Do your taste buds crave the most famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon? It is quite natural to have such feelings, particularly if you are planning an excursion visit to Lisbon. Your trip will not be a complete recreational outing unless you taste Lisbon’s delicious Portuguese pastry.
This desert is known as a pastéis de nata in the local language. These Portuguese egg custard tarts truly fulfill any sweet tooth you may have and make the ideal anytime snack. Here, you can find six varieties of very famous Portuguese pastries in Lisbon, and you can easily get them all over the city.
This puff pastry is smooth and creamy on the inside and crunchy on the outside that gives it a delicate core. There is no doubt that pastel de nata, is the most famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon.
Pastéis de Belém
The local mythology explains that the original recipe for these delicious tarts is said to be kept in Pastéis de Belém, a bakery near the Jeronimos Monastery. It is the most well-known location in Lisbon to have pastéis de nata, so you really must go there when you are there.
Whether you are a local resident of Portugal or a visitor, everyone has been waiting in line to get a box of this famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon to go or enjoy at the café since 1837. Pastéis de Belém, the original, is still a well-known location in Lisbon where you may savor a delectable custard tart in a quaint and lively setting.
The cafe is big enough to accommodate 75 tables, implying that you pay for the taste and experience. Among the 125 bakeries in Lisbon, it is ranked as the fourth best and most famous Portuguese pastry, and its prices range from $5 to $16.
You can visit this place with your family and children and get yourself enchanted with local cuisines. The bakery serves you lunch, breakfast, dinner, late-night buffer, and delivery, and you can even take away the cuisines.
The online reviews depict that customers love the ambiance, service, prices, and food quality, which is what one asks for when visiting a food brand. One of the reviewers states:
“They serve great cakes, sweet stuff, coffees, and other specialties, and it is probably the best place in the country to satisfy any curiosity about Portuguese sweets!”
Manteigaria
Make your way to the wacky Bairro Alto in Lisbon and stop at Manteigaria. Although it is a relatively new establishment in the city, it has already established itself as one of the top spots to obtain pastéis de nata.
Manteigaria, housed in a stunning Art Nouveau edifice, was once a butter shop, as you can guess from its name. The ovens are in use 24 hours a day. From early in the morning until midnight, you can count on receiving a freshly made, flaky tart straight out of the kitchen.
Manteigaria, which also serves the famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon, is rated five stars on an online platform. The netizens believe the food quality here is 10/10, whereas the service and price rates are 4.5 stars. On the other hand, this shop, which sells the famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon, is ranked number one out of 205 coffee and tea shops located in Lisbon.
When visiting Manteigaria, you can get your hands on Portuguese cuisine only, and the meals that are served here are breakfast, late-night, and other drinks.
You can always take away the Portuguese cuisine as per your comfort. However, if you are short of cash, American Express, Mastercard, Visa card, and Credit cards are also doable here.
If you are planning to visit this place, a review might help you answer your confusion. Hence, here we quote a review from an internet user on the delicious tarts served at Manteigaria:
“Best tarts in Lisbon! There are various chains selling these delicious tarts! For 1 euro 30, they’re sold at a great price, and they taste authentic!”
There you go; now you have all the information needed to judge a place. You can now judge whether the place matches your taste or not, and then you can make an informed decision while you are vacationing in Lisbon.
However, when you are here, you may taste their custard, pastries, Portuguese tart, and pastel de nata better, as these cuisines are the most popular servings of Manteigaria.
Pastelaria Versailles
When you step into Pastelaria Versailles, you feel like you are traveling back in time with its exquisite decor, welcoming atmosphere, and mouthwatering pastries and custard tarts. The enchanting atmosphere of the 1920s, combined with classical pastries and tarts, makes you feel as if you have traveled to a different planet.
The local residents of Portugal appreciate this place and love to come here because it is an active and lively spot and in spite of this, you will never feel it over-crowded. They prefer to come there to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee with a delicious bite of famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon.
Is your mouth watering with this tasteful introduction to pastéis de nata, a famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon? If this is so, then you must schedule a coffee and pastry break at Pastelaria Versailles just like the natives do.
The restaurant opens at 7:30 am and closes at 11:00 pm and serves European, Portuguese, and cafe-based cuisines. If you are a vegetarian, this place for sure is for you as it offers a special diet for vegetarians. At this restaurant, you will be served breakfast, lunch, and late-night meals.
The restaurant offers a serene and vibrant seating ambiance with an option to take away as per the customer’s comfort. Wheelchairs and high chairs are also available to accommodate diverse customers.
You can also access free Wi-Fi and enjoy wine and beer here at this restaurant. The restaurant also accepts credit cards to make payments easy for the customers. It is ranked 26 among 193 restaurants that serve famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon.
