Pastéis de Belém

"A famous bakery known for its traditional Portuguese custard tarts."

"If there’s one Portuguese food item you already know, it’s most likely the country’s renowned egg tarts (in Portuguese, this delicacy is known as pastel de nata, or “cream pastry”). Pastéis de Belém, a pastry shop just west of Lisbon, claims to be the originator of what is ostensibly the country’s most famous pastry. Legend has it that the sweet—which consists of pastry cups filled with an egg and cream custard—was probably first baked at the neighboring Jerónimos Monastery. When Portugal’s monasteries were closed in 1834, a former monk-slash-baker moved shop to a sugar refinery a few doors down, and in 1837, the confection known today from Portugal to Hong Kong was born. Today, there are several brands selling custard tarts in Lisbon, but Pastéis de Belém continues to be a family-run company with no branches or franchises. The tarts are only available at the original location in Belém. As many as 20,000 are baked here every day following the original recipe, the fillings of which are mixed in a “Secret Office” where the precise ingredients and proportions are measured—details said to be known by only seven humans. The result is a tart with a salty, buttery crust, and a rich filling with the texture of a light custard and a distinctive charred surface. Know Before You Go The egg tarts at Pastéis de Belém are eaten with an optional dusting of cinnamon, a reminder of the eponymous town’s former role as a depot for exotic ingredients such as sugar from Brazil and dried spices from Asia." - rbenn250, mocchiatto, mbqccd46mp, Xavixavir, Austin Bush

"Pastéis de Belém in Lisbon is renowned for producing the famous Portuguese dessert, pastel de nata. Established in 1837, the venue has perfected the art of creating these delicious egg custard tarts, which are often enjoyed with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top." - Stacey Leasca

"You can find delicious versions of pastel de nata, Portugal’s signature confection, throughout Lisbon. But none of these cinnamon-dusted egg custard tarts are as entrenched in Portuguese history as the ones served at this Belém institution. The shop, originally part of a sugar refinery, has been cranking out this proprietary recipe—an ancient one embraced by monks of the adjacent Jerónimos Monastery—since 1837. Buy a six-pack and reserve time to enjoy them leisurely inside the retro, blue-and-white tiled room. Sipping a coffee while watching excited visitors taking their first bite is itself a Lisbon attraction." - Alia Akkam, Chadner Navarro

"Sweet and Warm Custard To Soothe the Soul Pastel de nata is a Portuguese egg tart pastry, common in Portugal. Those found at Pastéis de Belém have become legendary for their super secret recipe. Any day of the week, a line trails out the door waiting to savor one of tens of thousands made daily. Eat them warm with a cafe."