The Paella Club logo in a transparent format, designed for branding flexibility across digital and printed materials.
The Paella Club logo in a transparent format, designed for branding flexibility across digital and printed materials.

Barcelona and Paella: Two Loves, One Club

We’ve all been there—visiting a new place
and wanting to connect with the culture,
food, and history. At The Paella Club, we
connect deeply with our guests, share
laughs around the stove, and even stop for
a snapshot together along the way. We’re
proud of what we do, but we don’t put on a
show—we want everything you feel to be
real. Our head chef has worked in
Michelin-starred restaurants, but we keep
things chill and welcoming. We’re like your
foodie friends, here to help you enjoy an
awesome culinary adventure.

Culinary Exploration with a Conscience: Social Responsibility

the tpc foundation

We follow the “slow food movement”,
focusing on creating an amazing
experience by using locally sourced
ingredients. This helps us celebrate and
share Spanish culture and traditions while
staying eco-friendly. We believe in farm-to-
table dining, which not only focus on local
flavors and environment but also highlights
people behind it all.

Our Slow mindset isn’t just about food—it’s
in everything we do, from our interior
design to how we run our business. The
Paella Club was built using reclaimed
materials, creating a cool, modern space
that still feels connected to tradition. We
also do our best to reduce food waste by
donating leftovers to local food banks and
people in need. Plus, we team up with local
NGOs to host fundraising events in order to
give back to the community.

We follow the “slow food movement”, focusing on creating an amazing experience by using locally sourced ingredients. This helps us celebrate and share Spanish culture and traditions while staying eco-friendly. We believe in farm-to- table dining, which not only focus on local flavors and environment but also highlights people behind it all.

Our Slow mindset isn’t just about food—it’s in everything we do, from our interior design to how we run our business. The Paella Club was built using reclaimed materials, creating a cool, modern space that still feels connected to tradition. We also do our best to reduce food waste by donating leftovers to local food banks and people in need. Plus, we team up with local NGOs to host fundraising events in order to give back to the community.

the tpc foundation

Welcome to The Paella Club! Here, we’re all about good
vibes and making you feel at home. Step in and meet the
crew—through some fun throwback childhood photos! As
you check them out, you’ll get to know the stories,
memories, and people that make this place so special.
Come on in, you’re officially part of the family!

Join the Paella fam

We’re all about the magic of human connection. Are you in?

Work with us

Alex Betolaza

Founder and CEO

Alex Betolaza is the personification of the story behind The Paella Club. He was born in the Basque Country (País Vasco), a region that is known...

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Marina Solís

Chief Operating Officer

Meet our Chief Operations Officer, Marina. With her strategic acumen, she orchestrates seamless operations at our vibrant hub nestled in the heart of Barcelona.

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Lucía Zanchi

Executive Chef

Lucia Zanchi was raised in England, but her parents are from Argentina. The unique blend of cultures...

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Valentina Ortiz

Chef

Valentina studied gastronomy and economics at the University of La Sabana in Bogotá before moving to Argentina, where she lived…

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Kevin Kolenc

Chef

At seventeen years old Kevin Kolenc, who was born in Trieste (Italy), felt the urge to make changes in his life, so...

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Cris Prieto

Kitchen Assistant

Christian Prieto arrived in Barcelona eight years ago, in 2016. He was originally from Maracaibo, in Venezuela, but...

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Melvín Ardón

Kitchen Assistant

Melvin comes from Tegucigalpa capital in Honduras. He moved to Barcelona in 2018 to reunite with his family and to...

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Alejandra Guzman

Kitchen Assistant

Mayra Alejandra Fajardo Guzmán was born in Bogotá in Colombia and came to Spain with her son two years ago mainly to...

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Join the Paella fam

Wanna join the family?

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People say...

Founder and CEO

ALEX BETOLAZA

Alex Betolaza is the personification of the story behind The Paella Club. He was born in the Basque Country (País Vasco), a region that is known for its culinary highlights, both reflected in the world famous pintxos (“toothpick-tapas”) and the multitude of Michelin star restaurants.

An unknown fact to many people: Basque Country is the only region in Spain where men take place behind the stove as part of their cultural heritage. There are even private cooking clubs where all members are male, where are called txokos.

