How to Find a Trustworthy Cleaner, Nanny, or Cook in Portugal as an Expat
Finding reliable household help in Portugal as a foreigner isn't easy. Here's who I actually recommend to my expat clients - and why.
EXPAT LIFEHOME MANAGEMENTMOVING TO PORTUGALCASCAISPERSONAL ASSISTANTPORTUGAL SETUP
8/24/20263 min read
One of the first things expats ask me after sorting out the paperwork is: "How do I find someone to help at home?"
It sounds simple. It isn't.
Not because good people don't exist - they do. But because finding them when you're new to the country, don't speak Portuguese, and don't have a local network yet is genuinely hard. You can't rely on word of mouth if you don't know anyone. You can't vet someone properly if you can't communicate with them. And you can't afford to get it wrong when you're letting someone into your home.
Here's how I do it for my clients - and the specific people and services I actually recommend.
The Non-Negotiable: English
Before anything else, let's address the obvious. Most household staff in Portugal don't speak English. That's not a criticism - it's just reality. If your cleaner, nanny, or cook can't communicate with you, even a small misunderstanding becomes a problem.
Every person and service I recommend to my foreign clients speaks English, or works within a structure where communication in English is handled. This is always my first filter.
Cleaners
Finding a reliable cleaner is probably the most common request I get. Everyone needs one, and the quality varies enormously.
I don't give my clients a list of options. I recommend one person: Fátima.
I found Fátima through a thorough recruitment process I ran when I first started building my client base. I wasn't looking for someone adequate - I was looking for someone I could confidently put in every home I work with. Fátima is that person.
She has since built her own small team, which means she can cover more clients without compromising on quality. She is currently the cleaner for all of my foreign clients in the area. That's not a coincidence - it's because she's good, reliable, and professional.
I don't recommend anyone else for this. When something works, you don't complicate it.
Nannies and Babysitters
For clients who need childcare - whether it's regular nanny support or occasional babysitting - I work with Baby Sisters.
I've used their service myself with a client and it went very well. They're professional, vetted, and used to working with international families. Importantly, English is not a barrier.
If you need regular, long-term childcare, the conversation is different and more involved - that's something we'd work through together based on your specific situation. But for babysitting and flexible nanny support, Baby Sisters is my go-to.
Private Chefs and Cooks
This one comes up less often, but when it does, it tends to be for something special.
Recently, a client asked me to organise a private chef experience for two weeks of holidays. They wanted something genuinely good - not a generic dinner party service, but real quality.
I found Chef Kaizen. It was excellent. The food, the professionalism, the whole experience - it delivered exactly what my client was hoping for.
If you're looking for a private chef for a dinner, an event, or an extended stay in Portugal, this is who I recommend.
Why This Matters More Than It Seems
When you move to a new country, your home is your base. The people who come into it need to be reliable, professional, and easy to work with. Getting this wrong costs time, money, and energy you don't have when you're already navigating a new life.
The reason my clients don't stress about this is simple: they don't have to figure it out themselves. They ask me, I handle it, and it works.
If you'd like help finding the right person for your home - cleaner, nanny, cook, or anything else - get in touch. This is exactly what I do.
Sofia Peten is a trilingual personal and business assistant based in Cascais, working with expats and businesses across the Cascais-Lisbon area and remotely worldwide.
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