Santa Nata and their delicious tarts are sure to put you on the naughty list.
Lovely Lisbon has been one of the most in-demand tourist spots of recent years, and whilst folks regularly sing the praises of the charming architecture, fascinating museums, and tranquil parks, it’s always something sweet that tops the list. The beloved pastéis de nata are a city treasure — in fact, our sister site Lisboa Secreta handily rounded up the city’s best — and it’s surprisingly easy to get a taste of them here, as Santa Nata opened not one but two cafes in Covent Garden in 2019.
Santa Nata might just be my personal idea of heaven; wall to wall custard tarts, just waiting for someone with an empty stomach and reckless disregard for their waistline to come along. You know The Simpsons bit where Homer is in hell, and being “tortured” with endless doughnuts? Yeah, that’s me and pastéis de nata, to be honest.
The pastelaria’s glass frontage shows off the process of creating the tarts, as the master pastry chefs roll, shape, and fill batch after batch. With Santa Nata owned by a family of second-generation bakers, you can be sure that this recipe has been perfected over the years. They’re also serving coffee, port, an a traditional sour cherry liqueur called Ginjinha, if you fancy something a little stronger to complement your tart.
With no flight required, it looks like Lisbon has come to us!
Of course, if Lisbon did take your fancy, here’s our guide to 48 hours in the city.
Find Santa Nata at 17 Russell Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 5HP or 7 New Row, Seven Dials, WC2N 4LH.
Featured image: @santanatauk
Also published on Medium.