If you’re visiting Portugal, expect to become obsessed with pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) – that is, if you aren’t already! Once you arrive in Porto, you basically have two options:
- Eat as many as humanly possible. (If you’re up for a challenge, try to beat my friends Tom and Mila, who hold the current record among my visitors at 2.7 tarts per day.)
- Join a pastel de nata cooking class. Roll up your sleeves, master the art of flaky puff pastry and velvety egg custard, and take a piece of Portuguese baking magic back to your own kitchen.
While Lisbon is the historic birthplace of the custard tart, the magic has spread, and Porto has a handful of great pastry shops (like Castro) and workshops or classes where you can learn to make them yourself (likely paired with the city’s famous Port wine!).
If you’re looking for a hands-on Portuguese custard tart baking class in Porto, read on to discover the best pastel de nata workshops in Porto that are worth booking for your trip.
In a rush? No worries ↩️
⭐ My top pick for Porto – ➡️ Book this 2.5-hour pastel de nata baking class where you’ll make everything – including the dough – from scratch.
Read next… Best Pastel de Nata cooking classes in Lisbon (that I’ve done)
Quick comparison: Best pastel de nata Workshops in Porto
| Workshop | Price | Best for | Booking |
| CD Porto Tours | €43 | Most serious class in a cooking studio; you make the dough from scratch | ➡️ Book here |
| Domus Arte | €33 | Possible to request vegan, lactose-free or gluten-free | ➡️ Book here |
| Porto Cooking Class | €30 | Best budget choice; deep in the suburbs | ➡️ Book here |
| Little Bird | €35 | Bigger class with cocktails. Age 10+ welcome | ➡️ Book here |
| Emanuel Ribeiro | €35 | Splits the class into stations; includes cocktails | ➡️ Book here |
| Isabel and Jorge | €35 | Intimate, hands-on class at a family home; kids welcome | ➡️ Book here |
What to expect from a pastel de nata class in Porto
While Lisbon’s pastry classes tend to take place in commercial bakeries or dedicated cooking academies, baking workshops in Porto lean into being a bit more intimate and rustic. Only a couple take place in dedicated cooking studios, while others are even hosted by local families in their homes. During some of the workshops, you might be watching a cooking demonstration (with a glass of Port wine in hand!) more than you’ll get to do every step, so read the descriptions of each workshop to make sure you get what you’re looking for.
Top pastel de nata cooking classes in Porto
Best overall pastel de nata class: CD Porto Tours
This is one of the few workshops I found where you’ll actually make the puff pastry dough as well as the custard. The reviews are glowing and while it’s only for teenagers aged 15+, you can book a private class if you have kids.
➡️ Book CD Porto Tours class here
Best for vegan, gluten-free or lactose-free: Domus Arte
Domus Arte run a regular 90-minute Portuguese custard tart class in downtown Porto. The class is one of the best reviewed. Best of all, lactose-free, gluten-free, and vegan options are available upon request – just give them advance notice so they can prepare the changes.
Best budget-friendly option: Porto Cooking Class
In this two-hour pastel de nata baking class you’ll visit a local Porto home and learn grandma’s recipe. The location is a little bit deep in the suburbs, but Uber/ Bolt will get you there. Families with children aged 8+ can join.
➡️ Book Porto Cooking Class here
More pastry class options in Porto:
- This 90-minute pastel de nata baking workshop with Little Bird has a great downtown location. The class includes cocktails while you bake Ages 10+ can join. The group size is max. 20 people.
- This 90-minute class split the work into stations, so you can choose to work on the dough or custard while sipping on Porto-style cocktails.
- Isabel and Jorge invite you to their home for this hands-on, intimate 90-minute workshop.
How to choose the right pastry workshop in Porto
If you want to do a class with children or teenagers…
If you’re traveling with children, pay close attention to age limits before booking. Several popular small-group workshops in Porto restrict participants to ages 10+ or 15+ due to safety around hot ovens and to keep the pace of the class for other participants. Some offer family classes if you book private, or options like Isabel and Jorge’s home workshop welcome younger kids.
For dietary options… vegan & gluten-free classes in Porto
Finding dietary-friendly pastry classes in Porto can be a challenge because traditional pastéis de nata rely heavily on egg yolks, butter and wheat flour. If you require plant-based, gluten-free or lactose-free alternatives, classes at Domus Arte are your best bet in Porto. Just be sure to request these accommodations well in advance so the instructor can prepare custom ingredients.
FAQs about Porto’s pastel de nata workshops
Should I take a pastel de nata class in Lisbon or Porto?
If you only have time for one class during your trip, I usually recommend taking a pastel de nata cooking class in Lisbon. After all, Lisbon is the historic birthplace of the tart, and the city offers a better variety of more hands-on bakery masterclasses. However, if your trip centers around northern Portugal, Porto has a few great options listed above!
How far in advance do I need to book in Porto?
In peak summer months (May through September), popular home classes and small-group studios could sell out 1 to 2 weeks in advance. During the shoulder season, you can often snag a spot a few days prior.
What is the average price of a cooking class in Porto?
Expect to pay between €30 and €45 per person for a 90-minute to 2.5-hour workshop in Porto. This typically includes all ingredients, your baked tarts to eat or take home, and drinks like Port wine or local cocktails.
Will you get to make the puff pastry dough?
The single most important detail to check when booking a pastel de nata workshop in Porto is whether you’ll actually roll out the puff pastry from scratch, or if the teachers will make it ahead of time. Making traditional Portuguese laminated dough takes time, patience, and plenty of butter folding. Classes that guarantee you’ll make pastry yourself (like the session with CD Porto Tours) usually run a bit longer – around 2.5 hours – so you can master the technique. Shorter 90-minute classes often have the dough pre-prepped, but you’ll get the chance to shape the dough in little tins.
Do all classes include drinks?
It wouldn’t be Porto without a little wine involved! I noticed most Lisbon workshops offered tea, coffee or juice as standard… while Porto is all about wine, cocktails and glasses of Port. Perhaps the north is more fun!
Can you bake pastel de nata in home ovens?
Commercial pastelerias across Portugal blast their tarts at scorching temperatures up to 400°C (750°F) to achieve that signature blistered top without overcooking the custard. Home ovens max out around 250°C (480°F), so a good class will teach you a recipe adapted for home cooking.
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