
Satisfy your sweet tooth with the best desserts in Lisbon. Taste the most decadent chocolate cake, creamy gelato, delicate pastries, and the famous pastel de nata!
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!
This map shows where to find the best deserts in Lisbon, Portugal. Click the icon on the top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Select the top right button to enlarge the map. Click the star to save to your own Google Maps account. To access this map once saved (after clicking the star), open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the menu button, go to "your places", select "maps", and you will see this map listed.
- Blue - TOP 5 deserts in Lisbon
- Red - honorable mention

Photos: Ricardo Pereira da Silva from RAW photography

1. Landeau Chocolate - best chocolate cake in Lisbon
The chocolate cake at Landeau Chocolate just may 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 feels more like a cozy coffee shop that sells one stellar item: 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.
2. Manteigaria - best Pastel de Nata in Lisbon
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.
While there are many shops selling this beloved treat, Manteigaria, in my humble opinion, makes the best pastel de nata Lisbon. Trust me, I tried many.
It's not too sweet, the custard is the perfect consistency, and the pastry is the perfect balance of soft while holding the pastry together. It's also worth noting they use butter (not margarine) and that several months of training is required from each pastry chef.
A visit to Manteigaria makes for a fun stop as you can watch the little tarts being made from behind the counter.
At just €1.40 each, it's hard to stop at one, so buy a few.
Manteigaria has multiple locations. The two most convenient locations for tourists are:
Time Out Market (this makes a worthwhile visit in and of itself).
Rua Augusta - located in the Bairro Alto neighborhood (the center of Lisbon). Swing by this location 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.
Photo: Bettina & Niccolo Corallo
Photo: Bettina & Niccolo Corallo
3. Bettina Corallo - best chocolate in Lisbon
Coffee and chocolate; one of the most divine pairings on earth. That's what Bettina 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 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.
4. Gelataria NannarellaA vs Gelato Davvero - best gelato in Lisbon
Two gelato shops are neck to neck in winning "the best gelato in Lisbon" title. Nannarella and Davvero.
Nannarella uses 100% all-natural ingredients for its gelato and sorbet. The result is a creamy smooth consistency with rich (but not overly sweet) flavor profiles. Exactly what you would expect from 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.
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 center whereas Nannarella has just one.
If I had to choose between the two, I would pick Nannarella. I found the taste and texture to be superior to Davvero.
Photos: Pastelaria Alcoa
5. Pastelaria Alcôa - best pastries in Lisbon
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.
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Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Honorable mention - Pasteis de Belem
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's located in Belem, not Lisbon.
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.
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