Best Cooking Classes in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is famous, among other things, for its rich gastronomy, so during your trip you will be able to learn the best secrets about the preparation of the dishes of the Argentine cuisine.

Matías Rodríguez

Matías Rodríguez

11 min read

Best Cooking Classes in Buenos Aires

Cooking Class | ©Kala Moreno Parra

Buenos Aires has some of the best museums, interesting green spaces and a wealth of attractions at all times of the year, but it also stands out for its delicious gastronomy, which is the result of a centuries-old cultural crossroads that has defined its own style of cuisine.

Among the best things to see and do in Buenos Aires to discover the local food in a cooking class experience are preparing empanadas, learning how to make asado, tasting typical sweets and learning about gourmet cooking.

1. Argentine empanadas cooking class in Buenos Aires

Argentine Empanadas| ©jschauma
Argentine Empanadas| ©jschauma

If you love food and want to experience the culinary culture of Argentina, you can't miss an empanada cooking class in Buenos Aires. Empanadas are one of the most popular dishes in Argentina and are present on every table, from homes to the most exclusive restaurants.

An Argentine empanada cooking class is a unique experience that will allow you to learn about the history and tradition behind this iconic dish. In the class, an expert chef will teach you how to prepare the dough and filling, and show you the techniques necessary to create perfect empanadas.

Empanada cooking classes usually take place in a professional kitchen or in a specially designed kitchen space. In addition to learning how to make empanadas, you will also be able to do tastings as if you were on the best gastronomic tours in Buenos Aires.

After creating your empanadas, you will be able to enjoy them over a meal accompanied by a glass of Argentine wine, which will perfectly complement the culinary experience.

Details of interest

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 73 euros.
  • Duration of these excursions: approximately 3 hours.
  • Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to learn how to cook one of Argentina's typical dishes.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: does not include other local specialties.

Book an empanada cooking class in Buenos Aires

2. Gastronomic experience with preparation of empanadas and tasting of wines, meats, alfajores and mate

Wine Tasting| ©Larissa Coutinho
Wine Tasting| ©Larissa Coutinho

Buenos Aires is a city that delights the senses with its unique and varied gastronomy. One of the best ways to experience its food and drink is through a gastronomic excursion. On this culinary adventure, you will enjoy preparing Argentine empanadas and tasting wines, meats, alfajores and mate.

The excursion begins with the preparation of empanadas, a traditional dish of Argentine culture. Empanadas are pastries filled with meat, chicken, cheese, vegetables or a combination of these ingredients, which are usually baked in a clay oven.

After preparing the empanadas, you will head to a winery to taste some of the best wines of the region. Argentina is known for its quality wines, especially Malbec. The tour guide will explain how the wines are made and how they are paired with different types of food, making this one of the best tours in Buenos Aires.

Next, you will visit an Argentinean steakhouse to sample some of the best cuts of meat in the country. Grilled meat is an integral part of the local gastronomy and is prepared on the grill with a wood fire for a smoky and tender flavor.

Details of interest

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 79 euros.
  • Duration of these excursions: approximately 4 and a half hours.
  • Advantages of these excursions: you will have a comprehensive overview of Argentine cuisine.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: you will not have too much free time.

Book a private tour in Buenos Aires

3. Gastronomic experience of a traditional Argentinean barbecue

Asado| ©Carlos Y
Asado| ©Carlos Y

If you want to live a typically Argentine experience, you can't miss a gastronomic tour to prepare a traditional Argentine asado in Buenos Aires, which can be an unforgettable experience for lovers of good food and culture.

The tour starts early in the morning, when the group gathers at a local market in Palermo to buy the necessary ingredients for the asado. There, you can find a wide variety of high quality meats, including beef, pork and lamb cuts, along with a selection of fresh vegetables and spices.

After shopping, the group heads to a barbecue place where you will meet the asador, who is an expert in the preparation of asados. He will show you how to prepare the meat, season it properly and cook it to perfection on the grill. You will also be able to taste some traditional appetizers.

Once the meat is ready, everyone will sit down at the table to enjoy the delicious meal. The flavor of the grilled meat, tender and juicy, will be unforgettable. Participants will also be able to taste different cuts of meat and discover how each one has its own flavor and texture.

Details of interest

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 138 euros.
  • Duration of these excursions: approximately 3 and a half hours.
  • Advantages of these excursions: you will learn the secrets of Argentinean gastronomy.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: it can be an expensive experience.