Alex remained true to his roots during his life journey which lead him to London, Los Angeles, Aspen and Miami, where he worked in various trendy restaurants. While abroad, Alex noticed an reoccurring phenomena: as soon as people heard he was from Spain, they asked him about the secrets of a great paella. This is where the idea first began.

Alex began to develop an idea of creating a space in Los Angeles that could reflect and share the beauty of Spanish cuisine and culture. Not a cooking school, nor a restaurant. Instead, he aspired to provide individuals with a true gastronomic experience where they could discover fresh ingredients, take part in interactive cooking, and have a shared dining experience in a breathtaking environment.

Returning back to his Spanish roots, Alex moved to Barcelona, where he used his background and knowledge, or shall we say the “ingredients” LA and Miami, his interest in the paella, and his knowledge of fresh produce to stir-up what is now The Paella Club.

Chief Operating Officer

MARINA SOLÍS

Meet our Chief Operations Officer, Marina. With her strategic acumen, she oversees seamless operations at our vibrant hub nestled in the heart of Barcelona. Here, travelers from around the globe converge to celebrate their shared passions for food, music, and wine, embarking on an exhilarating journey through Spanish cuisine.

Born and raised in Panama, a country renowned for its Panama Canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Marina is well-versed in forging connections with people worldwide. Panama’s rich culinary landscape, influenced by diverse global flavors and her Spanish heritage, sparked Marina’s deep interest in food as a cultural bridge.

Marina holds a degree in Mass Media Communications and has earned dual master’s degrees in Advertising Strategy and Creativity, and Digital Advertising from Barcelona. She joined the venture early on, working alongside Alex, driven by her dual passions for food and communication.

Since the day she signed on to this project, Marina has played a pivotal role in our growth. As Chief Operations Officer, she is now the driving force behind our mission to share the love for Spanish cuisine and culture with travelers from every corner of the globe.

Executive Chef

LUCÍA ZANCHI

Lucia Zanchi was raised in England, but her parents are from Argentina. The unique blend of cultures shaping Lucia has generated in her a profound understanding of how food serves as a powerful force for bringing people together. Food shows us that cultural differences shouldn’t be viewed as barriers, but rather as opportunities for connection and enrichment.

Her journey of culinary discovery began at a tender age, as she fondly recalls the joy of cooking alongside her grandmother. Cooking made her happy ever since she can remember, that’s why when she had to choose what to study she had no doubts to enrol at international culinary arts. Following passions always leads to purpose and Lucia would like people to realize through food why they are who they are.

Her capabilities and determination brought her to work with many important chefs like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey and to work for the Royal Family. However, after getting her degree Lucia felt the urge to leave for an adventure, so she moved to Barcelona. She had been many times on holiday to this city and each time she fell in love with it more. At The Paella Club Lucia’s mission extends beyond culinary instruction: she looks after her team while imparting her contagious passion for culinary arts to guests. With an eye toward the future, she dreams to expand the business, driven by her pursuit of culinary excellence and her desire to spread her culinary philosophy far and wide.

Chef

VALENTINA ORTIZ

Valentina studied gastronomy and economics at the University of La Sabana in Bogotá before moving to Argentina, where she lived with cooks and discovered her passion for food. Though she didn’t grow up cooking, once she stepped into the kitchen, everything changed. After returning to Colombia, she began working in professional kitchens and quickly made her mark. As the youngest and only woman in her hotel’s kitchen, she spent almost a year working in sushi before being selected to join the Colombian culinary team for the Bocuse d’Or, one of the most prestigious cooking competitions in the world. She was named Best Commis Chef in the Americas in 2022 and later competed in France on the international stage, representing Latin America. Growing up in Colombia, dishes like her grandmother’s rice pudding and the traditional soup ajiaco bring comfort and remind her of home.

Outside the kitchen, Valentina has worked in corporate roles and managed regional sales, but her heart always brought her back to cooking. After leading a production kitchen in Bogotá, she followed her brother’s invitation to visit Barcelona and quickly felt at home. Now part of the Paella Club, she’s excited to meet people from different backgrounds, share stories through food, and continue learning. She finds joy in movement, whether it’s practicing taekwondo, skiing, or being in the water. And for a fun surprise, you might spot her tattoo of a J Balvin album cover as a fun nod to her roots and her love for music.

