Iulia from Budapest

About me I was born and raised in Romania and come from a family of mixed Romanian and Hungarian heritage. I am a native speaker of both languages and my parents are teachers, so I was always very interested in learning new things and trying to have a balanced and informed view on whatever topic I was dealing with. I moved to Budapest to study and majored in English and Finnish. After univer...

Oct 2, 2025

Lisboa Pastry and Bakery Budapest

Custard tart heaven

""Lisboa Pastry and Bakery" has managed to bring the typical pastel de nata to Budapest. It's the only one that has pulled it off, plus the coffee..."

Each time I enter Lisboa bakery, I think of two things: how nice it is to have a genuine piece of one of my favourite cities here in Budapest, and that this time I’m really going to get something other than the pastel de nata (the best custard tart imaginable, typical of the area of Lisbon known as Belém). So, I inspect the breads, the brioche sandwiches, the citrus meringue tart, the mil folhas (all awesome in their own way) and then get the pastel de nata- or, at least, something plus the pastel de nata too. It’s like a first love: others may come and go, but the feeling will never be the same again.

There have in fact been several attempts to replicate the famous Portuguese dessert in Budapest, but none ever tasted like the real thing until Lisboa bakery came along. The sublime creaminess of the tarts, fresh from the oven, rivals that of the Belém originals, but mercifully you don’t have to queue for ages -- morning hours are quite busy, but nothing out of the ordinary for a popular café.

Coffee is indeed also to be had, of the dark roast variety favoured by the Portuguese themselves; lovers of hipster light roasts might thus find it somewhat bitter. The interior is well designed and pleasantly reminiscent of coffeehouses in Lisbon, yet in summer it’s probably a good idea to sit on the small terrace, situated at a comfortable distance from the crowds crossing through Gozsdú courtyard.

Coffee & tea

Snacks

About this spot

Holló utca 12

Pastel de nata:

HUF

500

+36

203179467

Social

Our Budapest Guide

Find your way with 174 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Budapest guide.

Join as a Spotter?

Loved this Spot? And love your city? Join your local team. Share your favs and become part of our international community!

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Budapest

Lúd Labor

Local paper store, made with love

"Lúd Labor" in Budapest is the perfect stationery shop. More than half its wares are made by local designers, I tend to lose control in here...

Shopping

Claudia

Leporatti

Oct 12, 2025

Hungarian Treasury

My favourite building

The "Hungarian Treasury" in Budapest is a building I show to all my guests. Its secessionist art nouveau style is reminiscent of Antoni Gaudí...

Art & culture

Claudia

Leporatti

Oct 12, 2025

Vivina café

Brunch classic in Budapest

The true star of Vivina’s brunch menu is the porridge—comforting, nourishing, and served with fresh berries and toasted nuts, it’s one of the best porridges in town!

Coffee & tea

Restaurants

Betti

Galos

Oct 11, 2025

Lion's Locker

A tasty home for travellers

"Lion's Locker" in Budapest is a cute family-run cafe where I can stay all day. The staff is all wonderful - and they know how to make almond milk foam!

Coffee & tea

Snacks

Claudia

Leporatti

Oct 9, 2025

Arán Bakery Budapest

Sourdough and dreams

"Arán Bakery Budapest" fuels my dreams with sourdough bread like my grandmother made it and delicious cinnamon rolls...

Snacks

Iulia

Notaros

Oct 9, 2025

Sport Bisztró

Fitness for the stomach

"Sport Bisztró" in Budapest is a pleasantly familiar, well-oiled haunt that sticks to the proverb 'healthy mind in a healthy body!' Great sports bar, too.

Hidden zen oasis

The Japanese garden hidden in a leafy corner of Zugló. It was created in 1928 by Márton Varga and followed Japanese principles as much as possible...

Relaxing

Iulia

Notaros

Oct 6, 2025

Kieselbach Galéria

Collection of Legends

Kieselback Gallery showcases Hungary’s greatest art, from classics to modern works. Free entry, quiet rooms, and nearby cafés make a very special place.

Art & culture