Hi friends, I wanted to talk to you real quick about pastel de Nata.

Is it kind of weird to do an entire blog post about a dessert in Portugal? Maybe, but no, because pastel de nata is one of the most iconic symbols of Portugal that you can possibly find if you come to visit and something that you’ll become a connoisseur of if you decide to live here like us.

Quick life update: I’m currently writing this from Granada, Spain. This trip has been a bit of a disaster if I’m being totally honest — we were supposed to be in Bulgaria, but our kids’ passports didn’t come in time. So… Spain it is. 😅

As a reminder, we’re expats in Portugal and we’ve lived in Lisbon for over four years. This year, 2026, we’ll be able to apply for our citizenship, which is our plan. Our five kids are ages 8 to 18, and yes, they all speak Portuguese, which still blows my mind sometimes.

And one thing we’ve learned as a family? The quickest way to fall in love with a place is through your stomach.

So, let’s talk about the best pastel de nata experiences in Lisbon, including the most famous place to eat them, and a cooking class that we loved so much we did it twice.

Disclaimer:This post may contain affiliate links. Opinions shared are my own, and I only endorse products I support. By clicking on any of the links below, I may get a small commission if you purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. I appreciate your support.

Why Portuguese Desserts Use So Many Egg Yolks

Okay, most desserts in Portugal are actually going to consist of two ingredients, egg yolk and sugar.

So why, why does this happen?

I found this out recently on a food tour we did in Lisbon, which was a gift from our Onda family. Thank you, Onda family, which is our business and how we afford to do all of our travel. We found out that because Portugal has traditionally been an extremely Catholic country and there were monasteries everywhere, similar to here in Spain, the nuns would use the egg whites to starch their habits, their uniforms, and therefore there was tons of egg yolks left over. There are still a ton of monasteries! They are spectacular to visit.

What Makes Pastel de Nata So Special

In my opinion, pastel de nata is the best dessert in Portugal.

It’s basically a mini custard pie: warm, creamy filling inside a flaky crust — usually with flavors like cinnamon, a little vanilla, and sometimes lemon. The very best ones have slightly burnt bubbles on top.

That “burnt” look is not an accident, you need to use a specialty oven to go past 500 degrees, which most home ovens won’t do, and it cooks the pastel de nata very, very fast. It’s a sign the oven is hot enough (we’re talking very hot) to bake the tart fast, crisp the crust, and create those caramelized little spots on the custard.

A few quick pastel de nata tips:

• Try it warm. Cold is fine, but warm is magic.
• Fresh out of the oven is the dream… but if you can’t get that, ask them to heat it up.
• In Portuguese, to ask for it warmed: “Pode aquecer, por favor?” (or simply “aquecer”).

And yes, you’ll find pastéis de nata everywhere: hotel breakfast buffets, cafés, bakeries, grocery stores — basically Portugal’s national snack.

Where to Find the Most Famous Pastel de Nata in Lisbon

There are two “big” pastel experiences I recommend in Lisbon: one traditional and iconic, and one modern and fun (and honestly, perfect for families).

Pastéis de Belém: The Traditional Classic

The most famous and most traditional place is Pastéis de Belém — the original pastry shop in the Belém area of Lisbon. “Belém” is the Portuguese version of Bethlehem, and this neighborhood is full of classic Lisbon sights.

If you’re visiting Belém, you can easily pair it with:

• Torre de Belém (Belém Tower)
• Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery)
• The riverside walk, parks, and museums

Fun fact: Vasco da Gama is buried in Jerónimos Monastery — so you’re basically sightseeing while also eating custard tarts. Very Portugal.

Now, an important note: Pastéis de Belém gets busy. In high season, the line can wrap down the street.

My best tip:
If you only want to grab a pastry to-go, skip the main line. There’s usually a takeaway window on the left side of the entrance where you can buy pastéis quickly and go eat them in the park across the street.

But if you don’t mind the wait, the inside café is actually huge (it doesn’t look like it from outside). You can eat lunch there, and one of the fun parts with kids is seeing the pastries being made — they produce thousands every day, and there are windows where you can peek into the “factory” section.

A Modern Twist on a Portuguese Classic

Natelier: Creative Flavors & Cooking Classes

The second place I recommend is Natélier — and we loved it so much, we did it twice.

Natélier is a modern take on pastel de nata. They’re known for:

• creative flavor combinations
• a super cute café vibe
• and a pastel de nata cooking class that’s genuinely family-friendly

Now… full disclosure… I’m pretty sure their flavor experimentation offends some Portuguese people. There are people who feel very strongly that pastel de nata should never be altered. But as an expat (and a mom who likes fun things), I think it’s awesome.