Chef

KEVIN KOLENC

At seventeen years old Kevin Kolenc, who was born in Trieste (Italy), felt the urge to make changes in his life, so he decided to become an entertainer in Venice. There he discovered the world of dance and acting, and he fell immediately in love with it. At nineteen years old he moved to Fuerteventura working in hotels as an entertainment manager. Cooking has always fascinated Kevin, as well as any work that requires an artistic input; for him putting your heart into what you do and shaping your work with your own personality is the most beautiful thing someone can do.

He entered The Paella Club for a series of coincidences that someone might call destiny: while he was performing a show in Fuerteventura, the staff of The Paella Club was on a team-building holiday in the same hotel. They saw him on stage, and once the show was over, he was invited to their table where Alex offered him a position on their team. He told him ‘I always try to turn chefs into showmen, but with you, I want to take a showman and turn him into a chef’. Once his commitments with the hotel chain were fulfilled, he decided to join the staff of this cooking school.

This job allows Kevin to stay connected with people and immerse himself in a totally new world that he has always enjoyed. His mission is to bring an extra pinch of energy and vitality in order for people to leave with a smile, feeling at home and recharged by the experience.

Kitchen Assistant

CHRISTIAN PRIETO

Christian Prieto arrived in Barcelona eight years ago, in 2016. He was originally from Maracaibo, in Venezuela, but due to the situation the country was facing he chose to immigrate to Spain because he liked the culture and he spoke Spanish. In Barcelona he met Lucia, his partner; she is a chef working in The Paella Club, and from her, he learned a lot about cuisine and his passion for cooking was born.

He started to work in restaurants and customer service business, and he always enjoyed connecting with people, helping whenever he could, and learn everyday something new. His mission at The Paella Club is to ensure that people have a good time, serve cava, help costumers and play music, being the DJ of the club.

Coming from a Caribbean country, music has always been a key element of Christian’s life. Back in Venezuela you can hear Latin music wherever you go, people love dancing and having a great time all together. Music is a universal language that can speak to everyone, that’s why it plays an essential role in the workshop as, together with food, is a shared passion that can immediately bond people together. At The Paella Club Christian discovered that cooking, as well as music, is a form of art: it inspires you and brings out your emotions in a creative form.

Kitchen Assistant

MELVIN ARDÓN

Melvin comes from Tegucigalpa capital in Honduras. He moved to Barcelona in 2018 to reunite with his family and to seek for new opportunities to improve his life and create a better future.

He has always been passionate about food, when he was a child his mother used to tell him “You must learn to cook because I won’t always be around”. So, little by little, he began to enjoy trying out new recipes while starting to cook for himself and for others.

According to Melvin cooking is part of everyone’s life, but it depends on you if you want to incorporate it into your passions. For him cooking can bring happiness, he always imagines how what he is preparing will turn out and if people will enjoy it. It gives him satisfaction when he ask people if they liked his dishes and they answer they were delicious and wonder if he could teach how to make them.

Sharing one’s passion is the greatest thing ever and Melvin loves it. His mission at The Paella Club is to help people who come in any way he can. He wants to keep learning and working on his culinary abilities in order one day to be able to teach a class himself. Melvin reveals he studied to become a math teacher, but life is like that… you start with something and end up doing something else. What matters is the journey that you do meanwhile: it’s a path that helps you to better understand yourself and what you’re passionate about.

Kitchen Assistant

MAYRA ALEJANDRA FAJARDO GUZMAN

c rejoin her mother that had been living here for five years. Cooking has always been a passion in her family, however, this is Mayra first job in the culinary sector as back in Colombia she used to work as a preschool teacher. Working with children allowed her to develop the capability to wonder and notice even the smallest beautiful thing we are surrounded by. Creating dishes with simple ingredients is an art that has always fascinated Mayra.

In The Paella Club she strives to provide the best customer service and the finest products to ensure people enjoy their experience and feel like at home. The cooking workshops are dynamic, non-traditional moment shared with people you don’t know but who will end up becoming your friends.

Mayra always believed in seizing the moment, living day by day, and in Barcelona she has realized how simply walking down the street can reveal beautiful details. In The Paella club she found a shared set of values centred around the idea of enjoying the present moment. It is beautiful to allow ourselves to be surprised by the landscapes, flavours, and encounters that life unexpectedly presents us with.

The Paella Club

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