Cristina is a private elementary school teacher and a loving mom who always enjoyed cooking for her family. An avid traveler, Cristina enjoys trying different foods from around the world. Cristina learned to cook from her mother, and friends in the food business who encouraged her passion for cooking. One of her favorite things to do is share food with family and friends. She lives in a quiet, residential neighborhood of Lisbon where you can also find truly local shops and cafes. Here, you will get a glimpse of how local Portuguese live, away from the tourist path.
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal: (2-6 guests) Meet your host Cristina at her apartment in a charming residential neighborhood of Lisbon. You’ll be welcomed into her home and seated at her dining table to enjoy an authentic, homemade Portuguese meal. Your experience includes a delicious three-course menu featuring a starter, main course, and dessert. Dishes may include caldo verde, a traditional and comforting potato and kale soup, followed by a main of either bacalhau com natas (salted cod baked with potatoes and cream) or carne de porco à Alentejana (a beloved regional dish of pork cooked with clams and coriander). The meal concludes on a sweet note with arroz doce, a creamy Portuguese rice pudding.
Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) Join your warm and friendly local host Cristina in her cozy apartment kitchen for a hands-on Lisbon cooking class where you’ll learn to prepare traditional Portuguese family recipes. Together, you’ll cook three dishes from scratch - these may include a classic appetizer or soup, a flavorful fish or meat main course, and a delicious dessert. Your cooking class lasts about 90 minutes, after which you’ll sit down with Cristina to enjoy the meal you’ve created together over laughter and conversation.
Market visit: (1-5 guests) Meet Cristina at her apartment before setting off on a 10-minute walk to the local covered market, where Lisbon locals shop for fresh regional produce and seafood. Cristina will introduce you to her favorite vendors, and together you’ll purchase a few ingredients to use in your upcoming cooking class. The market tour lasts about an hour, after which you’ll return to Cristina’s apartment to begin your hands-on cooking experience. Please note: Market tours are only available on weekends. On Saturdays, you'll explore a traditional central market bustling with local life. On Sundays, since central markets are closed to the public, you’ll enjoy an alternative experience visiting a variety of neighborhood shops to pick up fresh bread, produce, and other ingredients, a true local food shopping adventure.
Notes: Cristina works during the week so experiences are only offered on the weekends (lunch or dinner) and on Friday evenings. She can also accommodate a vegetarian diet in her Portuguese cooking class, if informed in advance.
Languages spoken: English, Portuguese, Spanish,French
Cristina is an AMAZING host, I was very welcomed in her house. We met outside the house and went to the market and she invited me to have a typical Portuguese Custard in one of the top places to have it in Lisboa. This will be a great experience for travelers as this is very typical in Portugal and everyone loves Portuguese Custards. We visited the market and had lots of fun discovering traditional Portuguese food. She showed the products that she was cooking, like the cod, clams, coriander…Cristina is funny and very friendly and we engaged very well.
Her home is very comfortable, she welcomed me as a friend and I felt very happy in her place. Her house is a typical Portuguese middle class flat in Lisboa, so travelers will experience the real Lisboa and a Portuguese house in the capital. Cristina is very bubbly and loves to chat and share her experiences, we got along very well and I was never bored. I believe travelers will love to meet her. Her place is the typical middle class flat in Lisbon, Cristina is very welcome and the food was AMAZING. The traditional flavors were all there and it tasted home! All the ingredients that she used were very good quality. I definitely recommend Cristina, she has the spirit to welcome foreigners to her home and show them who the Portuguese people are and how we eat! Even being Portuguese I loved the experience and I will be back with my partner that it is English so he can try proper Portuguese food.
