Over 300 years ago in Belém, close to Lisbon, there lived some monks whom we have to thank for the most delicioso pastries in the world. Well, that’s my opinion but it’s definitely correct. Now we can thank Café Lisboa for bringing these tasty, creamy delights to D7 at their incredible cafe dedicated to pasteis de nata.
It’s true that pasteis de nata have been available in Dublin for a while now, but this cafe is dedicated to this delicious Portuguese pastry and it shows. They endearingly refer to the Portuguese custard tarts as ‘golden babies’ and we couldn’t agree more.
As you bite into one of these pasteis de nata, a sweet, caramelised layer on top gives way to a thick, tasty custard and then a flaky, moreish pastry. Getting this balance of textures right is what makes the tarts so delicious, and as somebody who is obsessed with trying to make the perfect tart, I can tell you that it ain’t easy!
However, Café Lisboa clearly have it down as only a few days after opening word of mouth had spread the news of how great this place is to the extent that they actually sold out of pasteis de nata. They’ve had to increase production now to satiate the crowds of Dubliners hankering for a Café Lisboa pastel de nata.
These sumptuous pasteis de nata aren’t the only thing on the menu at the cafe. You can also grab a smooth cup of coffee – regular or iced. Plus, they serve soft drinks too, which are great for washing down pasteis de nata. Don’t kid yourself that you’ll only eat one, it’s impossible.