour lasted a total of 3.5 hours.

Pinterest image showing a collage of 3 images taken during a paella cooking class in Malaga. The images include a small plate of paella, a glass of sangria, and a chef making churros. The writing 'Paella Cooking Class, Malaga, Spain'is overlaid.

Brightly coloured fruit and vegetables displayed on a market stall in the Ataranzas food market in Malaga. This photo was taken during a paella food course and walking tour of the market. The writing 'Paella Cooking Class in Malaga' is overlaid.

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own. If you have any questions about the Spain Food Sherpas Paella Cooking Class, please contact me via the contact form.