Portuguese Cooking Class in Lagos: Cataplana with Wine

Cook Cataplana from scratch and eat what you make

A hands-on cooking class in Lagos where you learn to prepare Cataplana, the Algarve's signature pork and seafood dish, from a local chef. You'll handle the ingredients and the traditional pan yourself, then sit down to eat the full meal you've cooked, paired with wine and a starter and dessert. The class runs 2.5 hours and ends with a PDF recipe so you can make it again at home.

The experience

Cataplana is a copper pan dish that defines Algarve cooking, and this class teaches you how to build it from the start. A local chef walks you through preparing the pork and seafood, assembling the traditional Cataplana pan, and cooking it so the flavors blend without losing their edge. You're not watching a demo. You're doing the work, handling the ingredients and the heat yourself, so by the time the dish is ready you know exactly how it came together.

The meal that follows is the one you made: Portuguese flame-grilled chorizo to start, then your Cataplana, then a typical Algarve dessert. Two glasses of wine come with it, plus water. The class runs 2.5 hours total, which leaves most of the day free if you're fitting it around other plans in Lagos. At the end you get a PDF of the recipe, so the dish isn't something you only know how to make in that kitchen.

The class runs in English, Portuguese, or French, and children from age 5 can join. Public transport stops are nearby if you're not driving.

What’s included

• All ingredients and the traditional Cataplana cookware needed to cook the dish.
• a complete meal with an appetizer, your Cataplana, a typical Algarve dessert, water, and two glasses of wine.
• a PDF recipe to recreate the dish at home.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 8 Jan 2027

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by The Kitchen

Is this one for you?At 2.5 hours, the class fits comfortably into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day in Lagos. If you want to explore the town or another activity afterward, there's time to do it.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is Cataplana and why is it important to Algarve cooking?

Cataplana is a traditional copper pan dish built around pork and seafood, and it's the signature way the Algarve cooks. The class teaches you the history and cultural meaning behind it as you learn to prepare it, so you understand not just the technique but why this dish matters to the region.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No. The chef guides you through each step, from preparing the ingredients to assembling the pan and cooking it to perfection. The class is built around learning, not assuming you already know how.

What happens after I finish cooking? Do I eat alone or with others?

You eat the meal you've made with the other people in the class. It's a shared table, so you're connecting with fellow food enthusiasts while you taste what you've cooked, paired with wine and the full menu.

How do I get to the class if I don't have a car?

Public transportation options are available near the venue, so you can reach it without driving.