Joana, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Cristina’s class was one of the most fun and intimate cooking experiences I’ve had. I had a great time cooking and conversing with her about life, family, and food (we are both very chatty :)). It’s a genuine way to connect with local Portuguese culture and open your eyes to life in Lisbon beyond the touristic city center. Walking into her home feels like entering the home of your well-traveled aunt—its decorated with motifs from her travels and daily life: chouriço hanging above the stove, foraged chestnuts on the kitchen counter, handmade table settings, a giant world map above her sofa… We also brought our 9 month old baby (she was excellent with him) who napped in her spare room. Communication before the class was very easy. I highly recommend this cooking class if you seek a genuine experience with someone with heart and flare.- Helen November 12, 2025
Dinner with Cristina in Lisbon is a MUST! My mother and I traveled from the USA west coast to Europe in October 2025. Our final country visited was Portugal, and on our first night in Lisbon we had a dinner experience booked with Cristina at her lovely home. Cristina’s hospitality, fun stories, and vast knowledge about the local cuisine made for an unforgettable evening. The food was delicious and atmosphere so welcoming. We learned about Baccalu com Nata, a local dish made with salt cod and veggies, as well as Caldo Verde, a scrumptious potato, kale and chorizo soup. I am a professional chef and found the food to be delectable, I cant wait to try out some of the recipes Cristina shared for my loved ones. One key word that comes to mind is AUTHENTIC! It felt like being at dinner with a dear friend. The delicious vinho verde was a great bonus! If you are in Lisbon and looking for an authentic and heart warming experience, consider booking with Cristina!- Danielle November 01, 2025
Our family of six was deeply grateful—not only for the delicious meal Cristina so thoughtfully prepared, but also for the warmth and grace she brought to our table. It was such a gift to enjoy a home-cooked Portuguese meal prepared by someone with such a vibrant spirit and incredible culinary talent.- Dan October 17, 2025
Such a wonderful experience. We asked Cristrina to change the menu the day before and she was so accommodating. What we made was so good and cooking with Cristina was fun and educational. Great conversation and within minutes it felt as though we were having a meal at a friend's home! Thanks so much, Cristina. I can't recommend this experience highly enough.- Claude August 05, 2025
Great Experience in Lisbon! My partner and I kicked off our time in Lisbon with a cooking class at Cristina’s home, and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip. As the owner of a boutique travel agency, I’m always on the lookout for unique, authentic experiences - and this one is an absolute gem. Cristina’s apartment is tucked away in a charming, residential neighborhood just 15 minutes from the city center. The space itself is bright and welcoming, with big windows that offered beautiful views and a lovely breeze as we cooked. Cristina shared her family recipes with us, and easily adapted the entire menu to be vegetarian, which we really appreciated...especially since it can be hard to avoid fish and pork in Portugal! All 3 dishes we had were great, and she had also prepared a salad and some bread for us to have. Come hungry! Beyond the delicious food, what made the experience really special was Cristina herself. She’s warm, open, and incredibly easy to connect with. We ended up having thoughtful conversations about life in Lisbon, how the city is evolving, and even touched on local politics - topics that never would’ve come up in a traditional tour or eating in a restaurant. I also enjoyed her talking about her family and grandkids. I can’t wait to return to Lisbon and spend more time with Cristina. If you’re looking for something intimate, meaningful, and off the beaten path, this experience is a must!- Ashley July 23, 2025
Cristina was very welcoming. Dinner was excellent and very informative. My wife and I really enjoyed our evening with her.- Tammy June 26, 2025
This was such a lovely experience to be welcomed into Cristina’s home for a delicious dinner and wonderful conversation. It was an amazing one-of-a-kind experience that we really enjoyed.- Dinam June 25, 2025
Cristina is the perfect host to this wonderful cooking experience. Not only is she a great chef, but very warm & friendly. Highly recommend this experience with her!- Kenneth June 01, 2025
We absolutely loved our experience with Cristina! She warmly met us at the door, welcomed us into her home and took the time to get to know us. We were delighted to learn a traditional meal with many courses and be so hands on in all stages of prep. But even more so, we savored the cultural exchange of stories and laughter and life advice offered between sips of vino verde. Cristina knows her craft and is proud to teach others in a way that is fun, educational, and full of rich history. She even kept in touch during our trip to offer recommendations to fill our travels. Not only would we highly recommend her, we ourselves hope to keep in touch and share a meal again someday!- 608abby July 08, 2024
Our family had the best time at Christina’s cooking class. She is such a fun and welcoming hostess. She taught us how to cook authentic Portuguese recipes. They weren’t terribly complicated, so we can recreate them at home. I highly recommend this class. It was one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip, and we created beautiful family memories.- penny June 20, 2024
Cristina was awesome, we felt like family immediately walking through the door. Her condo was cute and clean. She was very knowledgeable and friendly. The food was amazing. One of our most favorite experiences in Lisbon!- Cdrjime May 18, 2024
My husband and I were looking for a personal experience with our cooking class, and that is exactly what we got. Cristina was so fun. She took us around the local area and told us a lot about her town. Visited the market and many local highlights. When we arrived at her lovely apartment, we felt at home. We helped cook a delicious Portuguese meal. We enjoyed a lot of conversation and found we had a lot in common. We have found a new friend. Thank you, Cristina. 🩷🩷🩷- cindyw May 11, 2024
Cristina was amazing! When we arrived she gave us a private tour of her neighborhood and gave us insight into daily life in Lisbon. We talked for so long by the time we left it was 2 hrs past the scheduled finish time haha. She instantly welcomed us like friends and that is definitely how we left. Highly recommend!- K3938V November 30, 2023
Cristina was amazing! When we arrived she gave us a private tour of her neighborhood and gave us insight into daily life in Lisbon. We talked for so long by the time we left it was 2 hrs past the scheduled finish time haha. She instantly welcomed us like friends and that is definitely how we left. Highly recommend!- K3938V November 29, 2023
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