Furthermore, it is rated 4.5 on an l99 online platform for its best food and vibrant atmosphere. Here is a review of an internet user who visited the place in February 2024, to guide you in decision-making while you are looking for places to buy famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon:
“Great place, great service, the most beautiful sparrows in the world. We enjoyed air time there and drank some good quality wine. We’d highly recommend it:))”
However, there are some reviews that have criticized the restaurant for its unpleasant service. Here is the review of an internet user who had an unpleasant experience at this restaurant:
“This is the second time I have been to this place. The first time, we had a tea with pastel and millefeuille. It was not good, and the service was bad—long and no attention. Today, we tried to give it a second chance, but the waiter was so obnoxious with us that we just decided to step out.”
Now you have the picture of both sides of the coin, you can better decide for yourself keeping in mind the provided reviews.
Pastelaria Aloma
The Pastelaria Aloma opened a small shop selling the famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon in 1943. As time passed, it shifted into the Time Out Market. Nowadays, it is at home in Campo de Ourique.
This bakery is very popular due to its incredibly famous Portuguese pastry, the pastéis de nata, which has won a number of blind taste tests and received a lot of praise. These decadent confections are quite exceptional and rival those offered by other bakeries. Aloma has become so successful that it now has multiple sites across Lisbon.
This restaurant opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 7:00 p.m., serving its customers with the famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon. When you are at Pastelaria Aloma, you can entice yourself with desserts, Portuguese cuisines, and cafe products. This restaurant is rated 2.0 stars on an online platform and is popular among customers for its food and services.
The restaurant serves only breakfast. However, you can either take it away or enjoy the eateries within the restaurant. The restaurant also accommodates its customers with wheelchairs if needed.
Furthermore, if you are avoiding crowded spaces and yet want the taste of famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon, you can visit this place as, according to a reviewer, the place is less crowded;
“They have a good cappuccino and a variety of desserts and cakes. A good casual place to have coffee and cakes. Good range of prices. Their mille feuillet and almond pastry are good. They also have a branch in El Cort Ingles.”
However, according to another feedback, the restaurant is average; it is not as good or bad; here is what the reviewer said about the restaurant:
“Average place with reasonable prices. Some items are really good, but the rest of the cakes or patel de nata are average. Not bad, not great! But good coffee!”
Pastelaria Cristal
Pastelaria Cristal is located outside the city in a posh neighborhood of Lisbon, away from the city center. The local residents gather here for pastéis de nata, the famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon, and bias (solo espresso), as well as the vibrant conversations and social aspects that accompany them.
The custard tarts are so delicious that they have won the city’s best tart competition multiple times. Visit the Lapa neighborhood to sample these indulgent, creamy treats, which are sure to please your palate.
The restaurant is ranked 4.5 stars by the customers with its European and Portuguese serving. You can visit the place between 7:00 am to 11:00pm and can enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner and breakfast as well. Here is a review of an internet user that has been to this place in Lisbon:
“We popped in at this cafe for a morning coffee before more sightseeing. Ordered 3 Americanos and 3 pastries. Loads to choose from. Coffee so good I had a second. Good service too and can’t believe bill only came to 6 euros. Walk up the hills well worth it. Well recommended.”
Fim de Século
Another shop for famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon that is off the usual tourist route is Fim de Século, a family-run bakery known especially for its tasty custard tarts.
This pastry shop is relatively young compared to the other popular locations for the famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon. This family business started in 1999 and grew quickly, winning the award for the most famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon in 2016.
This restaurant is ranked 4 stars for its best food and affordable prices in Lisbon. It serves not only Portuguese cuisine but also European meals. Furthermore, it is the 40th most famous pastry shop in Lisbon among its 102 bakery shops.
Here is the review of a Fim de Seculo’s customer:
“A small place with a tremendous traditional sweet (egg tart, Pastel de Nata in Portuguese), nice patisserie, and a very young crew who can’t still believe that the people queuing outside are there only to buy the result of their own work! A spot not to miss in Lisbon!”
With this review in mind and all the information provided, you can better decide whether or not you want to add to your vacation experience by visiting this place with a famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon.
FAQs
Q: What Pastry is Famous in Lisbon?
If you know Lisbon or Portugal, you will definitely know about its famous cuisine, which is its egg tart, also known as pastel de nata or cream pastry. It is believed to have been originally invented by the famous Pasteis de Belem, which is also located in Lisbon.
Q: Why is it Called a Portuguese Tart?
The Portuguese egg tart was initially invented by the monks in the 13th century in the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon. This tart was originally introduced by the Portuguese monks and is now the most famous Portuguese pastry in Lisbon.
