At this time of year, it’s easy to find a Bolo-Rei in the city, but is it really that simple to find a really tasty Bolo-Rei?
Finding the best Bolo-Rei in Lisbon is an eternal dilemma and, we believe, there isn’t just one right answer.
There are several competitions dedicated to finding “The Best Bolo-Rei in Portugal”, which last year happened to be in a pastry shop in Lisbon, and there have already been several winners throughout Portugal.
Although these Bolos-Reis have won awards, there are others which, although they haven’t, deserve to. Let’s find out?
Table Of Contents
Né’s Bakery
We have to start the list of the best Bolos-Rei in Lisbon with the big winner of “The Best Bolo-Rei in Portugal” of 2022, which you can find at Padaria da Né.
This little pastry shop really has a knack for it, as last year it was the winner of “The Best Pastel de Nata.”
This year it won the award that brings you here, with the best Bolo-Rei in the country, which has brought a lot of customers knocking on the door to have one of these cakes on their Christmas table.
Address: Rua Carvalho Araújo 7A (Amadora)
Benard Bakery
In Chiado since 1868, the Benard past ry shop is not just a specialist in its croissants, which are one of our favorites.
At this time of year, you’ll also find a delicious bolo-rei (king cake ) in their windows, with a light pastry full of candied fruit, as it should be.
Address: Rua Garrett 104 (Chiado)
Rice ME DELI – Cafeteria & Bakery
If you’re looking for a Bolo-Rei that’s healthier and less sweet than usual, the answer is at Rice Me Deli, in São Sebastião, opposite El Corte Inglés.
Here, both the Bolo-Rei and the Bolo-Rainha are made with organic rice and buckwheat flour and are gluten and lactose free.
They are also low in sugar and contain no colorings or preservatives. In the case of the Bolo-Reiha, even the candied fruit is made on site.
It’s a real treat, even for those who think they don’t like Bolo-Rei! And if you place your order on the website by December 16, you’ll get a 15% discount.
Address: Rua António Augusto Aguiar 124A (São Sebastião/Parque)
Gleba Bakery
Not all king cakes have to be the same, says Gleba, presenting its original and non-traditional Christmas offering.
With a distinctly different appearance from the usual Bolo-Rei, Gleba’s specialty is naturally leavened (more than 36 hours) and, instead of candied fruit, abuses the quantity of nuts (hazelnuts, pine nuts, walnuts and almonds), as well as candied orange peel, figs and raisins macerated in Port Wine and Bourbon vanilla.
Do you want to try this delicacy? We’ll make sure you do on your next visit to one of the Gleba stores.
Address: see the location of the various stores on the map below
Alcôa Bakery
Pastelaria Alcôa was founded in 1957 in Alcobaça and since 2017 has had a space in Chiado.
It’s true that Alcôa is known for being the paradise of conventual sweets, but the Bolo-Rei from this place won the trophy for “The Best Bolo-Rei in Portugal” in 2015, in the competition organized by the Association of Trade and Industry of Bakery, Pastry and Similar (ACIP).
So we’re talking about a Bolo-Rei that deserves all our attention… and taste buds!
Address: Rua Garrett 37 (Chiado)
Batalha Bakery
Pastelaria Batalha, which once had a store next to Largo de Camões in Chiado, has already won several pastry awards and has specialties such as vegan custard tarts, custard tarts with Nutella and, in November, custard tarts with chestnuts.
Founded in 1990, it is one of the pastry shops where the Bolo-Rei is magnificent. In recent years, the Batalha pastry shop won the prize for “Best Bolo-Rei” in the Wonderland Lisboa competition.
Address: Largo de Santo António 1 (Venda do Pinheiro)
National Confectionery
The Bolo-Rei is one of the greatest specialties of the Confeitaria Nacional, one of the oldest houses in the city, open since 1870 and which, every year, accumulates a long waiting list to buy this cake.
Some even say that it was the owner of the Confeitaria who brought the recipe to Portugal after discovering it in France.
Sometimes buying it takes patience, but tasting it is always worth it!
Address: Praça da Figueira 18A (Baixa)
Pastelaria Careca
There are people who go to Careca for the croissants, but there are other types of people who go to this pastry shop in Restelo for the Bolo-Rei.
The recipe has been around for more than five decades and some say that the secret lies in the greater amount of nuts and less candied fruit.
Address: Rua Duarte Pacheco Pereira 11D (Restelo)
Versailles Bakery
There are many good reasons to visit Pastelaria Versailles, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year.
The space is beautiful, the art nouveau decor is admirable, the pastries are all delicious and the Bolo-Rei has been one of the best in the city for almost a century.
Address: Avenida da República 15A (Saldanha)
Pastelaria Garrett Estoril
The Bolo-Rei from this pastry shop in Estoril is famous not only for its appearance, but also for its taste, thanks to a perfect balance between nuts and candied fruit.
Queues to buy it are also almost inevitable, but it’s worth the trip to Estoril.
Address: Avenida de Nice 54 (Estoril)
ChefPanda
The story of how Chef Panda started is incredible! One of these days we’ll tell you.
For now, get to know the two flavors of King Cakes from this house that only sells through its online platform: Traditional and Chocolate, each one tastier than the other.
Address: online orders only
The Best Croissant on My Street
This store, which has one of the best croissants you can eat in Lisbon, also makes its own Bolo-Rei, and only to order.
And this only happens at this time of year, when this brand decides to offer all its Bolo-Rei croissants or star-shaped ones, to which we can add various fillings, from dulce de leche, egg yolks, nutella, kinder bueno, dulce de leche, strawberry and apple and cinnamon.
And this year there’s something new we really want to try: dark chocolate filling.
Address: see the map below for the location of the various stores
Map with the best king cakes in Lisbon, and a list for your phone!
Bolo Imperador, o bolo de Natal para quem não gosta de Bolo-rei