Pastel de nata is a portuguese egg tart pastry that can be found in almost every corner in Portugal. Crispy on the outside, sweet and creamy on the inside the pastel de nata is an absolute must for a traveler’s experience to try this local treasure. You should be careful though, not all places have a really good pasteis de nata so you should avoid testing them from random places. Below, we have gathered the top 3 bakeries that serve the best pasteis de nata in Lisbon!
1. Pasteis de Belem- the traveler’s favorite
Let’s start with the most classic. There is no doubt that pasteis de Belem deserve to be called a national treasure. The secrecy behind the recipe which is kept for over 200 years is what makes them so special. The monks in the Jeronimos Monastery used to make pasteis de belem as an attempt to cover their expenses. When the monastery closed, the owner of this bakery bought the recipe from them and ever since It has been kept as a very good secret. Even the bakers have signed non disclosure agreements to keep the timeless tarts a true mystery.
They served straight from the oven, it has the perfect dose of crispiness and it is perfectly creamy. You can also sprinkle them with powdered sugar and cinnamon as it is provided by the bakery. They’re actually good enough to be enjoyed plain, but that is just my personal preference! Also, you can enjoy your pasteis in their place and combine them with their really good coffees, you don’t really have to wait for a long time in the queue but it is very crowded.
Pasteis de Belem are in the ultimate bucket list for a traveler and you can’t leave Lisbon without tasting them!
There is a full article about the history of pasteis de belem that you can read here.
Note: If you take our Belem Tour you are going to skip the queue !
2. Fabrica da Nata – For a sweet tooth
Fabrica Da Nata, is another good patisserie you should know about that was previously known as a restaurant. When you visit this place you have the opportunity to see the entire making process of pasteis de nata. Therefore, this experience gives you a better understanding on how these delicious custard pies are made.
It is recommended to go to this place when you want to have a seat and get served. Even If many people go there it is not as crowded as pasteis de Belem so it’s not difficult to find a place to sit. There are some other alternative options offered and a good collection of coffees.
The pasteis de nata there taste really good! They are really soft and the cream inside is very sweet. So If you have a sweet tooth, that is the one for you as it is the sweetest custard tart from them all.
3. Manteigaria – Local’s pick
Last but not least, it is the loved confectionery facing Camões Square that was previously a butter shop. Now, it has reopened as “custard tarts” factory. They make custard tarts during the entire day so you can always enjoy a warm desert made right in front of your eyes. What is also really cool about this place is that it closes at midnight so you can still visit it after you have your dinner.
It is local Portuguese’s best pick for a pasteis da nata but the only down side is that there is no place for you to sit and enjoy it but it is really practical for take away!
