The Best Places for Desserts in Lisbon

Which restaurants in Lisbon sell the best desserts and are they really worth it?

Sweet spots are quite popular around Lisbon, especially Pastelarias, which are very common and often visited by locals. These shops include delicious Portuguese confectioneries such as pasteis de nata, pão de Deus, pastel de feijão, and bolo de arroz. Over the past years, shops have begun creating desserts appropriate for more diets around the capital city, such as vegan doughnuts and ice-cream, or dairy-free pastries. I have tried most of these desserts and will suggest the options I found to be the tastiest.

1. Manteigaria – Fábrica de Pasteis de Nata

This delicious and touristic spot in Chiado is known for its traditional Portuguese custard tarts, also known as pasteis de nata. The tarts are continuously made in front of visitors all throughout the year to share the making of these tasty confections. The pastries are fresh with a flaky crust and a little a bit of cinnamon inside which enhances the flavor of the soft and creamy egg custard filling.

You can enjoy your pastry with expresso or cappuccino which are excellent pairs to the famous dessert. The service is also quite efficient and very friendly staff. However, since this spot is so popular, it can often be quite crowded so I would recommend avoiding visiting it during popular hours. The pastry shop has three shops around common areas which include in the Time Out Market, Chiado, and Bairro Alto. Locations:

• Av. 24 de Julho 50, 1200-109 Lisboa (Time Out Market)

• Rua do Loreto 2, 1200-108 Lisboa

• Rua Augusta 195-197, Baixa, 1100-619 Lisboa

2. Confeitaria Nacional

This is another delicious pastry shop in Lisbon which was the official confectioner of the Portuguese royal family back in 1982 and still currently holds the title of being one of the best pastry shops and cafes in Lisbon. It is almost 200 years old and is often recommended by locals because of its excellent variety of Portuguese pastries such as rice flour muffins, custard tarts, coconut cake, or almond pie. This historic location is known for its excellent coffee and cake.

The shop is famous for its Christmas cake which derived in 1850 when the original owner brought the recipe from Paris. The interior is splendid, and the service is quite fast even with various visitors from all over the world who wish to try these prevalent and delicious treats. Nevertheless, the place is quite small to stay in and enjoy the sweets therefore I would recommend walking to a nearby garden such as the Torel Garden which is only 10mins away. It is a beautiful and relaxing park which offers city and water views, perfect for a sunny afternoon.

Location: Praça da Figueira 18B, 1100-241 Lisboa

3. Nannarella

Nannarella is an excellent dessert spot. The gelataria is famous for its Italian classics and seasonal flavors. The shop has opened back in Lisbon’s Sao Bento Neighborhood. Constanza Ventura and partner Riccardo Farabegoli have created the shop in 2013, and ever since, it has been very popular through locals. At Nannarella, the ice-creams are made using Portuguese and local ingredients, and seasonal fruits.

The shop combines the Portuguese products with the knowledge of Italian’s ice cream tradition. Nannarella includes classic flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry, but also seasonal savors such as basil flower, roasted apple, cinnamon, kiwi, and watermelon. Personally, I believe Nannarella is my one of my favorite ice-cream locations in Lisbon. The flavor and texture of the ice-cream is simply delicious! Location: Rua Nova da Piedade nº 68 Lisboa

4. Bettina & Niccolo Corallo

Bettina Corallo was created in 2008 in the heart of Príncipe Real in Lisbon with the best cacao harvests coming from countries like Bolivia, Ghana, Venezuela and Dominican Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe, all with cacao of certified origin. The cafe offers a wide range of varied chocolates, and a selection of authentic ingredients without any additives, preservatives, or other substances such as lecithin or vanilla, hence achieving delicate and unique taste experiences, but above all natural and nourishing.

At Bettina & Niccolò Corallo, you will certainly find the tastiest artisanal chocolates with exotic flavors and their bestsellers such as the 75% chocolate bar with cocoa and crystalized orange or ginger. The chocolate is made with pure cacao, while the coffee beans are roasted in-house to highlight its unique flavor. You can also purchase products such as chocolate-covered coffee beans or ice cream from this shop.

Location: R. da Escola Politécnica 4, 1250-096 Lisboa

5. Scoop n Dough

This is another great dessert option if you’re visiting the capital, especially if you are vegan. This shop offers handmade vegan doughnuts and ice cream, made with high-quality ingredients produced in the store. It was founded by two brothers, Darchite and Jimite. It all started when Darchite became vegan in 2015 and found it difficult to enjoy eating ice creams in Lisbon, which was a family favourite activity.

He then believed that he could create his own plant-based vegan ice cream shop. Thus, Darchite began his 3-year research for the perfect recipe for ice cream and had the idea to add doughnuts into the shop’s products whilst traveling in North America. Together, they have successfully created this innovative concept. Their products are unique because of the consistency, creaminess, and texture which is enabled by artisanal production and without including any milk or eggs to the recipe. Locations:

• R. das Portas de Santo Antão 78, 1150-269 Lisboa

• R. Frederico Arouca 298, 2750-427 Cascais

Work Cited:

• karlssonwilker inc. “Manteigaria Fábrica Dos Pasteis de Nata.” Cityguidelisbon.com, 2023, www.cityguidelisbon.com/place/manteigaria-fabrica-dos-pasteis-de-nata/.

• Bloomidea. “Manteigaria.” Lisboa Cool, 2023, lisboacool.com/cafes/manteigaria.

• “Products.” Bettina Corallo Chocolate Café, 2023, bettinacorallo.com/en/collections/all.

• ‌ Renée, JB. “Portuguese Desserts: 25 Traditional Sweets You Need to Try in Portugal.” Will Fly for Food, Will Fly for Food, 17 Nov. 2021, www.willflyforfood.net/portuguese-desserts/.

• “Scoop 'N Dough.” Scoop N Dough, 2015, www.scoopndough.pt/.