4. Private class of typical Argentinean dishes

Cooking Class| ©Laura Szenkierman
Cooking Class| ©Laura Szenkierman

A private class of typical Argentinean dishes is an excellent way to learn about the culinary culture of the country. During this class, you will learn how to prepare traditional dishes such as empanadas, asado, milanesas and dulce de leche.

Empanadas are a traditional dish that you will find in almost every menu of restaurants and homes in Argentina. A mixture of minced meat, onion, eggs and olives can be used. This dish is a favorite of children, so it will be ideal if you plan to visit Buenos Aires with children.

Another typical dish that you can learn to prepare is the famous Argentinean asado. You can use beef cuts such as asado de tira or entraña, and then marinate them with a mixture of oil, garlic, lemon and herbs, which in Argentina is known as chimichurri.

In addition to these dishes, you can also try other Argentinean delicacies such as milanesa, a breaded and fried steak, and facturas, a type of sweet bread with different fillings such as dulce de leche, custard or fruit. This is a quick excursion and is ideal if you are planning a short stay in the city. If that is your case, here is a list of activities to discover Buenos Aires in 3 days.

Details of interest

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 65 euros.
  • Duration of these excursions: approximately 4 hours.
  • Advantages of these excursions: in a private class you will have more participation.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: it is an intense excursion for its short duration.

5. Experience of alfajores preparation in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires Alfajor| ©lamblukas
Buenos Aires Alfajor| ©lamblukas

Buenos Aires is known for its rich culinary culture and wide variety of traditional dishes. From empanadas to the famous asado, the city offers a wide range of flavors and textures that delight the most demanding palates. But if there is one dessert that represents the traditional porteño cuisine, it is alfajores.

Alfajores are a typical Argentine sweet, made up of two layers of soft and sweet dough, filled with dulce de leche and covered with coconut or powdered sugar. In Buenos Aires, alfajores are a classic pastry, and they come in many types and flavors.

To experience traditional porteño cuisine and alfajores, it is advisable to visit some of the city's most famous bakeries and confectioneries, or take part in a food class experience to learn how to make them on your own.

Another option, outside the interactive excursions, is to visit Recoleta, a neighborhood in Buenos Aires that is famous for the Cemetery. There, you can find some of the best bakeries and pastry shops in the city, where tourists can try the most famous alfajores and other traditional sweets, such as bizcochos and medialunas.

Details of interest

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 45 euros.
  • Duration of these excursions: approximately 2 hours.
  • Advantages of these excursions: affordable cost.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: the experience does not include any salty options.

Book tickets for the Recoleta Cemetery

6. Private Argentine gourmet cooking class

Mendoza food class| ©Laura Szenkierman
Mendoza food class| ©Laura Szenkierman

If you are looking for a unique gastronomic experience during your visit to Argentina, a private gourmet cooking class may be just what you need. This activity is perfect for those who wish to learn more about the country' s rich culinary culture and sample some of the region's most delicious dishes.

During a private gourmet cooking class in Argentina, you will have the opportunity to work with an experienced chef who will guide you through every step of the process of preparing the dishes.

Argentine cuisine is famous for its meat dishes and flavorful wines, so it's no surprise that these elements are a key part of any cooking class. Chefs often focus on meat dishes, such as the famous Argentine asado.

In addition to meat, Argentine cuisine also features a huge variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes. During a private gourmet cooking class, you can choose to learn how to prepare some of these dishes, such as the typical provoleta, a delicious Argentine version of pizza, but with cheese and without tomato. These preparations can usually be enjoyed on a terrace, which is ideal if you plan to visit Buenos Aires in the summer.

Interesting details

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 110 euros.
  • Duration of these tours: approximately 3 hours and a half.
  • Advantages of these excursions: you will get to know an exclusive profile of Argentine cuisine.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: it is an expensive experience.

7. Coffee preparation and tasting experience in Buenos Aires

Barista Class| ©Bruno Belcastro
Barista Class| ©Bruno Belcastro

If you are planning a tour in Buenos Aires, don't miss the opportunity to experience a coffee preparation and cupping experience. The city has a large number of high quality coffee shops that offer this unique experience and that you will be able to get to know on these excursions.

