Cookies! They are not just something we eat. This site uses cookies so we can provide you the best user experience and deliver advertising and offers that are relevant to you. To read more about our cookie policy, including how to change your cookie settings, please read our Privacy and Cookie Policy. By continuing to use the site you are agreeing to our cookie policy.

Host: Cristina

Lisbon, Portugal

USD
$75-$189 per person

Portuguese Home Cooking with a Local Lisbon Mom

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Round-Trip Transfers
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food Tour

Meet Cristina

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.

What to expect

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: (1-6 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 Lisbon apartment for a private, hands-on Portuguese cooking class. Discover the flavors and culinary traditions of Portugal as you learn to prepare three authentic dishes from scratch using Cristina's treasured family recipes. During your 90-minute cooking class, prepare a traditional Portuguese starter or soup, a flavorful fish or meat main course, and a homemade dessert. Along the way, Cristina will share cooking techniques, local ingredients and stories behind the dishes, giving you a deeper appreciation of Portuguese food and culture. After cooking, sit down with Cristina to enjoy the delicious three-course meal you've prepared together, sharing stories, laughter and conversation.

Market visit: (1-5 guests) Explore Lisbon's local food culture on a private guided market tour with your host, Cristina. Meet Cristina at her apartment before taking a short 10-minute walk to a traditional covered market where Lisbon locals shop for fresh produce, seafood and regional specialties. As you explore the market, Cristina will introduce you to her favorite vendors, share insights into Portuguese ingredients and culinary traditions, and help you select fresh ingredients for your upcoming cooking class. After approximately one hour at the market, return to Cristina's apartment for your hands-on Portuguese cooking class and homemade meal.

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 offers experiences on Friday evenings and on weekends for lunch or dinner.
Vegetarian options are available for her Portuguese cooking class with advance notice. Please let her know of any dietary preferences when booking.
If you select the optional alcohol add-on, Cristina will serve local Portuguese wine with your meal.

Languages spoken: English, Portuguese, Spanish,French

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Starter: Caldo Verde – Traditional Portuguese soup made with potatoes, finely shredded kale and olive oil.
  • Main Course: Portuguese salt cod with cream (Bacalhau com Natas) or another traditional cod dish; Portuguese-style fried pork with or without clams (Carne de Porco à Alentejana); or traditional Portuguese duck rice (Arroz de Pato).
  • Dessert: Encharcada – A traditional Portuguese egg yolk pudding; creamy cheese pudding with fruit preserves or pears poached in wine.
  • Beverages: Coffee or tea available upon request.
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

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

Traveler reviews

5.0 (24)
I cannot begin to express how wonderful this experience was! Cristina was such a warm and welcoming host, and she shared so much information about the foods and history of the foods in Portugal. My husband had little experience cooking, but he was easily able to be involved, and Cristina picked such manageable and delicious dishes to make! Excellent food, excellent company, and an excellent experience. Cannot recommend enough!
- jessica September 08, 2026
Cristina was a wonderful host and warmly welcomed us into her beautiful home! She shared with us about her culture and history as we made a traditional meal together. Being a teacher and mom, she had all the patience in the world! We walked in eager to learn and left the evening with a new friend and full bellies!
- emily September 07, 2026
Christina was fantastic! She did an amazing job keeping our young kids engaged and active throughout the entire class. The food was absolutely incredible and truly authentic. I highly recommend this experience!
- Tasha July 13, 2026
We had a wonderful day. Christina took us for a market tour, plus a tour of her local neighborhood. She explained everything in great detail. We helped with the cooking and enjoyed an amazing meal of local Portuguese dishes. This has been a highlight of our time in Lisbon.
- susan June 30, 2026
Cristina was so warm and welcoming to our family. She had just the right tasks for each of us to manage to put together an amazing dinner. We loved learning her cooking techniques but really just loved spending time with her. We shared stories of our heritage through food and hobbies and exchanged recipes. My kids left feeling like they had a bonus grandmother and my husband and I with a new friend. This is an experience not to be missed if you are visiting Lisbon!
- amy June 28, 2026
Read More

Cristina

$75-$189 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$95 $75 $75
Cooking Experience + Meal
$155 $135 $135
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$189 $169 $169
Alcohol
$18 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$95 $75 $75
Cooking Experience + Meal
$155 $135 $135
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$189 $169 $169
Alcohol
$18 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
12:30pm-2:30pm 7:30pm-9:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
10:30am-1:30pm 6:30pm-9:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
10:00am-3:00pm

Meet Cristina

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.

