Book this 2-hour Pastel de Nata baking class if you get want to learn how to make this delicious Portuguese dessert from scratch using a proper grandma approved recipe.
Pastel de Nata Porto Cooking Class
Find the best cooking classes in Porto to master Portugal’s most iconic pastry.
The Best Pastel de Nata Cooking Classes in Porto
Let’s get one thing straight: I am obsessed with pastel de nata. Truly, madly, deeply. I’ve had them fresh out of the oven, from bakeries that locals swear by and sad airport cafés where they really should’ve known better. The verdict? Even the bad ones are good. But the good ones? Life changing.
So naturally, after stuffing my face with approximately a hundred of them since moving to Portugal, I thought—why not learn how to make them myself? Cue: the pastel de nata Porto cooking class I recently booked. What started as a fun afternoon activity turned into one of my favourite things I’ve done in the city so far.
There is nothing—nothing—like eating a pastel de nata you made yourself. If you’re visiting Portugal and haven’t tried a pastel de nata yet, I’m actually offended. It’s non-negotiable. But if you’ve already fallen under their custardy spell and want to take things to the next level, this is the way to do it.
If you’re interested in learning the secrets behind this irresistible Portuguese pastry, then read on to find the best pastel de nata Porto classes.
⭐️ My tried and tested recommendation⭐️
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What is Pastel de Nata?
Before pastel de nata became the Instagrammable darlings of every Portuguese café window, they were the invention of monks. Yes, monks. Back in the 18th century, the clever clogs at Jerónimos Monastery in Belém had a bit of a laundry problem — specifically, starching habits required a lot of egg whites. Which meant they were left with piles of unused yolks and not much to do with them. So naturally, like any logical person faced with leftover ingredients, they made dessert.
Enter the pastel de nata — a flaky tart filled with a silky custard made from all those leftover yolks, sugar, and just a whisper of cinnamon and lemon. When the monastery shut down in the 1800s (thanks, liberal revolution), the monks sold the recipe to a nearby sugar refinery whose owners opened the now famous Pastéis de Belém bakery in 1837 in Lisbon. And the rest is history!
Today, these little custard tarts are everywhere in Portugal — and trust me, you’ll never eat just one. But knowing they started as a delicious solution to laundry waste? That just makes them even better.
Porto Pastel de Nata classes in Porto
👉🏼 Book my favourite Portuguese custard tart workshop in Porto 👈🏼
Or find a full list of options below ⬇️
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Bake (and sip port wine) with with local pastry chef Patrícia
A small group workshop led by a pastry chef who’s also a former event planner—Patrícia sprinkles insider tips about Porto’s food scene, serves port wine with music in a warm, friendly atmosphere—and you get to take home at least two tarts.
Make Pastel de Nata entirely from scratch with a side of wine
This hands on class actually includes making the dough, not just the custard, includes a glass of local wine and lively baking banter—rated 4.9 stars with hilarious hosts who make it feel more like hanging with friends than a class.
Looking for another fun activity? Try this Portuguese Tile Painting Workshop In Porto
Hands-On baking in an artsy space near Sé Cathedral
Held right next to Sé do Porto, this cosy, art filled studio keeps its pastel de nata class intimate, pet-friendly, and perfect for groups—plus your stash of tarts comes with a local wine pairing and insider tips on Porto’s coolest spots.
Bake Grandma’s recipe in a real Porto kitchen
Set in a real Porto kitchen, this class is all soul: bake using a time honoured grandma’s recipe, then sit around the table to enjoy your creations with coffee, tea, or juice—super cosy and laden with family warmth.
Quick & fun cooking workshop with wine in Porto’s City Centre
A downtown 1½‑hour class famed for its small size (8–12 ppl), includes Port wine, lively conversation, and chef led chats about Portuguese culture and foodie hotspots—plus you leave with a recipe card to recreate the magic.
Written By
Ysabelle is the voice behind Oh My Porto, a blog that peels back the glossy pages of travel brochures to reveal the heartbeat of the city. Through Oh My Porto, Ysabelle shares everything you need to make your time in Portugal unforgettable, from cultural deep dives to travel tips you won’t get anywhere else.
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Oh, My Porto is a Porto & North Portugal-focused travel, food & lifestyle blog by writer Ysabelle Alesna.
Ysabelle shares her guides and recommendations to help travellers discover the heart of Porto and fall in love with the city just as she has.