Sonya H.
Yelp
A cute pastelaria located in Baixa / Chiado. They have a massive selection of pastries, including, of course, the legendary pastei de nata. It's a pretty classic cafe, with both a nice counter for a quick bite, small outdoor seating area, and takeaway option. I stopped by shortly after my flight landed in Lisbon, and it was a great introduction to Portuguese pastries. My friend and I decided to split a mini quiche and pastel de nata (in an effort to be ~somewhat~ healthy). The mini quiche was solid, with a decent texture and a nice little crust on the outside; it was a lovely and much-needed savory bite before a long day of sweets. The pastel de nata was also good, with a nice creamy, custardy interior and flaky shell. It trended a bit too sweet, and the outer shell wasn't quite as flaky or crispy as I would have liked. However, it had been sitting out for a while, so it's possible that we just missed the optimal timing for peak freshness.
It was also a smidge touristy and overpriced, which, I suppose is to be expected for much of the Baixa / Chiado neighborhood, especially anything close to major tourist attractions like the Bertrand Bookstore. All in all, Benard is a great spot for a quick bite, but if you specifically want an amazing pastei de nata, there are plenty of other shops that specialize in the pastry and can give you one far more worth your euro.