Clearly we’ve gone WAY too long without a Pasteis da Nata today. Let’s remedy that immediately with a pop into our favorite and number one spot for those delicious custard tarts, Manteigaria. Remember, calories don’t count in Lisbon. There are too many hills!

Why is it our number one? Check out our Best Of  Pasteis de Natas series to find out why it's our favorite and to help you find yours.

It is impossible to start any day in Lisbon without a Pastel de Nata. They are so good, we even created a “Best of” guide to help you find your favorite spot to enjoy these tasty treats. This particular day starts you off at Confeitaria Nacional, Lisbon’s oldest bakery. We recommend taking a window seat, ordering a cappuccino, and of course, a couple Pasteis de Natas before venturing out on this day!

Out of the 12 days we were in Lisbon, we ate here ten times. In our opinion, it was the perfect egg tart; a flakey, buttery crust, the perfect custard consistency, and just the right amount of sweetness with a hint of cinnamon. In addition to the deliciousness of the actual egg tart, the ambiance also brings Manteigaria to our number one spot. More of a “bar” than a restaurant, there are no tables here. Simply order your pastéis (and a few extra for later, these bad boys are delicious cold too and keep their crispiness!) and your coffee and enjoy them standing up at the bar while watching all the action. Behind the beautiful marble countertop, you can see how these tiny bites of heaven are made.

Fun fact: Manteigaria makes anywhere from 3,000 - 6,000 pastéis a day!

PS. Manteigaria has a second location in the popular Time Out Market (Mercado da Ribeira) and while the egg tarts are still up to snuff, we prefer the charm of the OG.

PPS. Definitely sprinkle some of that powdered sugar and cinnamon goodness on top of your Pastel. It brings out all the flavors!

Don’t let the line wrapping around the corner deter you from experiencing a Pastéis de Belém. That’s right, it has its own trademarked name. And rightfully so being that the original Pastéis de Belém started here in 1837 following an ancient recipe from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the monastery next door). Current day, it is said that only six people know the recipe! Antiga Confeitaria de Belém is a Lisbon institution by all definitions.

The tart itself was our second favorite. Second because the filling felt a bit too “lumpy” in my opinion but the pastry was super buttery and delicious. Another reason it came in second instead of first was the dining experience. There are five different dining rooms! The place just kept going and the lines were never-ending! But the tarts were still delicious and they serve alcohol so thats always a plus in my book.

PS. Try planning your visit on a Monday, the monastery is closed and it can help with the long wait lines!

Fábrica da Nata comes in at a solid third on our list. The egg tart was really good. Delicious in fact. In all honesty, things started getting a bit blurry but taking all factors into consideration, the tart wasn't as perfect as Manteigaria, and the pastry wasn’t as buttery as Belém. The ambiance is nice but more like a big cafe. Lots of seating and a great terrace for that perfect egg tart experience. You can also order a special that includes a croquette, coffee, and a glass of port!

PS. This location is also right off of Avenue de Liberdade which is worth a stroll while in Lisbon!

A Padaria Portuguesas are like the Starbucks of pastelarias. It's nearly impossible to walk two blocks without passing a few.

The egg tarts here are good. The only drawback was we felt there wasn’t enough filling to pastry ratio. There wasn’t anything particularly special except for the fact that seriously, they are ALL delicious. Truly, while this article is based on how we rank these egg tarts, it’s like comparing the best chocolate chip cookie you have ever had to the best brownie you have ever had. (And if you are going to try and tell me you don’t like chocolate, well…I don’t really have anything to say to that.)

Anyway, A Padaria Portuguese comes in at number 4 because of convenience, a cute ambiance, and lastly (going a little rogue here) it also has the second best pastry in Lisbon and they do an amazing job: Pão de Deus (God’s Bread. Yep. It’s so good, it’s named after God). It’s the best brioche bun you have ever had with an incredible sweet and creamy coconut topping that is lightly toasted on top. I realized after typing that out, it doesn’t sound so “out of this world,” but trust me, it is! And at A Padaria Portuguesa you can enjoy egg tarts and God’s bread (and maybe an insulin shot while you’re at it) in one place. Boom!

PS. Don't forget to grab a ticket number! It's like a meat counter at the grocery store, but for delicious treats instead.

Finally, our 5th favorite Pastéis de nata! I’ll go ahead and say that of all the egg tarts we tasted, this one tasted the most different. It’s sweeter than the others and felt a little more flimsy. The space, however, was beautiful. It is one of the oldest pastry shops in Lisbon and in 1873, they were asked to be the official supplier for the Portuguese Royal House. Now that’s saying something huh? With over six generations in the same family, Confeitaria Nacional is definitely worth a visit. Grab a corner table by the window, order a glass of port, and see if you can taste the difference!