What to expect

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: (1-6 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 Lisbon apartment for a private, hands-on Portuguese cooking class. Discover the flavors and culinary traditions of Portugal as you learn to prepare three authentic dishes from scratch using Cristina's treasured family recipes. During your 90-minute cooking class, prepare a traditional Portuguese starter or soup, a flavorful fish or meat main course, and a homemade dessert. Along the way, Cristina will share cooking techniques, local ingredients and stories behind the dishes, giving you a deeper appreciation of Portuguese food and culture. After cooking, sit down with Cristina to enjoy the delicious three-course meal you've prepared together, sharing stories, laughter and conversation.

Market visit: (1-5 guests) Explore Lisbon's local food culture on a private guided market tour with your host, Cristina. Meet Cristina at her apartment before taking a short 10-minute walk to a traditional covered market where Lisbon locals shop for fresh produce, seafood and regional specialties. As you explore the market, Cristina will introduce you to her favorite vendors, share insights into Portuguese ingredients and culinary traditions, and help you select fresh ingredients for your upcoming cooking class. After approximately one hour at the market, return to Cristina's apartment for your hands-on Portuguese cooking class and homemade meal.

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 offers experiences on Friday evenings and on weekends for lunch or dinner.
Vegetarian options are available for her Portuguese cooking class with advance notice. Please let her know of any dietary preferences when booking.
If you select the optional alcohol add-on, Cristina will serve local Portuguese wine with your meal.

Languages spoken: English, Portuguese, Spanish,French

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Starter: Caldo Verde – Traditional Portuguese soup made with potatoes, finely shredded kale and olive oil.
  • Main Course: Portuguese salt cod with cream (Bacalhau com Natas) or another traditional cod dish; Portuguese-style fried pork with or without clams (Carne de Porco à Alentejana); or traditional Portuguese duck rice (Arroz de Pato).
  • Dessert: Encharcada – A traditional Portuguese egg yolk pudding; creamy cheese pudding with fruit preserves or pears poached in wine.
  • Beverages: Coffee or tea available upon request.
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

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

Traveler reviews

5.0 (24)
I cannot begin to express how wonderful this experience was! Cristina was such a warm and welcoming host, and she shared so much information about the foods and history of the foods in Portugal. My husband had little experience cooking, but he was easily able to be involved, and Cristina picked such manageable and delicious dishes to make! Excellent food, excellent company, and an excellent experience. Cannot recommend enough!
- jessica September 08, 2026
Cristina was a wonderful host and warmly welcomed us into her beautiful home! She shared with us about her culture and history as we made a traditional meal together. Being a teacher and mom, she had all the patience in the world! We walked in eager to learn and left the evening with a new friend and full bellies!
- emily September 07, 2026
Christina was fantastic! She did an amazing job keeping our young kids engaged and active throughout the entire class. The food was absolutely incredible and truly authentic. I highly recommend this experience!
- Tasha July 13, 2026
We had a wonderful day. Christina took us for a market tour, plus a tour of her local neighborhood. She explained everything in great detail. We helped with the cooking and enjoyed an amazing meal of local Portuguese dishes. This has been a highlight of our time in Lisbon.
- susan June 30, 2026
Cristina was so warm and welcoming to our family. She had just the right tasks for each of us to manage to put together an amazing dinner. We loved learning her cooking techniques but really just loved spending time with her. We shared stories of our heritage through food and hobbies and exchanged recipes. My kids left feeling like they had a bonus grandmother and my husband and I with a new friend. This is an experience not to be missed if you are visiting Lisbon!
- amy June 28, 2026
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$95 $75 $75
Cooking Experience + Meal
$155 $135 $135
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$189 $169 $169
Alcohol
$18 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$95 $75 $75
Cooking Experience + Meal
$155 $135 $135
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$189 $169 $169
Alcohol
$18 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
12:30pm-2:30pm 7:30pm-9:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
10:30am-1:30pm 6:30pm-9:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
10:00am-3:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transfers are typically charged on a per car basis, not per person. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer round-trip transfers as an optional add-on. A driver collects you from your hotel or residence, takes you to the experience, and brings you back at the end. Pricing is quoted per car, not per person, so a group shares one fare. Your host's exact pickup instructions come with your confirmation details once the booking is accepted. A few hosts arrange transfers differently — a one-way ride, or a pickup from a central meeting point — and where that is the case their profile says so in place of the round-trip wording.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.