Empanada or Asado Cooking Class in Buenos Aires: Which Should You Book?
Updated October 28, 2026 · 5 min read
Book an empanada class if you want a repeatable skill and plenty of hands-on work. Choose an asado experience when the meal, fire and social ritual matter more than doing every preparation yourself. Read the activity description carefully: “cooking class”, “tasting” and “dining experience” are not interchangeable.
The clearest hands-on option
The guided empanada and alfajor cooking class lasts three hours. Its description includes making both foods, drinking mate, talking with a certified city guide and eating at the end. That gives the session a useful structure: savoury pastry, a sweet recipe and cultural context rather than a demonstration alone.
A Palermo empanada and alfajor lesson lasts 2.5 hours and focuses on the same two classics. It suits travellers who want a slightly shorter workshop in Palermo.
When Argentine cooking goes beyond empanadas
The Argentine cooking class designed by a Michelin Guide chef runs for 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the option. Its listed menu includes empanadas, chipa and flan with Argentine wines in an open kitchen. Choose it for a broader menu and a polished social meal, not simply because of the chef label.
Asado experiences vary even more. Some are tastings where the host cooks; others involve guests in preparation. Before paying, check what you personally cook, whether drinks are included and how dietary requirements are handled. If the listing does not confirm an adaptation, ask the operator.
Our recommendation
For most first-time visitors, the three-hour empanada and alfajor class has the strongest balance of participation and local context. Pick a chef-led class for a wider menu, and an asado evening when you mainly want to understand the shared meal around the grill.
