Vive lo mejor de
Madrid con Withlocals

"This was a lovely experience with Lola and a small group. She’s a fantastic teacher and the food was amazing. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a novice, this experience is great! We met some great Canadians in our class and made 4 amazing Spanish recipes with Lola. The wine and conversation flowed freely. Run to sign up! It’s fantastic!"

"What a fantastic experience! Lola was an outstanding teacher — knowledgeable, engaging, and way fun to cook alongside. Our class tackled four classic Spanish dishes: ham croquettes, Russian salad, Ajoarriero cod, and paella with squid ink (black rice), and Lola guided us through each one with the kind of confidence and warmth that makes even first-timers feel like they belong in the kitchen. Half the joy was the company — our little group brought together people from Kentucky, Tennessee, San Francisco, and Holland, and by the time we sat down to eat everything we'd made, it felt like a dinner party with old friends. And after the cooking was done, we lingered over wine with Lola herself, who generously shared her favorite spots around Madrid — the kind of insider recommendations you simply can't find in a guidebook. And yes, we ate everything. Every last bite. Along with ample wine she freely provided. If I'm back in Madrid, I'm signing up again — same recipes and all. That's how good our time together was."

"I recently had the opportunity to explore Madrid through the lens of street photography with Julio, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the start, Julio’s passion for photography and deep knowledge of the city’s diverse neighborhoods made the session both educational and inspiring. He guided me through areas that offered a wide range of visual stories—from bustling markets and quiet alleyways to vibrant plazas full of local life. Julio doesn’t just know the best spots; he knows how to see them through a creative lens, and he teaches you to do the same. What stood out most was his patience and understanding. He recognized that for many street photography can feel intimidating at first. But Julio’s calm, encouraging approach made it feel completely approachable. He shared practical techniques, composition tips, and clever tricks to help me capture more authentic, compelling images—all while keeping the mood relaxed and enjoyable. Whether you're a beginner or someone looking to refine your street photography skills, I highly recommend this experience. Julio’s combination of expertise, enthusiasm, and supportive teaching style makes this more than just a photography tour—it's a genuinely enriching learning experience."

"I did 3 days of photo workshops with Julio - and I wish I could have done more. Julio arrived prepared with suggested itineraries for each session, including different locations and lighting scenarios as well as composition and technical exercises. He had reviewed my photography in advance to ensure the workshop would help me refine and improve my skills. His enthusiasm for photography, for the city of Madrid and even helping me practice Spanish made our 3 days fly by. His workshop also feels like a cultural and historical tour of Madrid as he familiarized me with this beautiful, lively city. It was such a pleasure spending time with him. I highly recommend Julio and look forward to a future opportunity to shoot with him. Gracias por todo, Julio!"

"DO NOT leave Madrid without booking this experience with Lola. You will not regret meeting with her, only NOT meeting with her! We started our communication with Lola by being provided very good directions and instructions to reach her private dining space. Upon entering, not really knowing what to expect, all we could do was to stand and repeatedly voice, WOW, WOW, WOW! What was once a residence has been converted into a FABULOUS space with an monstrous wooden dining table long with a kitchen showcasing an immense island where her cooking class guests are seated. Our evening was joined with other guests who fast became friends throughout the course of the evening. We drank, laughed, prepped, cooked, stirred, sauteed, sliced, diced, laughed, drank, and so on. The experience was definitely a hands-on experience crafting truly authentic Spanish dishes using the freshest of foods. The dishes Lola selected for us to cook would have been quite daunting to the untrained cook, however, Lola had a knack for breaking down the recipe and turning the 'chore' of cooking in a wonderfully fun and amusing experience. We learned so much along the way, including how to fully prepare a piece of squid including de-boning, de-beaking and cleaning. We nibbled on the first two courses along the way and thoroughly enjoyed the two final main courses. The truffles served at the end of the evening capped off the magnificent experience in a beautifully sweet way. You will arrive as a stranger and be friends within minutes. What we truly appreciated with the experience was the Spanish way of life in how laid-back the culture is and looking at the art of cooking as an experience to enjoy with family and friends vs. a chore. "

"Maria was an absolute delight. From the moment we met she taught me and inspired me to speak and love Español. She was very patient and encouraging and most of all a great teacher. I have vowed to practice so that next time we meet we can experience more beauty in Madrid. Gracias. "

"María really pushed me to learn more Spanish and the churros were great"

"We had a wonderful time in Lola's class. She was knowledgeable, clear in her information and instructions, and very accommodating of dietary requirements (including vegetarian). We walked away full of good food and keen to try making it ourselves! The small group size was also perfect. "

"We had a wonderful time with Ari and Abuela. We learned to make Seafood Paella and Spanish Omelet/Tortilla. The interactions were fun and the food was incredible and plentiful! Abuela was very patient with our many questions and Ari was very patient translating them. Ari also gave us some great pointers for our next activity of the day. All in all, it was a fantastic experience!"

"We would not recommend this experience more. Antonia and Ariadna welcomed us into their (pristine) home. Ariadna spoke perfect English and translated our many questions for Abuela. The produce was so fresh and the food was something out of our dreams. We made Seafood Paella and Spanish Tortilla we would highly recommend. So grateful to have this experience. "