Would you like to cook traditional Portuguese dishes at a local's home and discover the stories behind them? In this private experience, we don’t just prepare authentic recipes we slow down and travel through centuries of food culture, exploring how Portugal’s Mediterranean roots and global connections shaped everyday home cooking. This is not a rushed cooking class. It’s a warm, welcoming Lisbon home cooking experience, designed for all ages, where food, stories, and shared moments come together naturally. Together, we prepare three classic Portuguese home-cooking dishes: A starter, inspired by everyday Portuguese family tables A main course, rooted in traditional techniques and regional flavors A dessert, reflecting Portugal’s love for simple, comforting sweets The menu changes with the seasons and local market availability, just as it does in Portuguese homes. Traditional Portuguese cooking techniques The stories behind everyday dishes Portugal’s Mediterranean food culture The joy of slow cooking, sharing, and eating together Weather permitting, we finish by dining together in a flower-filled garden, surrounded by a real Portuguese home atmosphere.
Our host was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about teaching us Portuguese dishes. We made a delicious meal and then ate it in her lovely garden. We had a truly enjoyable evening!
We really enjoyed our experience with Defne. It was very hands on and the meal was excellent. We had a lot of fun and learned about Portuguese food.
Easily the best cooking class. Defne was kind, welcoming, and patient as we all cooked together. I would recommend this class to anyone in a heartbeat. The food, her company, and the process were all amazing. If you’re in Lisbon, this cooking class is a must do.
Looking for a home chef who's passionate about cooking, welcomes guests into her apartment with open arms, and serves the flavors of authentic Portuguese cuisine? Look no further.
Had a great time cooking with Defne! I highly recommend this experience.
Defne was an amazing host and excellent chef. We walked out with a better understanding of Portuguese flavors and ingredients. The dishes she showed us to prepare were delicious and easily replicable for back home. She made the experience very personable and relatable and we highly recommend this activity.
Defne’s class was truly a treat. Her welcoming home & genuine love of food were so appreciated. Lunch was delicious & enjoyed in her beautiful garden. Follow up was great; I already have the recipes & will make again once we are home.
Defne warmly welcomed us into her home. We cooked together and enjoyed delicious Portuguese dishes together in Defne’s beautiful garden while sharing a bit of our lives. Wonder and special experience!!
My husband and I had the best time cooking with Daphne in her home. She welcomed us into her very lovely kitchen where we picked our spices and ingredients. She uniquely explained cooking practices of the region including historical/ cultural nuances as well as techniques to maximize flavor. It was absolutely beautiful to share our cooked meal with one another in her backyard garden/patio! Daphne is very personable and warm; we couldn’t have asked for a more charming and intimate experience! We learned so much and are so excited to experiment with her recipes in the future!
Our host provided us with a wonderful, hands on, culinary experience with insight to traditional Portuguese food and way of life. We made three courses and enjoyed them with local wines in a private garden setting on a balmy evening.
Defne welcomed us into her home for a truly unique experience. The meal was approachable and delicious - we look forward to trying it again at home. If you are looking for a nice night with a great host then consider booking!
Wow. What can I say. This was the most authentic, genuine experience that I would have never expected to book on trip advisor. I know sometimes this site is full of tourist traps but trust me this it not that in the slightest. We were welcomed into the home and felt like we were with a friend from the beginning. The entire process all the way until we shared a meal with the host felt like lunch at with friends and family. Part of our hearts are left here in a hopes to “see you again”. What a beautiful human, place, and heart that was shared with us. My only regret is that we had to say see you later to our host and we hope that we do.
Defne was awesome! It was a unique and exciting experience with great food and conversation. I would recommend
Daphne was a delightful host - very personable and knowledgeable. The food was delicious and plentiful. But her home cleanliness was concerning- dirty socks on the floor, a litter box right next to where we were cooking, etc. Also, there is no AC and not even a small fan to help circulate the air in the kitchen with 90 degree heat. We had a nice evening but it was not worth the ticket price.
The whole experience was wonderful. We were completely involved in the cooking process and the dishes allowed us to even choose some of the ingredients and spices. Defne shared stories and information regarding the food and when it’s served. Highly recommend this in home experience. Also, the dishes we made can easily be made in our own homes with our local ingredients. Thank you Defne!
We are a family of five people (two are aged 55+ and three are in their late teens to mid-20s). We thoroughly enjoyed our cooking class with Defne. Being of Portuguese descent, we are familiar with many traditional foods but haven’t taken the time to make them ourselves. This was a great opportunity to learn while being in a traditional environment. Defne is an expert in food and international cuisines and can tell you many interesting facts about Portuguese culinary history while you prepare the food. This class is for all experience levels - Defne has something that everyone can do. Thank you, Defne, for a lovely afternoon!
