Traditional Basque Pintxos Cooking Class in Bilbao
Description
Join this Basque cooking class and learn how to cook traditional pintxos and tapas of the Basque Country with a local Basque chef. Learn about local ingredients and spices, the story behind them, and how the locals enjoy these delicious bites. First, meet up with your instructor, who doubles as the chef for this class. Get introduced to the ingredients you'll be working with, and listen as you learn about each one's importance in traditional northern Spanish cooking. Then, get your hands into action as you mix, stir, chop, and begin to combine ingredients with the help of the chef, who will guide you through each step of preparation. As you begin to cook, sip on a glass of wine from the open bar. Finally, see the fruits of your labors come to life as 4 different pintxos are plated from your work. Try each one, and enjoy them alongside your wine, and a complimentary charcuterie and cheese board, and dessert prepared for you.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
Reviews(92)
I love connecting with a destination through food, and learning how to cook traditional Basque meals is the best way to do it. Mikel, our chef and teacher was funny, engaging and very knowledgeable. Despite having lived here for over 20 years I still learned so much and I can't wait to try the dishes at home.
Very nice chef, but too expensive. Food cost under 10 EUR per person and nothing created that I would book a cooking class for. It was delicious and fun!
What started as a cooking class ended up being one of the highlights of our time in Bilbao. Mikel was an exceptional host, teacher, and ambassador for Basque food culture. From the moment we arrived, he created an atmosphere that was welcoming, relaxed, and genuinely fun. His passion for food was infectious, and he struck the perfect balance between demonstrating techniques, sharing local culinary traditions, history, and getting everyone involved in the cooking process. The tapas we prepared were delicious, but what made the experience special was Mikel himself. He was knowledgeable without being intimidating, patient with every skill level, and full of interesting stories and insights about Bilbao, the Basque region, and its food culture. It felt less like a class and more like spending an evening cooking with a talented friend who happens to be an outstanding chef. If you’re visiting Bilbao and want an experience that combines great food, local culture, hands-on learning, and genuine hospitality, I can’t recommend this class highly enough. Thank you, Mikel, for creating such a memorable evening.
I was very disappointed that the food we prepared was not anything like the Pintxos available in restaurants. We would never prepare those dishes and eat them out or at home. There should have been typical dishes served n restaurants.
Dear David, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the class was not what you were expecting. We completely understand that many visitors associate Basque cuisine with the dishes typically served in restaurants. At Gastronomía Bilbao, we offer several different cooking experiences, including our immersive Basque Cooking Class, where guests prepare a full selection of traditional Basque dishes. However, the class you attended was specifically our Pintxos Cooking Class, which focuses exclusively on the traditional pintxos culture of the Basque Country. Pintxos are not restaurant dishes. They are small bites traditionally served in pintxos bars and taverns throughout the Basque Country, often built around bread and designed to be enjoyed while socializing over a drink. The recipes taught in the class are inspired by these classic bar-style preparations that form an important part of our local culinary identity. We appreciate that this style of cooking may not have been what you were hoping for, but the content of the class was intentionally designed to showcase the authentic tradition of Basque pintxos rather than restaurant cuisine. Thank you again for your feedback and for joining us. We wish you a wonderful continuation of your travels in the Basque Country. Warm regards, Irene
Hi, Thank you for the wonderful cooking class! We really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot. The recipes are much appreciated, and we’re looking forward to trying them at home. Thanks again for the great time and your hospitality!
A superb class. Mikel was really knowledgeable and passionate. I feel like we learned lots and I feel inspired to have a go at some new things. But most importantly we got to eat some fabulous food and drink some lovely wine!
Fine recipes, delicious wine, interesting explanations, helpful tips, a lively atmosphere with an interesting and internationally mixed group led by a qualified, humorous chef as the instructor.
Great evening with our host and teacher Mikel. He explained the history of the various pintxos we made and gave us some excellent chef prep and cooking tips. He was also very accommodating when I said I could not eat the cod or shrimp and quickly gave me an alternative so I could make the same as the others in the class. Food was delicious as was the local wine. A must do when in Bilbao.
Having not known of pintxos before coming to Bilbao I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty these treats are. We were lucky enough to have been in a small group of five so we each had plenty of time with Mikel, who was an excellent host/teacher. (My personal Gilda and mayonnaise got top marks). This was a great way to spend 2.5 hours learning and cooking our own pintxos. And some great tips from a chef. (The trick of de-veining a prawn was a revelation.!). The food we created was amazing! Great value for money….highly recommended!!
Miguel was a great teacher. We loved our pintxos. Each couple of people were from different countries. We had a fantastic time!
