Lisbon's defining sweet: a flaky puff-pastry shell holding a thin custard of egg yolk, milk and sugar, blistered black on top under high heat.
Perfected at the Jeronimos monastery in Belem long before the 1834 dissolution of religious orders, the custard tart recipe was sold to a sugar refinery next door after that closure. Pasteis de Belem opened in 1837 and has guarded the original formula behind a locked door for the four generations since. Manteigaria reopened the conversation in 2014 with a modern, lighter version baked every twenty minutes.
5 editor picks for Pastel de nata in Lisbon, ranked by editorial score. All Lisbon signature dishes · Pastel de nata across every city.
Pasteis de Belem ★ 4.8
belem · Rua de Belem 84-92, 1300-085 Lisboa
Pasteis de Belem in Lisbon's Belem: the original pastel de nata, made by hand from a Jeronimos-monastery recipe held in secret since 1837.
Manteigaria Chiado ★ 4.7
chiado · Rua do Loreto 2, 1200-108 Lisboa
Manteigaria's Chiado flagship in Lisbon: an Art Nouveau corner on Rua do Loreto where pastel de nata trays land hot every twenty minutes, 1.50 euros.
Manteigaria Belem ★ 4.6
belem · Rua de Belem 31, 1300-082 Lisboa
Manteigaria Belem in Lisbon: the modern pastel-de-nata contender's Rua de Belem outpost a short walk from Pasteis de Belem, for the side-by-side tasting.
Manteigaria Mercado da Ribeira ★ 4.5
cais-do-sodre · Avenida 24 de Julho 49, Mercado da Ribeira, 1200-479 Lisboa
Manteigaria's Mercado da Ribeira stall in Lisbon: the Time Out Market pastel-de-nata window, baked every twenty minutes, 1.50 euros at the counter.
Confeitaria Nacional ★ 4.5
Baixa · Praca da Figueira 18B, 1100-241 Lisboa
Confeitaria Nacional on Lisbon's Praca da Figueira: the city's oldest patisserie, in continuous operation since 1829, six generations of one family.