My favorite flavor was apple cinnamon — it’s like a little bit of apple pie filling at the bottom. I also loved the white chocolate, and the vegan option was surprisingly good too.

And recently I tried their Dubai chocolate flavor (chocolate + pistachio cream) and it was… dangerously good.

What Do You Do In A Pastel De Nata Cooking Class?

Here’s what it was like for us at Nat’élier.

We arrived right on time… which was actually a little late because we had parking issues (classic). If you’re driving, I’d recommend arriving 15 minutes early so you can enjoy the vibe of the café before class starts.

Nat’élier’s location is in a very tourist-friendly area near one of Lisbon’s famous elevators (Santa Justa Lift), with tons of outdoor cafés and lunch spots nearby. If you want “real food” before dessert, you’ll have plenty of options.

We started upstairs with the rest of the class, met the chefs, and then went downstairs into the cooking space. The kitchen setup is gorgeous — two large islands so the class can split into groups, each with a chef helping.

The class is taught in English, and everyone was totally comfortable speaking English (although we always love practicing Portuguese when we can).

Then we geared up: aprons, hair nets, hands washed… and we got to work.

What you make in class

1) The pastry dough
You make the dough that becomes that flaky crust. It reminded me a bit of croissant dough — lots of rolling and folding. Natélier uses a specialized margarine that helps create that crusty texture and also supports vegan options.

2) The custard filling
This part smells incredible: milk, eggs, sugar, lemon, cinnamon, and a bit of flour to thicken.

One of the coolest tools they sell in their take-home kit is a custard dispenser that makes filling the cups easy (and yes, we definitely tasted the filling along the way).

3) Shaping + baking
Once your dough is shaped into the little cups and filled, you label them with cute little flags, and then they go into a super hot oven.

This is the part you probably can’t fully replicate at home: the oven is extremely hot (that’s how you get the signature blistered tops). The bake time is fast — less than 10 minutes — and then the whole room smells like warm cinnamon heaven.

Taking kids to any cooking class is an adventure.

We’ve done cooking classes in other countries too (Singapore was a memorable one), and it’s always the same: someone wants to throw flour, someone wants the rolling pin, someone spills, and someone is convinced they’re starving even though they ate 20 minutes ago.

So don’t expect perfection — expect memories.

The good news: the staff at Natélier was warm, welcoming, and incredibly patient. And honestly, the Portuguese love kids. I never worry about taking my kids places here because people are generally kind and understanding.

My Tips for Enjoying a Pastel de Nata Cooking Class With Kids

• Prep them ahead of time. Explain what it will be like, how long it will take, and what you expect (listening, sharing, not talking over the chef).
• Remind them it’s food. Extra cleanliness, hair nets, hands washed — the whole thing.
• Don’t come hungry. Hangry kids + cooking = disaster. Feed them first.
• Bribe them with the fun drink after. Mine loved eating their warm creations with an icy chocolate milkshake.
• Pair it with a kid-friendly activity. Aquarium, science museum, zoo — whatever helps them burn energy and make the day feel “big.”
• Age recommendation: our youngest was 7 and did great, but I personally wouldn’t go much younger than 5.

Can You Make Pastel de Nata at Home?

Each person makes four pastries, which is honestly the perfect amount. After two, you’re usually pretty happy — and then you get to take the rest home (or save them for later… if you have self-control, which I do not).

We also bought the take-home kit, which includes:

• the custard pourer/dispenser
• pastry cups
• a recipe book
• and their chic apron (I actually love using it at home)

Have I made pastéis de nata at home yet?

I have not. 😂
The kit is sitting there, waiting for the day I suddenly become the kind of person who makes Portuguese pastries on a Tuesday.

But I do want to. And you can make them at home — with an oven or even an air fryer. It won’t be exactly the same as that high-heat professional oven, but it’s still a fun way to bring Portugal into your kitchen.

The Sweetest Way to Experience Portugal

At the end of the day, pastel de nata isn’t just a dessert.

It’s part of the rhythm of Portugal — grabbing one at a café, sprinkling cinnamon, sitting with someone you love (or someone you just met), and slowing down long enough to enjoy it warm.

If you’re coming to Lisbon, I’d absolutely recommend:

• trying the classic at Pastéis de Belém
• and doing the cooking class at Natélier, especially if you have kids

Both are uniquely Portuguese in their own way — one rooted in tradition, one playful and modern — and both are genuinely fun.

Follow along for more tips about expat life and family adventures here in Portugal on American Family in Portugal.

Additional Readings

Best Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon

Eating Your Way Through Portugal – Traditional Food You Can’t Miss!

12 Things To Do for Families in Lisbon