REALLY important info on Casteis de Belem Pastry Shop
 

The horrendous line you see out the front door is for carry out service only.

If you see a line, go in the side door to the left and sit at a table there in the first section or continue back towards the bathroom where there are HUGE amounts of tables to even accommodate a large group for table service.

P. S. The cream tarts are a bit bigger than bite size but order more than one as you will be sorry if you don't. They have other yummy looking pastries that I wlll try next time and seem to be equally popular among locals..

thanks Linda Casanova!! Saving this to my new folder "Portugal" May be for 2013??

Is this shop in Lisbon?

the shop is in the belem section of lisboa near the jeronimos monastery and the coach museum.

i am pretty sure the outdoor tables also accomodate the mcdonalds next door too so you can have your pastry and a bid mac too. ;0

thin

and be prepared to wait-the staff is so overworked-the noise horrendous- the atmosphere frenetic!

I think the line outside is so long because, of course, many people are taking them away but I thought the table service cost you just a little more.
I could be wrong but that may account for some of the long lines.
We sat in the back and had lovely pastry. Even if it did cost more it was worth it. I don't think they are as good when you take them away and they are not warm. They are good but just not as good.

No doubt they are more expensive.. but sitting and enjoying service , albeit noisy , is worth the extra €.

Very important as well.
These are one of the best made in Portugal, and, they are called
"Pasteis". My wife (from Lisbon) and I always tell family members coming from Lisbon for a visit, to bring some.
If you like these pastries and you are in Lisbon, try "Pão de Deus" A brioche like pastry with coconut on top. The best in Portugal (in the eyes of many Portuguese) are made at Padaria Portuguesa ( http://www.facebook.com/apadariaportuguesa/info

I think there should be a book called "The Pastry of Portugal".
It would be very helpful if it had pictures so if one cannot remember the name of a certain pastry and does not see it in a shop one is standing in it could be taken out and the particular pastry could be pointed out.

I think this would be very helpful for someone like me who has found a particular pastry in one part of Portugal that I might be looking for in another part but of course it is only available in a certain local. And I might not know the name so I cannot ask for it.

This would be very helpful!

"They have other yummy looking pastries that I wlll try next time"

That's what you say now. But I'm giving odds that you go for the pasteis again.

of course!!!.. as well as the others!