Gosto Algarve Cooking Classes

Join our private cooking classes in the Algarve to discover secrets of Portuguese or Asian cuisine.

We offer private classes only at your holiday villa or apartment in the central Algarve, from Carvoeiro-Lagoa to Vilamoura-Quarteira-Quinta de Lago. Please, note that we don’t have group classes in a restaurant.

We work with small groups of 3 to 8 participants. The minimum age is 12. If there are only 2 of you, please, send us a request.

Costs are €69 per person, including several appetizers, a main course, a dessert, step-by-step guidance from our chef, and wine paired with the food.

Gosto Algarve cooking classes run Tuesday to Friday. Please, book at least 2 days in advance, so we can shop for fresh fish and seasonal vegetables on local markets, and because we often sell out during high season (April to October).

In our most popular Portuguese cooking class, you will learn to prepare Caldeirada de Peixe, a famous Portuguese stew with fish, seafood and vegetables, two traditional Portuguese appetizers, such as Bacalhau com Grão and Roll de Beringela, and a dessert.

How it works:
1. Check availability of your preferred dates and book a class via WhatsApp or email.
2. Send us the location of your holiday home in Google Maps and kitchen photos (from Booking or Airbnb), so we can calculate transportation costs and check if the kitchen is suitable for the class. Our chef recently moved from Lagos to Vilamoura. If your holiday address is not in the Vilamoura-Quarteira area but in Carvoeiro, Lagoa, Albufeira or Loule, we will have to add €30-40 to the class price.
3. On the class day, our chef arrives one hour early with fresh ingredients bought on local markets and essential cookware required for the class (e.g. knives, pans, cutting boards, aprons etc).
4. You cook each dish under the chef’s guidance. The class lasts about 4 hours, including cooking and dinner.
5. No prepayment is required, you pay after the class. Please, read our FAQ if you have any further questions or contact us via WhatsApp or email.

You can discover the secrets of Japanese, Thai and Korean cuisine in one of our Asian cooking classes: Best of Asia // Japanese Classics // Around Asia // Japanese Sushi. You can view the menus by clicking on the picture above and book an Asian class of your choice via WhatsApp or email.

Testimonials

“My son and I had the most unforgettable day with Chef Lena at Gosto Algarve Cooking Classes. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of magical!
Market Adventure. We began our journey at the Lagos fish market, where Chef Lena introduced us to the incredible variety of local fish. She patiently explained how to choose the freshest catch and shared fascinating stories about the region’s seafood traditions. We then wandered through the farmer’s market, hand-picking vegetables and herbs — it felt like being a local for the day! A Taste of the Sea – Barnacles! One of the most unique parts was preparing and tasting barnacles. Hands-On Cooking. Back in the kitchen, Chef Lena guided us step-by-step through preparing Caldeirada, a classic Portuguese fish stew. Her passion for Portuguese cuisine is infectious, and she made every moment fun and educational. My son, who loves to cook, was completely engaged and learned so many new skills. Unforgettable Memories. The class was private and tailored just for us, making it a truly special bonding experience. We laughed, learned, and enjoyed the most delicious meal we’ve ever made together. Chef Lena’s warmth and expertise turned a simple cooking class into a cherished memory. Highly Recommend. If you’re visiting Lagos and want to experience authentic Portuguese culture and cuisine, do NOT miss this class. Chef Lena’s knowledge, kindness, and enthusiasm made this the highlight of our trip. Thank you, Chef Lena, for an incredible day — we can’t wait to cook Caldeirada at home and share what we learned with friends and family!”
By Dylanahardy on Tripadvisor

A Magical Culinary Experience with Chef Lena
“Coming from a food industry background, I’ve learned some great techniques from many good cooks and chefs in the past. Many of these lessons have been taught on the fly. This was my first cooking class in an in-home setting. That in itself was great fun. Chef Lena was enjoyable to work with. She handed out separate duties for the 5 of us to keep us interested and involved. We learned to clean a fresh squid, easily devein fresh shrimps, etch squid bodies to make pieces curl and look interesting along with making an excellent stock for our multi-fish Caldeirada de Peixe. In addition to that dish we made a wonderful Bacalhau con Grão salad, a traditional Portuguese marinaded cod dish, delectable Roll de Beringela, an eggplant roll with soft requeijão cheese, and drank lovely Portuguese wines and tasted wonderful local appetizers. The final dish was a crusty savory cheese and fig pie with a drizzle of honey. Fantastic! We learned a lot and enjoyed a hearty meal. Lena was an excellent teacher and cook. It was a fabulous experience.”
By Rick R on Tripadvisor

Fantastic Portuguese culinary creations
“We had a private cooking lesson conducted by Lena in our villa. She was amazing! This is truly a hands-on class, and she taught us so much along the way – general kitchen tips as well as some specifics related to Portuguese cuisine. She is bursting with energy, is a great teacher, and was a joy to be with. She brought everything she needed and was incredibly organized. At the end of the evening as we were enjoying our cookies and a bit of wine, she came in to say goodbye – and the kitchen was spotless! I would highly recommend this incredible experience!”
By JPoppJr on Tripadvisor

Wonderful evening in the kitchen with Lena