From Market to Table with Paula (Loulé) - Private Cookery Class

Recommended by 90% of travelers

Algarve, Portugal

4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Immerse yourself in Portuguese culture through a cooking class in the city of Loulé. Meet your private host and shop for ingredients at a local market, learning about what flavors make up Algarvian cuisine. Then, head to your host’s home to prepare a delicious meal of authentic dishes such as a traditional seafood soup. Then, enjoy the fruits of your labor paired with local wines and good conversation.

Discover the gastronomy of the Algarve in a cooking class
Cook a traditional dish that’s been passed down for generations
Visit a local market and learn about Portuguese flavors
A private class means a personalized experience

Sample Menu

Main

Seafood Cataplana

A Traditional Soup with fresh seafood, lobster tails, mussels, clams, crayfish, and several types of firm white fish like monkfish and groupe

What's Included

All Fees and Taxes
Lunch
Alcoholic Beverages

A Bottle of white wine or Rosé
Bottled water
Coffee and/or Tea

Private transportation

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Pastelaria Amendoal
Largo Gago Coutinho 20, 8100-500 Loulé, Portugal
We meet in front of the entrance of Pastelaria Amendoal in the square.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.9:30 am

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible

Near public transportation
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Bruce_W

The host Paula was friendly, knowledgeable, and really focussed on making your experience something that you will remember. You will learn how to cook traditional Portuguese dishes based on ingredients you can source in your own home country. The trip to the market makes the whole experience complete. Paula, the host, did not rush, the cooking experience and the final meal in her beautiful home was worth the time and the money.

Reviews

4.8

based on 21 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Learn to cook like you are Portuguese!

Bruce_W, Nov 2025

Algarvian Cookery Experience

Gordon_W, Jul 2024

Paula is a wonderful advocate for traditional Algarvian cuisine - all made with locally sourced ingredients. The recipes are all relatively simple but delicious and we made about seven courses, based on food we selected together at Loule market. Do not eat breakfast or anything else before this experience since waddled home. With two 17 year olds in tow who cook little at home, it was great to see them create some fabulous dishes under Paula’s supervision. Highly recommend this experience.

A great foodie / cultural exposé

Callum_M, Jun 2024

A truly fantastic experience. We met Paula by the market in Loulé, And then went around the market with her, learning all about the traditional foods and ingredients of the Algarve. She taught us a great deal about seafood and how to choose it whilst at the market. We Then went to home, a very short walk away. Her home is beautiful and really worth seeing on its own. We then spent the next few hours in her kitchen, and Paula cooked / taught us how to cook several local dishes - Cataplana, cuttlefish, cockles and other yummy dishes. We were also treated to a delicious bottle of red wine too. We absolutely loved everything about this - it’s really worth doing.

A Taste of Portugal

Candice_G, May 2024

It was a perfect day! We started out meeting at the market. Paula explained the Portuguese culture and cuisine. She selected items with us that we would help cook in her home. Opening her home gave us a real experience of the Portuguese people and decorum. The food was amazing and including many courses. Paula is down to earth and we also shared good conversation around the table. This was a surprise gift from my daughters for mother ‘s day. A gift I won’t forget! I was stuffed! Highly recommend this experience.

Our New Best Friend, Paula.

Cindy_B, Apr 2024

The experience was like cooking with someone you have known for years. Paula decides on the menu after meeting you and talking about food you enjoy as you stroll through the market. Paula shares story's of Loule's history and her history in Loule. She shares stories of the food she cooks us which includes recipes that we can create at home. Paula's home is warm and comfortable and made for entertaining. It was a magical experience.

Delicious learning

Charles_B, Mar 2024

Paula is an excellent teacher and host. I especially enjoyed choosing the best ingredients at the market then learning to prepare simple, healthy and absolutely delicious food in the Portuguese way. Bravo Paula!

A fantastic experience!

Kathryn_F, Mar 2024

We had an incredible experience at the market with Paula and in her home cooking. We learned about 4-5 traditional Portugese dishes, but all tailored for what we like and would eat or make again at home. She was a wonderful host and we were certainly full upon leaving!!

Good times, new experiences.

Donna_R, Dec 2023

Spending the afternoon with our host Paula in her beautiful home, eating a delicious, relaxing meal.

great host / fantastic food

Franz_K, Nov 2023

Interesting and funny - both at the same time. paula is such a friendly host. and with the help of her assistant joão everything went well and the dishes were extremely delicious.

Food brings people together

Fulvia_P, Oct 2023

My husband and I had a great time with Paula and Joyce a Brazilian girl that was taking the cookery class with me,walking through the market and selecting the ingredients for a special selection of foods,I really enjoyed the friendliness that we shared and the food was delicious. Thank you Paula