Pastéis de Belém
Pastéis de Belém features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Lisbon. Give it roughly ~45 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- Lisbon Lisbon guide
About Pastéis de Belém
The original custard tart pastry shop since 1837, the birthplace of the pastéis de nata, with a secret recipe, perpetual queues, and the most famous tarts in Portugal.
The Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém is the most famous pastry shop in Portugal, and possibly in the world, the original source of the recipe for pastéis de nata, Portugal's iconic custard tarts. The recipe was created in the early 19th century by monks at the nearby Jerónimos Monastery, who used egg whites to starch their habits and had large quantities of leftover egg yolks. They developed a recipe for small custard tarts as a way to use the yolks, and when the monastery was closed in 1834 during the Liberal reforms that suppressed religious orders, the monks sold the recipe to a local sugar refinery owner. He opened this shop in 1837, and the family has operated it ever since, with the original secret recipe, known only to a handful of people, still in use today. The tarts are made fresh throughout the day and served warm, dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar. The queues outside are legendary, sometimes stretching around the block, but the shop is enormous inside and table service moves quickly. These are not just pastries: they are one of the essential experiences of any visit to Lisbon.
Did you know? The original recipe was created by Jerónimos Monastery monks who needed to use surplus egg yolks left over from starching their habits with egg whites.
How long is a visit to Pastéis de Belém?
Set aside roughly ~45 min for Pastéis de Belém. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Pastéis de Belém worth your time?
Pastéis de Belém is among the 28 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Lisbon, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Lisbon
Hear the story of Pastéis de Belém
Preview the Lisbon tour free in the Gingerguide app.