In these experiences, expert baristas will guide you through the coffee preparation process. They will show you how to select the best quality beans, how to grind them correctly and how to prepare different styles of coffee. You will learn about the importance of time, temperature and the proportion of water and coffee in the preparation of a perfect cup. Coffee in Argentina is available all year round, whatever time of the year you visit Buenos Aires.

After the preparation, you will be able to taste the coffee. The baristas will guide you through a cupping where you can taste different varieties and learn to detect the differences in taste, aroma and body. You will discover how the region, type of bean and preparation method can affect the final flavor.

During the cupping, the baristas will also teach you to recognize the acidity, sweetness and bitterness of coffee. You will learn to identify the complex and subtle flavors and aromas found in high quality coffee.

Details of Interest

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 37 euros.
  • Duration of these excursions: approximately 2 hours and a half.
  • Advantages of these excursions: it is an economical experience.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: does not include sweet options.

8. Preparation of mate in Palermo

Making Mate| ©Candelaria Espinal
Making Mate| ©Candelaria Espinal

The mate culture is a fundamental part of daily life in Argentina. There is nothing more typical than enjoying a conversation accompanied by a round of mate. If you are visiting Buenos Aires, you can join this custom and experience an authentic preparation of mate, which will allow you to learn more about this traditional drink.

Mate is an herbal infusion that is prepared in a container, which is a kind of cup that is made from a dried gourd. The container is filled with yerba mate, an herb native to South America, and then hot water is added.

The mate is shared in a round among friends or family, each taking a sip from the same container and passing it to the next. The presence of this drink is typical in gaucho parties.

In these tours you can learn all about yerba mate, the different types, how to select the best quality and the secrets of the perfect preparation of mate. You will also be able to taste different varieties of yerba mate, each one with a unique flavor and aroma.

Interesting details

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 15 euros.
  • Duration of these excursions: approximately 1 hour and a half.
  • Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to join a typical experience.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: does not include other tastings.

Book a gaucho excursion to San Antonio de Areco

9. Argentine sweet cooking class

Tasting the chocotorta| ©Piece of Cake Cupcakes
Tasting the chocotorta| ©Piece of Cake Cupcakes

Argentina's sweet cuisine is known for its rich variety of traditional desserts and sweets that are a real treat for the palate. If you enjoy cooking and are curious to experiment with Argentine cuisine, I recommend that you opt to take a sweet cooking class.

During this experience you will learn how to prepare some of Argentina's most iconic desserts, such as the alfajor, a sweet made of two soft cookies filled with dulce de leche and covered with chocolate or sugar. You will learn how to make the cookies from scratch and fill them with this delicious sweet.

Another classic dessert is flan with dulce de leche, a variation of the traditional flan with an Argentinean twist. You will learn how to prepare the mixture of eggs, milk and sugar. You will also learn how to make churros, a popular snack served with a cup of hot chocolate for dipping, especially if you plan to visit Buenos Aires in winter.

You will also learn how to prepare tres leches cake, a spongy sponge cake soaked in a mixture of three types of milk (evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream) and topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, which is very traditional in Venezuela and Mexico, but due to the crossing of cultures has had a reversion in Argentina.

Details of interest

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 74 euros.
  • Duration of these excursions: approximately 3 hours.
  • Advantages of these excursions: you will know the best sweet dishes of Argentina.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: does not include pastry options.

10. Private homemade food tour in Buenos Aires

Eating Milanesa| ©Emily
Eating Milanesa| ©Emily

In Buenos Aires there are few things more authentic than enjoying a home-cooked meal at a local's home. On these excursions you will be welcomed into the home of a local host who will prepare a delicious home-cooked meal with fresh, typical ingredients.

During dinner, you will be able to try a variety of typical Argentinean dishes such as empanadas, asado, milanesas, and alfajores. In addition, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a selection of Argentine wines, which are known for their taste and quality. The menu will usually depend on the host.

In addition to dinner, the private home-cooked meal excursion also includes a tour of the neighborhood. You will be able to explore the area and discover some of the most interesting and authentic places in Buenos Aires such as local markets, antique stores and tango bars, where you can take tango lessons or enjoy a tango show.

Details of interest

  • Price of these excursions: approximately 97 euros.
  • Duration of these excursions: approximately 5 hours.
  • Advantages of these excursions: you will get to know the daily life of Buenos Aires.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: the menu depends on the host.

Book a tango show in Buenos Aires