This experience was the hi-light of our trip! Defne was the sweetest soul and had so much to share. The conversation, food, and atmosphere was incredible! I highly recommend choosing this option if you want an experience you will hold close the rest of your life ❤️ Nothing beats this kinda of thing!
An absolute must-do in Lisbon! Cooking with Defne was such a unique experience, we laughed, we learned, and we ate amazing food. She didn't just teach us traditional Portuguese cooking techniques; she also shared the history and stories behind them. Thanks to her region-by-region breakdown of the country's culinary culture and detailed explanation of the local ingredients, it felt like a true gourmet journey. I’m already looking forward to doing this again on my next trip to Lisbon! Highly recommend
It was an absolute joy- enjoyed the ambiance the food and staff. A definite favourite - highly recommended
Great ecperience. Best dinner I’ve ever had. Amazing cook and lovely person. Greatfull.
It was one of the most unique events we've ever attended as a friend group!!! Learning the nuances of Portuguese cuisine while listening to its history and culture took the experience to a whole new level. Thanks to the hosting, attentiveness, and the cozy environment created by Daphne we completely lost track of time. Amazing hospitality, definitely a must-try!
We had such a great time during this cooking class. There were only three of us in our group so it was a very intimate experience. We learned a lot about Portuguese cooking traditions and then got to enjoy our food with wine afterward in her beautiful garden. The host was very flexible based on our needs, she even modified one of the dishes on the spot because of an allergy one of us had. Overall had an amazing time and would recommend this class to anyone!
This cooking class was one of the highlights of our trip to Portugal! Defne (our host and chef) was absolutely wonderful—warm, welcoming, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing Portuguese culture and cuisine. We learned how to prepare traditional Portuguese dishes from scratch and enjoyed a delicious homemade meal together at the end. The experience felt authentic, personal, and relaxed, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and learn about local ingredients and cooking techniques. Defne made everyone feel comfortable and created such a fun and memorable atmosphere. If you're looking for a genuine cultural experience and amazing food, I highly recommend this class. It was an unforgettable experience that we'll be talking about long after our trip!
We loved our experience! Highlight of our trip and so intimate!
Defne was brilliant and so lovely! She was able to give a history lesson for the food while making the preparation process very fun. She makes this experience once in a lifetime for people who want to feel like they are cooking and learning from family. I would come back anytime!
We had a wonderful time cooking with Define. We cooked in her kitchen. It was a delicious group of dishes shrimp and clams with rice, pica pau and chocolate sausage. We were a group of 2 did it together. Y Then we ate outside in her beautiful garden with a glass of green wine. It was very relaxing. She is a great conversationalist and was in no hurry. I would highly recommend this experience with Define
We had an absolutely lovely time cooking traditional Portuguese dishes with Defne! She created a fun and warm environment. We loved learning about the spices, the preparation, and working together to create a delicious meal. Plus, the ambiance of the collective art studio and creative space made the experience even more unique. Highly recommend!
Everything was amazing and such a unique experience. Was more like cooking with a friend than a formal cooking class. Defne was great and taught me about different flavors and traditional Portuguese meals that have evolved from other cultures. Overall a great experience and food!
Defne was amazing and I loved how it was not your typical cooking class. We cooked in her home a 3 course meal and just talked and learned about the different flavors and history of dishes in Portugal. The food and company was an amazing and very unique experience.
This felt like making lunch with an old friend. Dafne has so much love for and knowledge of cooking, spices, healthy good. We made a delicious chickpea salad, a savory rice and cod dish , and an unbelievable dessert! Served with a few traditional appetizers and win, of course. This was a lunch to remember!
I had the chance to attend several of Defne’s tours and enjoyed all of them very much. Each one was thoughtfully designed with great attention to detail, which made the experience even more enjoyable. She is a great cook and an amazing storyteller. Her warm smile makes you feel at home while discovering so much about Lisbon’s local cuisine. I highly recommend it — a not-to-be-missed experience in Lisbon!
The description of the activity says it all. It's really a journey into the origin of the Portuguese cuisine, exploring the reasons and curiosities behind the technique, not only how you cook it but why in that way. Defne is very engaging with a lot of stories to tell around the cooking class! Makes you wanna try the learnings you gather in the experience 😊. Highly recommended for visitors but also locals! *****
The taste, the service, everything was wonderful. It was a wonderful experience 🙏
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