The 6 Best Pastel de Nata in Lisbon

If you try just one local delicacy in Portugal’s capital, let it be the revered pastel de nata. These Portuguese custard tarts have become a source of national pride. Their uniquely flaky, savory pastry has captivated foodies since they were created in Belém’s Jerónimos Monastery in the 1800s.

I’ve had a soft spot for pastéis de nata long before I began my Lisbon food tours, yet they’re still the first thing I yearn for when I’m back in the city!

By now, more places are whipping up batches of these egg custard treats than ever before. Out of the dozens of dreamy spots scattered across the city, these are where you’ll find the best pastel de nata in Lisbon!

Manteigaria

Photo credit: Manteigaria

Manteigaria has numerous branches around the city and several Porto, but my preferred choice is the one on Rua do Loreto. Unlike other pastelarias on our list, Manteigaria exclusively sells pastel de nata and coffee, so if you’re in the market for something else, you better look elsewhere.

Inside the tiny shop, there is only room for about 15 people since most of the space is taken up by a glass-fronted pastry kitchen where customers may watch the white-hatted chefs smoothing the layered butter pastry into iron tins.

My first pastel de nata here blew me away; it was the perfect balance between creamy and crunchy with a crisp and light pastry case. The warm, velvety custard filling exploded into my mouth with the initial bite, and the rest didn’t last long.

Manteigaria (€) – Rua do Loreto 2, 1200-108 Lisboa, Portugal – Open every day from 8:00 am to 12:00 am

Check our Review for Manteigaria.

Pastéis de Belém

Photo credit: Pastéis de Belém

This next one is a good one! Pastéis de Belém in Rua de Belém is not just a place you go for one of these traditional snacks; it’s an entire experience that I urge everyone to have.

Spotting Pastéis de Belém won’t be difficult; just keep an eye out for the line halfway down the street and the white and blue colored tiling on the walls out front, and you’re there. I found the interiors of this place to be quite elegant, from the unique ceiling carvings and fancy chandeliers.

When I got my order of two pastéis de nata, I could see why my Portuguese friends dubbed this spot the place for the best pastéis de nata in the city. Between the smooth and luscious texture of the custard and the crunchy pastry, it was so divine that I ordered two more to-go.

Pastéis de Belém (€€) – R. de Belém 84 92, 1300-085 Lisboa, Portugal – Open every day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Fábrica da Nata

Photo credit: Fábrica da Nata

Steps away from the Monumento dos Restauradores, you’ll find Fábrica da Nata. These folks have also got two more stores along Rua Augusta and in Colombo Shopping Center, so if you’re closer to either of them, you can pop in; they’re equally as delicious.

Fábrica da Nata reminded me of an old-style coffee house with stylish standalone chairs, ornate ceiling fixtures, and free-standing wooden barrels. I also enjoyed the life-sized replicas of the pastel de nata out front beside the door.

I must say, the pastel de nata at Fábrica da Nata was a pure slice of heaven; each custardy layer had a subtle tinge of caramelization and an almost zest to it, and all of the flavors paired excellently with the buttery crust. 

While I didn’t try one myself, there was an option on the menu where you could even get a scoop of ice cream on top of the pastel de nata. It may sound a bit strange, but the woman sitting next to me ordered it, and I regretted not doing the same.

Fábrica da Nata (€) – Praça dos Restauradores 62 -68, 1250-110 Lisboa, Portugal – Open every day from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm

Check our Review for Fábrica da nata.

Santo António

Photo credit: Santo António

Tucked away in a beautiful tile-covered building near Castelo de São Jorge in Alfama, Santo António may be near one of the city’s biggest attractions. However, even locals venture from their lesser-known neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the city to come here.

As you walk inside, the whiff of custard is sure to capture your senses, and you’ll spot the pastry chefs behind the counter pouring powdered sugar all over their latest batch.

I grabbed my order and pulled up a seat alongside the wooden accent wall; there was a real buzzy ambiance about the place, with all the people chatting away and indulging in their pastries.

Hats off to chef Luís Ascenção for mastering the difficult balance of getting that well-fired color of the custard while being careful not to burn the pastry. I thought the pastel de nata here had a cinnamony touch to it with some light, spicy notes. However, the rich, eggy custard dominated the flavor profile.

Santo António (€€) – R. do Milagre de Santo António 10, 1100-351 Lisboa, Portugal – Open every day from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm

Vegan Nata

Photo credit: Vegan Nata

Just because you’re sticking to a vegan diet doesn’t mean you can’t experience the tastiness of a pastel de nata; Vegan Nata in Chiado is living proof of that!

Vegan Nata goes above and beyond to ensure their products have a minimum impact on the environment, from nonplastic water and edible cups you can nibble on after you’ve finished your coffee.

The inside of Vegan Nata is quite small, so I preferred to snag a seat out front to enjoy my pastel de nata. There were only a handful of spaces; it was a bit of a battle to get one since the weather was nice that day, but I succeeded in the end.

If I hadn’t known that these pastel de nata I got here were vegan, I wouldn’t have noticed that they weren’t the real thing. The base was made from soy and oats, while the custard still tasted as sweet as normal, but they used a dairy-free milk substitute.

Vegan Nata Chiado (€€) – R. da Misericórdia 9, 1200-208 Lisboa, Portugal – Open every day from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Versailles

Photo credit: Versailles

Located in the Saldanha area, Versailles is like a cafe you’d find somewhere in France that sells French-style pastries and pastel de nata. You can also pick up some main course dishes if you’re hungry before your dessert.

If I were, to sum up Versailles in one word, I would say grand. The building is quite old, but the owners have clearly blended that into the design with vintage features such as dark red dining table covers, opulent wall engravings, and chequerboard flooring.

My order at Versailles was one pastel de nata alongside an extra strong double espresso; don’t judge me; it was early in the morning. My espresso came first, so I shot it down in one: bold, intense, and as bitter as ever; that’s how I like my coffee in the morning, and this one fit the bill.

Even though I wasn’t overly hungry, the pastel de nata here left me wanting more and more. The outer crust was light with a subtle crunchiness, and the filling was silky and luxurious with lemon flavors and a slightly eggy aftertaste.

Versailles (€€) – Av. da República 15 A, 1050-185 Lisboa, Portugal – Open every day from 7:15 am to 10:00 pm

Conclusion

With such an overflow of pastelarias all over the Portuguese capital, you won’t have any hassle locating a place to try some pastel de nata.

While you’ll certainly be spoiled for choice regardless of the neighborhood you’re in, you’ll quickly find out some of these pastry shops simply do these egg tarts better than others! Fortunately, you won’t have to do any trial and error because all of the places on this list have been put to the test by myself.