Prepare your taste buds for an authentic experience in Portuguese sweets at the Pastéis de Belem. This world-renowned and wildly popular pastry shop attracts crowds that line up out the door for a bite of one of its home-cooked delights. Waiting is worthwhile: at the end you’ll experience the flaky crust and warm custard centre of a pastel de nata, Lisbon’s signature pastry.
The origins of this local treat are hazy, though legends say that Catholic monks of Lisbon’s Jeronimos Monastery first baked it in the 17th century. The monastery used to make money by farming chickens and harvesting a large number of eggs. The whites of these eggs were useful for many things including starching clothes and making port wine. This left the egg yolks to be used in baking such treats as the pastel de nata.
The history of Pastéis de Belem begins in 1837, when its doors first opened. For the best experience of your pastry, copy the behaviour of local patrons. Most will customarily sprinkle their treat with cinnamon and powdered sugar, and then compliment their meal with milk or a latté alongside. For those averse to dairy, there are also a number of jam-filled or chocolate-iced pastries to expand the sweet experience. Visit this attraction a few times to experience each of these sugary indulgences.
Find the Pastéis de Belem in the historic Belem neighbourhood. Get there by tram or bus. After or before your sweet treat, be sure to explore the historic attractions around the suburb. The nearby Jeronimos Monastery and Maritime Museum are well worth a visit. Take an afternoon stroll along the riverside waterfront and spot a number of monuments dedicated to Portugal’s explorers.
The Pastéis de Belem is open daily. Be prepared to wait for table, as crowds are big at most hours of the day. Despite its popularity, prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is relaxed.
