Pasteis de Belem Lisbon – Pastel de Nata Guide

Visitor Information and Guide to Buying Belem Pastel de Nata Lisbon

The Pasteis de Belem bakery, situated in the heart of Lisbon’s historic Belém district, is probably the most famous place to get the Pastel de Nata – Portugal’s most famous sweet treat!

This iconic bakery has earned its place as a must-visit attraction when visiting Lisbon, especially for those looking to sample the Pastel de Nata. With a secret recipe passed down through generations, you should definitely make time to visit!

Pastéis de Belém General Information
Location	R. de Belém nº 84 a 92, 1300-085 Lisboa, Portugal. Closest landmarks are the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower.
Opening Times	Every day: 8:00AM – 11:00PM Note: The timings might vary, it’s better to check their official website before planning your visit.
Price	The price for a Pastel de Belém is around €1.10. Other items and drinks are available at various prices. Check their online menu for more details.

What to Order at Pasteis de Belem Lisbon

Obviously, when visiting Pasteis de Belem, the star of the show is the Pastel de Nata – Portugal’s famous egg custard tart. With a crispy pastry exterior and a gooey soft custard centre, they are a delicious sweet treat.

The bakery also serves coffee (the perfect companion to the pastel de nata) as well as other drinks and food items. You can grab other pastries, cakes, and sandwiches/snacks to go along with your sweet treat!

As of 2024, the famous pastel de nata costs a very reasonable €1.60 per tart, or a pack of 6 can be purchased for €8.40.

You can choose to sit inside the bakery (they have a large interior with tables, chairs and waiter service) or get a takeaway – with different queues for each. Even the takeaway box is a work of art and very beautiful!

A full list of items available at Pasteis de Belem can be found on their website.

Tips for visiting Pasteis de Belem

• Sprinkle Some Cinnamon on your Pastel de Nata – Once you get your tart, sprinkle them with a bit of cinnamon which are provided on the tables – it really compliments the flavour!
• Visit During Off-Peak Hours – The queues can be very long, try visiting early in the morning or late in the afternoon during weekdays.
• Combine with a trip to Belem – If travelling for Pasteis de Belem, it is also worth planning to check out Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower – both top attractions to visit in Belem!
• Photography – The actual building is very picturesque and historic, and there are some excellent photograph opportunities both inside and outside!

A History of Pasteis de Belem

The history and origins of Pasteis de Belem is very interesting and linked to the Jerónimos Monastery, also located in Belem.

The monks at this monastery used egg whites to starch their clothes, and therefore had a large amount of leftover egg yolks. To put these yolks to use, the monks started creating sweet pastries, including the recipe for the now-famous custard Portugese tart, the Pastel de Nata.

They then sold these to visitors and people in the nearby area.

In 1834, due to the revolution in Portugal, all monasteries were to be shut down and no longer funded. This meant the monks had to find a way to sustain themselves, and they decided to sell the recipe of these custard tarts to a sugar refinery.

This refinery then opened a shop, the Pasteis de Belem, in 1837 to sell these tarts to the public.

The original recipe is a well-kept secret, known only to 3 people at any one time!

Pasteis de Belem Lisbon Location and How to Get There

Pasteis de Belem is located in central Lisbon, in the district of Belem, making it convenient to visit alongside a large number of Lisbon’s top attractions.

You can easily get to Pasteis de Belem by taking the tram. The closest tram stop is Praça Afonso de Albuquerque (with Tram 15 stopping here), which is then just a 5 minute walk to the bakery.

With regards to buses, you can take any of the following Carris buses (714, 727, 728), and get off at Jeronimos Monastery, which is just a short walk to the shop.

There are no metro stops to get to Belem, but you can take the train and get off at Belem main station and enjoy a short walk to the bakery..

The Hop On Hop Off tourist bus stops outside Belem Tower, which is really close to Pasteis de Belem.

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