Best Desserts in Lisbon | Pastel de Nata, Pastries, Gelato

Check out my list of the best desserts in Lisbon and discover where to find the most delicious chocolate, cake, gelato, and pastel de nata Lisbon has to offer!

The Portuguese have a serious love affair with their sweets and treats. Taking their lead, I wandered the city and tried as many sugar-laden delicacies as possible. To fit in like a local..obviously.

From chocolate cake light as a cloud, local custard tarts, coffee and chocolate pairings, and gelato that rivals Italy, Lisbon makes a memorable impression in the world of sweets. Without further ado, here are the 5 BEST desserts in Lisbon!

The chocolate cake at Landeau Chocolate just might be reason enough to return to Lisbon. Seriously. Cake almost isn’t the right word for this slice of heaven. It’s not dry or spongey, but instead, melts in your mouth and has the perfect amount of richness without overdoing it.  

What makes a visit to Landeau even better is that it’s not an actual dessert shop that has a display filled with different types of cakes, muffins, cookies, etc. It actually feels more like a cozy coffee shop that sells one stellar item. The chocolate cake. With the cozy cafe atmosphere, Landeau checked all my boxes and is top of the list for best Lisbon desserts.

Landeau has three locations in Lisbon. I visited the location on Rua das Flores. This is the most convenient location as it's in the heart of Lisbon in the Bairro Alto neighborhood.

Pastel de nata is to Lisbon as gelato is to Italy...the most iconic of all Lisbon desserts. Bakeries selling pastel de nata in Lisbon seem to be filled throughout the day with locals and tourists alike.

Pastel de nata are bite-sized custard-filled pastries. The outside pastry is flaky and filled with a perfectly sweet and creamy custard. Manteigaria is a spot many locals will suggest and sells some of the best pastel de nata Lisbon has to offer It makes for a fun stop as you can watch the little tarts being made from behind the counter. It’s almost impossible to eat just one at 1 euro each, so buy a few.

Manteigaria has two locations. Go to Time Out Market to not only buy a handful of Portuguese tarts but to also try a variety of foods from the other vendors. This market serves excellent food and the communal tables make for a fun time if you want to make friends with like-minded tourists and friendly locals. In fact, I include Time Out Market Lisboa on my list of the 10 BEST Things to do in Lisbon.

The second location is a tiny little shop in the Bairro Alto neighborhood, the center of Lisbon. Swing by after you visit the Elevador de Santa Justa (a top tourist attraction) as it's only two minutes away. This location is guaranteed to be crowded with patrons getting their bite-sized sugar fix.

Coffee and chocolate; one of the most divine pairings on earth. That's what Bettina & Niccolo Corallo is all about! A small cafe pairing its top-notch coffee with artisan chocolate.

They're famous for their chocolate sorbet and hot chocolate, both of which are made with 100% chocolate - no milk. The brownie was hands down the best I have ever had. I could have easily eaten 10!

Do not leave without trying the hot chocolate, which is better described as drinking chocolate. It comes in a tiny espresso glass so you won't feel guilty about ordering that with your brownie and other chocolate delights. 

The drinking chocolate, brownie, and artisan chocolates put Bettina & Niccolo Corallo at the top of the list for best desserts in Lisbon for chocolate lovers.

Claudio Corallo's website unwraps the whole story of their coffee and chocolate.

Two gelato shops seem to be neck to neck in winning "the best gelato in Lisbon" title. Nannarella and Davvero. The gelato and sorbet at Nannarella is made with 100% all-natural ingredients and has the rich and creamy flavor that accompanies authentic gelato. The shop is tiny and offers no tables or chairs, so this is a true grab-and-go dessert.

Being the gelato enthusiast that I am, I had to check out the rival of Nannarella. The owner of Davvera was actually the co-founder of Nannarella. The two shops are a 10-minute walk from each other, which makes for a great excuse to try a scoop from each and make your judgment on which spot truly has the best gelato in Lisbon.  

Davvero is the better option if you prefer to sit and enjoy your creamy treat with indoor and outdoor seating available. Davvero also has several locations in the city whereas Nannarella has just one.

If I had to choose which is the best gelato in Lisbon, I would choose Nannarella. I found the taste and texture to be superior to Davvero. 

Alcôa is the place to go if you're looking for some variety. Not only will you find the traditional Portuguese tarts, pastel de nata, there is also a selection of chocolate cakes, mini cheesecakes, and other custard filled creations.

The pastries at Alcoa are made from original recipes used by nuns back in the day. Paula Alves, owner of Alcoa, spent years sourcing these ancient recipes and she's been adamant from day one that no shortcuts will be used in recreating these traditional sweets. 

Pastelaria Alcoa has also won over 14 prizes for their pastries including 1st prize in the 15th Conventual Sweets & Liqueurs International Show.

If the line at Manteigaria is too long, Alcoa is an easy alternative to grab a pastel de nata. The cornucopias, crispy dough formed in the shape of a cone and filled with egg yolk creme, are the best selling item.

Not mentioning Pasteis de Belem when writing about the best desserts in Lisbon would be a crime. The famous shop is not included in my top 5 choices because it isn't actually in Lisbon, but a 20-minute car ride away. This is supposedly THE place to get the original pastel de nata (which they call pastéis de Belém). An entire story goes with this shop, which can be read here.

In short, these pastries have been savored by the locals since 1837. The recipe is top-secret and remains unchanged from the original version used by the monks of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the Heironymite Monastery).

It's not worth a trip just to try this simple pastry, but if you happen to be in Belém to see its sights (which I recommend...the Monastery is fantastic) definitely make a stop here!

A summary of the best dessert in Lisbon

I hope this list steers you in the right direction on where to find the BEST Lisbon desserts. These spots won't disappoint.

Manteigaria is the best spot to try the traditional pastel de nata (Portuguese pastry). Landeu Chocolate serves some of the best chocolate cake I have ever tasted in a cozy cafe atmosphere. Bettina & Niccolo Corallo is perfect for pairing coffee and expertly crafted chocolates. Nannarella and Davvero serve gelato so creamy you'd think you were in Italy. Pastelaria Alcoa whips up traditional sweets and pastries from original recipes used by nuns.