After taking a night train to Lisbon - from Madrid - we arrived at our hostel early in the morning. I had managed to get some sleep on the train, so I was rested enough (barely) to start my day. I had plans to meet my cousin, who had been living in Lisbon for five months at that point, so I was excited to just go with whatever she had planned.
It was a lovely day - the sun was out, which was a nice change from the UK and an unfortunately rainy time in Spain. I saw amazing views from the top of the Rua Augusta Arch before taking the train 15 minutes down the road to Belém. There I visited the monastery and spent some time just taking in the view of the Belém Tower on the water.
Next came my favorite part - snack time! Not just any snack, but those signature 'Portuguese Egg Tarts' I had been seeing around for years but never tried. I was lucky to get my first taste of the pastéis de nata right in the exact spot where they originated. The Pastéis de Belém bakery reminded me a bit of the chocolate and churro shop in Madrid. It was packed, so much so that we could not find seating and had to order to-go - not before I got a chance to look around inside - my mouth was watering!
I ordered two tarts and we found a place outside to sit and enjoy. My first thought was that I was surprised that the pastry was flakey, as I had expected it to be a heavier crust. I sprinkled it with powdered sugar and cinnamon as instructed by my cousin. Yum! The flakey pastry was the perfect vessel to deliver the custard to my mouth. It was just a sweet egg custard, but it was fresh-out-of-the-oven and the perfect treat. Two was satisfying, but I could have eaten more!
More Information:
Belém 84-92, 1300-085 Lisboa, Portugal
+351 21 363 7423
www.pasteisdebelem.pt
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