Pastéis de Belém

This confectionery was founded in 1837. While you can find the famous Portuguese custard tarts all over Portugal, this is the place with the original tarts, made according to a secret recipe. Instead of waiting in the line, I would suggest you enter and enjoy the Pastéis de Belém inside a nice tiled room. The tarts will arrive warm, so you must ask for two tarts per person (one is simply not enough).

Nata is a traditional Portuguese treat. We made it our mission to try one in all seven areas (north to south) of Portugal and by far, the nata at Pastéis de Belém was the best...the creamiest in texture, the shell enveloping the succulent egg custard was a perfect combination of flaky and crisp pastry...divine. Be prepared for a line for take away but it moves quickly and is ever so worth it!

If you’re visiting Lisbon, chances are you’ll make your way to nearby Belem to see some age of Discoveries sites like the Tower of Belem or Monastery of Jerónimos. But here’s something you must do while you’re in the district. Eat pastry. This is a truth of Lisbon in general, but it could not be more crucial than when you come upon the blue and white banner of Pastéis de Belém. The namesake pastries (called Pastéis de Nata throughout the region) are the original and still gold standard in Portugeuse egg tart pastry. Paper thin layers of buttery crisp pastry are filled with a rich, yet balanced, custard of sugar and egg. The pastry tops blister in high heat adding a toasty hint of caramel to the flavor profile. Best to eat your tarts at the counter with a shot of espresso. The kitchen sends out wave after wave of pastry to fill demand, guaranteeing your order will be fresh and warm. Shakers of cinnamon and powdered sugar are offered at the bar and I like a light shake of cinnamon best. When the heat of the tart warms the cinnamon, the most irresistible fragrance of sugar and spice is released. You can find delicious pastéis de nata all over Lisbon, but I promise you’ll compare every one to the perfection of Pastéis de Belém.

If visit Lisbon, and don’t eat this delicious sweetie, you didn’t know Lisbon. Made by gods hands. Awesome flavor.

I make it a point to seek some of a city’s trademark food and drink when I travel, and in Lisbon that includes the city’s “pastel de nata” tarts. For a fun experience, brave the line (it moves fast) at Pastéis de Belém, which is credited as the birthplace of these crunchy, custardy tarts. What makes them such a treat here is that they make so many - about 20,000 per day! - that the tarts are generally served still warm out of the oven. http://boardingpasstraveltips.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/eats-lisbon/