Pastéis de Belém: reviews and practical tips

+4
recos
2.7/5 3 reviews
84-92 rue de Belém, 1300-085 Lisbon, Portugal
84-92 rue de Belém, 1300-085 Lisbon, Portugal
Pastéis de Belem
Quoi de plus typique à Lisboa

Pastéis de Belém in a nutshell

Pastéis de Belém are a staple of Portuguese cuisine, recognized globally. These are small custard tarts served warm, typically dusted with cinnamon or powdered sugar. The British newspaper The Guardian even named Pastéis de Belém one of the 50 best foods in the world.

Pastéis de Belém also refers to the iconic shop in Lisbon where these succulent pastries are prepared and served.

A bit of history

The story begins in the 19th century. The pastry was reportedly created by nuns from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery) in Belém. Following the Liberal Revolution of 1820, convents and monasteries were closed and emptied of their occupants in 1834. Starting in 1837, members of the religious orders began selling Pastéis de Belém out of a former sugar refinery to support themselves.

The business quickly became a massive success. Today, Belém is a neighborhood within Lisbon, but in the 19th century, they were two separate towns linked by river transport on the Tagus. The tarts were so popular that they were shipped by boat to Lisbon at the request of the locals.

Today, the famous pastry is known around the world, but the original recipe remains a secret, known only to the master pastry chefs at the shop. While many imitations exist, the original is only produced by the Pastéis de Belém bakery.

As a result of their popularity, there is almost always a line out the door. We recommend arriving a few minutes before the shop opens to avoid a long wait. You can sit inside to enjoy these refined treats, and the interior of the shop has maintained a charming, old-world feel that is quite pleasant.

Opening hours

Open daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Hours are indicative and subject to change

Reviews of Pastéis de Belém

Add my review
Summary of 3 reviews
2.7/5
Average rating
+4
Total recommendations

Ratings by visit type

With family
3
As a couple
2.7
With friends
2.7

Avygeo ranking

#997
in the world
#663
in Europe
#16
in Portugal
#11
in Lisbon

Must try

Pastéis de Belém are a must when visiting Lisbon.
You can find them all over the city, and you definitely have to try them at least once.
They are good and pleasant to eat, even if I didn't find them exceptional.
Try them mainly to discover this iconic specialty so you can talk about it afterwards.

11
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A good, authentic pastry shop

You should never leave Lisbon without eating these famous pasteis at least once, as they are a local culinary specialty. They are like a little custard tart, but meltier. Honestly, these are good, but not necessarily better than anywhere else. The point of the visit isn't so much the buying as it is admiring the place, which is nicely decorated, and watching these famous pastries being made. However, given the long wait, I much prefer a Viennese coffee.

4
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The Lisbon version of Ladurée?

Sometimes there are trends I just cannot explain.
Plenty of people urged us to absolutely try the pastries at Pastéis de Belém, a type of large bakery like you can find in every big city.

Arriving in front of the display case showing these little sweet tarts sold everywhere in Lisbon, and seeing groups of tourists going in and out of the shop, it reminded me of Ladurée macarons in Paris: good without being exceptional, and especially without justifying all the buzz. So I kept walking, convinced that the pastéis I ate in the morning at the hotel were almost as good.

1
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