While pastéis de nata are a traditional Lisbon food, originating from the neighbourhood of Belém, don’t miss out on trying them in Porto. Eclairs may be the more traditional sweet here, but Porto has seen a surge of specialist bakeries offering these delightful pastries.
Whether they rival Lisbon’s custard tarts is a matter of personal taste, but sampling natas in Porto is certainly a must-do experience – along with trying all the other Porto traditional foods the city has to offer.
Manteigaria
Manteigaria is frequently mentioned as one of the top places in Lisbon and Porto to get an authentic pastel de nata. The café is neat, contemporary, and gives you a peek at the tart-making process.
Manteigaria combines its spacious area with the Delta Coffee experience, known for its specialty coffee roasting. The combination of high-quality coffee and custard tarts is simply irresistible. While it’s a spot popular among tourists and can get quite lively, the fast service guarantees that everything is fresh and of the highest quality.
Castro
Castro, a charming little cafe on the route to Riberia is a gem with just a few tables and a window bar. Make sure to grab a seat; their pastéis de nata are airy, sweet, and absolutely divine.
A stylish glass counter showcases the fresh tarts, and towards the back, marble stone bistro tables offer a cozy spot to unwind for a bit. Each table boasts a great view of the atelier, where over 2000 fresh tarts are made daily.
Fabrica da Nata
Fábrica da Nata, a well-loved pastry chain in Porto and Lisbon is famous for its pastel de nata. They use a secret family recipe that sticks to natural ingredients, which explains the endless praise for the texture and taste of their pastries.
Right at the entrance, you can witness the entire production process, from the dough being placed into molds, to filling, and the grand finale – coming out of the ovens at 350º.
This chain does feel a little touristy, however, it’s well worth trying it, whether in Lisbon or Porto.
Nata Lisboa
Located on one of the most beautiful and emblematic streets in the splendid city of Porto, Rua das Flores, we find Nata Lisboa, proudly proclaiming, “The world needs nata.” This is actually one of the biggest chains of pastel de nata-focused cafes in the world, with stores across Portugal and several foreign countries. That aside, it’s absolutely worth going in and trying one.
Nata Lisboa’s pastries are celebrated for their crispy and delicate crust, paired with a sublime cream that wins over even the most discerning palates. And, to sweeten the deal, each pastry is priced at just 1€.
Neta 3
You’ll find the pastry shop Neta 3 on Rua de Augusto Rosa in Batalha. It might fly under the radar of many lists because it’s mostly visited by locals rather than tourists or expats, but it truly deserves a mention. This is surprising considering Neta 3 has been serving customers since 1891, giving them over 130 years to refine and perfect their recipes.
What sets Neta 3 apart and cements its reputation is its varied and fresh pastries, and especially its small pastel de nata, featuring an incredibly crispy crust and delightful filling. If you want to go somewhere with a lot more locals than tourists, this is one to check out.
Confeitaria do Bolhão
Confeitaria do Bolhão, established in 1896, is situated on Rua Formosa, right across from Mercado do Bolhão. It’s a storied Porto landmark with a rich traditional background. Often mentioned in the same breath as Majestic and A Brasileira, Confeitaria do Bolhão, like its counterparts, attracts a lot of tourists.
In their efforts to renovate the space, the current owners aimed to honor its history by maintaining the original ambiance as much as possible. They incorporated decorative items and original fixtures, along with the traditional silver cutlery and Vista Alegre porcelain, which are hallmarks of the establishment.