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Cooking classes in Lisbon

The best cooking classes in Lisbon

Pastel de nata from the first fold of the pastry, a Portuguese family meal you cooked yourself, a class inside a working bakery: here are Lisbon's best cooking classes, with honest advice on class size, what you take home, and which class fits your level.

By the Things to Do in Lisbon editorial team 6 tours compared Prices checked 19 October 2026

See our 6 picks
Close-up of freshly baked pastéis de nata with caramelised tops, packed on a baking tray

Short answer A pastel de nata class in Lisbon takes about 2 hours and costs from €55 per person; you make the custard tarts yourself and eat them warm from the oven. A full Portuguese cooking class takes about 3 hours, costs from €80 and ends with a meal you cooked. No experience is needed for any of them.

Our 6 picks for a cooking class in Lisbon

Four pastel de nata classes and two classes that cook a whole Portuguese meal. All take place in central Lisbon and include eating what you make.

Lisbon cooking classes compared

Lisbon cooking classes compared
Tour From Duration Group size Pickup Free cancellation Who it suits Why we picked it
Pastel de nata baking class with drinks 4.9 (3,290) €55
per person		 2 hours Not stated Meet on site Yes, up to 24 hours in advance Anyone who wants the classic Lisbon class at the best price The most booked class here, rated 4.9 by over 3,000 people, at the lowest price.
Traditional Portuguese cooking class, four courses 4.9 (824) €85
per person		 3 hours Small group; Limited to 10 participants Meet on site Yes, up to 24 hours in advance Food lovers who want a full meal, not only dessert Covers both a full menu and the pastel de nata, rated 4.9 by over 800 people.
Pastel de nata masterclass in a working bakery 4.9 (270) €70
per person		 2 hours Not stated Meet on site Yes, up to 24 hours in advance Travellers who want to see a professional bakery at work A real bakery setting rather than a teaching kitchen, rated 4.9.
Pastel de nata class with the full puff pastry 4.7 (535) €60
per person		 2 hours Not stated Meet on site Yes, up to 24 hours in advance Keen home bakers who want to repeat it at home The only nata class here that lists the full puff-pastry process and a second recipe.
Pastéis de nata from scratch with a chef 4.9 (220) €65
per person		 2 hours Small group; Limited to 8 participants Meet on site Yes, up to 24 hours in advance A second choice when the other nata classes are full Rated 4.9, with everything made from scratch, at a mid-range price.
Portuguese cooking class for beginners 4.9 (93) €80
per person		 3 hours Small group; Limited to 6 participants Meet on site Yes, up to 24 hours in advance Beginners who want everyday Portuguese food, not only pastry Built for beginners and rated 4.9; a smaller, newer class with under 100 reviews.

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 19 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.

Pastel de nata class or a Portuguese cooking class?

Choose a pastel de nata class if you have two hours and want the one recipe everyone in Lisbon talks about. You make the tarts, eat them warm and leave with the recipe. Choose a Portuguese cooking class if you want a full meal: three or four dishes, about three hours, and lunch or dinner sorted.

One class combines both: the traditional cooking class includes a pastel de nata as the dessert of its four courses.

What happens in a pastel de nata baking class in Lisbon

A pastel de nata baking class in Lisbon follows the same steps: rolling and folding the pastry, pressing it into small tins, cooking the custard of egg yolks, sugar and milk, and baking at a very high heat until the tops blister. Most classes save time by preparing part of the pastry in advance; the 2-hour class above includes the full puff-pastry process.

You eat your tarts at the end, usually with a drink. Ask on the day whether you can take the leftovers with you.

Where the pastel de nata comes from

The custard tart comes from Belém, next to the Jerónimos Monastery. When Portugal's monasteries were closed in 1834, the monastery's recipe passed to a bakery that began selling the tarts in 1837 and still makes them under the name pastéis de Belém. Seeing the monastery is easy to combine with a class; tickets are on our Lisbon tickets page.

Private cooking class in Lisbon, in English

The classes above are shared classes; for a private cooking class in Lisbon, ask the operator when booking whether your group can have the kitchen to itself, which is often possible for families or friends. Check the language line on each booking page too, so you get a Lisbon cooking class in English, and mention any dietary needs, as the recipes use eggs, butter and milk.

How to choose the right class

  1. Match the class to your level

    None of these classes needs experience. Keen bakers should pick the class with the full puff pastry; beginners who want a meal, the class for beginners.

  2. Ask about class size

    Group sizes are not stated on the booking pages. If you want more time at the counter, ask the operator before booking or choose a quieter morning slot.

  3. Know what you take home

    You always eat what you make. Most classes share the recipe; whether leftovers go home with you varies, so bring a small box or ask.

  4. Count the courses

    Nata classes are dessert with a drink. The two Portuguese cooking classes serve a full meal of three or four dishes, so book them instead of lunch or dinner.

  5. Book ahead in high season

    Classes have limited places. All six can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Questions people ask

Where is the best pastel de nata in Lisbon?

Tastes differ, and bakeries all over the city make good ones. The most famous is the original bakery in Belém, which has sold its pastéis de Belém since 1837. Or make your own in one of the classes above.

How difficult is it to make pastel de nata?

The custard is easy; the thin, layered pastry and the very hot oven are the hard parts. In a two-hour class a chef guides you through both, and the results are good even on a first try.

Are pastéis de Belém worth it?

Yes, if you are in Belém anyway: it is the bakery where the tart has been made since 1837, right next to the Jerónimos Monastery. Expect a queue at busy times.

Are pastels de nata healthy?

They are a treat: puff pastry with butter, and a custard of egg yolks, sugar and milk. One with your coffee is part of the Lisbon experience; six a day is not.

What is the difference between pastel de nata and pastel de nata?

There is none: pastel de nata is the singular and pastéis de nata the plural. What people often mean is the difference with the pastel de Belém, which is the name only the original bakery in Belém uses for its own version.

How many calories are in 1 pastel de nata?

It depends on the size and the bakery. Nutrition databases list about 175 kcal for one standard tart.

Which country is pastel de nata from?

Portugal. It comes from Belém in Lisbon, where it was first sold to the public in 1837.

Can you get a pastry degree online?

Online pastry courses exist, but pastry is learned by hand. A two-hour class in Lisbon teaches you the feel of the dough in a way a screen can't.

More Lisbon cooking classes with live availability

More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.

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Facts checked on 19 October 2026 against: Pastéis de Belém, history · FatSecret nutrition database, pastel de nata.

Written by the Things to Do in Lisbon editorial team. How we pick tours.