Cooking Holidays in the Algarve

This page brings together our cooking holidays in the Algarve, each designed as a hands-on, small-group experience rooted in seasonal produce, local markets, and shared meals. Hosted at Figs on the Funcho, our cooking holidays take place in a quiet riverside setting and focus on learning by doing rather than demonstration or performance.

Guests cook together, eat together, and take time to understand ingredients, techniques, and cultural context at a calm, unhurried pace.

Our Cooking Holiday Experiences

Each cooking holiday below has its own focus and rhythm. Click on an image to explore the full itinerary, dates, and practical details.

Portuguese Spice Route Cooking Holiday

A culturally grounded vegetarian and fish-based cooking holiday inspired by Portugal’s historic spice routes. Guests prepare dishes influenced by the cuisines encountered by Portuguese seafarers, alongside local market visits and regional wines.

Vegetarian Delights: Embracing the Mediterranean Lifestyle

A vegetable-forward cooking holiday exploring Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian cuisine. The focus is on seasonal ingredients, everyday techniques, and balanced, flavour-led dishes suited to home cooking as well as shared retreat meals.

Seasonal Celebrations: Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking Holiday

A festive cooking holiday centred on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Guests take part in hands-on vegetarian cooking inspired by Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi–style Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours, shaped by seasonal Algarve produce and shared celebration.

What All Our Cooking Holidays Have in Common

Hands-on cooking — guests cook rather than observe

Vegetarian cuisine, with vegan options available on request

Guided local market visits with ingredients used in the kitchen

Wine tasting at a local vineyard

Small groups and a calm countryside setting

Time for rest, riverside walks, and informal conversation

Who These Cooking Holidays Are For

These experiences suit well-travelled adults who enjoy learning through participation and value food as a way to connect with place and people. Many guests join solo, as couples, or as friends marking a shared interest in cooking rather than attending a formal course or tour.

Planning Your Stay

Each cooking holiday runs on specific dates and follows a structured yet flexible itinerary. Full details, inclusions, and practical information can be found by selecting an individual cooking holiday above.