Indulge in Lisbon's Best Traditional Christmas Sweets: 10 Must-Try Delicacies

Christmas Sweets from Leitaria

For those who cherish the classics, there are options that never disappoint. The iconic rabanadas (€2 each), sonhos (€1.50 each), and the indispensable bolo-rei (€19) are just a few of the offerings from Leitaria that you can take home. Other delightful options include chocolate bolo-rei (€21), bolo-rainha (€20), salted caramel brownie (€25), chocolate and walnut cake (€20), XL almond tart (€20), and traditional pão-de-ló (€13.50).

A proper Portuguese table wouldn’t be complete without bread, and there’s plenty to choose from here, including rye bread, available plain (€3.40), with raisins (€4.50), or with walnuts (€4.50), as well as broa de milho (€3.40) or chouriço bread (€6.50).

Christmas orders can be placed until December 23rd, and for New Year's Eve until December 30th, via email at artilharia1@leitaria-lisboa.com or by phone at 21 594 4943 or 918778583.

Exclusive Proposals by Juliana Penteado

Located at number 5 on Calçada da Estrela, Juliana Penteado Pastry has reopened with a renewed space designed to offer a unique experience to its customers in a warmer and more inviting atmosphere.

With Christmas approaching, pastry chef Juliana Penteado presents an exclusive selection of holiday desserts available from December 16 to 24. Options include tiramisu Christmas log (€78), caramel, passion fruit and verbena log (€78), and apple tart (€55). Each dessert serves between 10 to 12 people and should be ordered at least 48 hours in advance. For those seeking smaller options, the pastry shop also offers individual sweets (€6.90), featuring creations such as Santa Claus Belly (raspberry and bergamot), chocolate tree (tonka bean and hazelnut), matcha tree (pistachio and lemon), pumpkin choux with spices, and pear tart with frangipane, orange, and pecan.

In addition to Christmas specialties, customers can enjoy a weekly changing menu available from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM.

Bolo-rei, Panettone, and Special Collaborations from Gleba

If you're a fan of Juliana Penteado's pastries, there are more locations to indulge in her creativity. The iconic Bolo-Rei from Gleba (€28.95) is back on the menu, accompanied by the equally famous Panettones. This year, a new collaboration with the pastry chef marks the opening of Gleba 2.0 on Avenida António Augusto Aguiar.

The panettones, available in classic (€20.95) and chocolate (€22.95) versions, are accompanied this year by a special edition of pistachio and bergamot, created in partnership with Juliana Penteado, available for sale from December 14 to 22 at the store on Avenida António Augusto Aguiar. Highlights also include the tiramisu log (€78), enriched with essential bitter almond oil, and the caramel log with passion fruit and verbena (€78). These desserts can be ordered online or in-store with 48 hours' notice.

From December 16 to 24, themed packs such as butter and gingerbread cookies will also be available in-store. Gleba has partnered with the historic Manteigaria Silva to offer three baskets (starting at €51.60) of authentic products like cheeses, cured meats, preserves, wines, and Tostas Simples or rosemary. These options are available for online purchase and in-store pickup every weekend until the end of the year.

Offering from the Bairro Alto Hotel's Boutique Pastry Shop

At the Bairro Alto Hotel Pastry, as is tradition, you can order a wide variety of delights and traditional sweets of the season. Until January 6, you can acquire various Christmas specialties such as pumpkin sonhos, chestnut azevias, mini or family pão de ló, and mini or family Bolo Rainha. Orders should be made 48 hours in advance via email at pastelaria@bairroaltohotel.com.

In addition to bringing these flavors to your Christmas table, you can also enjoy them in the pastry shop daily from 10 AM to 7 PM.

The 3 Christmas Cakes from The Chocolate by Penha Longa

The Christmas magic at Penha Longa Resort gains a sweeter touch with creations from Francisco Siopa, Executive Pastry Chef known for his creativity. This festive season, Francisco Siopa and his team elevate tradition by presenting three options that promise to stand out on the Christmas table.

Among this year’s stars are the new recipe for the iconic Bolo-Rei (€39) – a reinvention of a classic launched in 2020 – an artisanal panettone (€25), and two Christmas logs (€45 each), each carrying the signature of The Chocolate By Penha Longa. Celebrating the Christmas spirit, the 2024 recipe surprises with a combination of flavors and ingredients that elevate the traditional Bolo-Rei to a new level of sophistication. The dough, resulting from a 72-hour artisanal process, undergoes three fermentations and utilizes methods that create a light cake reflecting the best of fine pastry.

Inspired by the traditional French Bûche de Noël, Francisco Siopa and his team created two Christmas logs – the squirrel and the gift – and an exclusive artisanal panettone (€25), honoring Christmas traditions with a touch of creativity and excellence. The squirrel log stands out with speculoos cookies, vanilla crème brûlée, tangerine jelly, and Arriba milk chocolate mousse from Callebaut, with caramel notes and a light fruity touch. The gift log combines chocolate chiffon cake with Gold chocolate mousse, almond praline, and exotic fruit jelly, creating a fusion of indulgent flavors.

For lovers of Italian tradition, the artisanal panettone from Penha Longa is a must-try. With a light and airy dough filled with premium Belgian chocolate, it offers creaminess and intense flavor, making it the perfect gift or centerpiece for the Christmas table.

These pastry masterpieces are available for order until January 15 – except for the panettone, which is available year-round. If you purchase the Bolo-Rei and panettone together, the total price is €59. Orders should be placed via email at restaurants@penhalonga.com or by calling 21 924 90 11, at least 24 hours in advance, for pickup at Penha Longa Resort.

The Exclusive Online Christmas Pack from Padaria Portuguesa

Thinking of organizing Christmas, Padaria Portuguesa relaunched its ordering website at the beginning of the month, now with the convenience of picking up orders in 72 hours at any store.

The holiday classics like bolo-rei (€15.95), bolo-rainha (€17.95), and bolo escangalhado (€17.95) can be ordered until January 6. Additionally, delights such as orange roll (€15.95), raspberry cheesecake (€23), moist pão-de-ló (€15.95), and chocolatíssimo (€19.95) are available on Fridays and weekends, or the Lampreia de ovos (€24.95), exclusively delivered on December 23 and 24 (orders by December 20).

This year’s novelty is the exclusive online Christmas Pack, which includes bolo-rei, rainha or escangalhado, lemon star cake or chocolate tree, and six sweet or savory fritters, for €29.99.

Timeless products from the brand, such as artisanal bread, pão de Deus (€1.45), Red Velvet (€23), and Bolo Brigadeiro (€23) are also available. Orders for December 24 should be placed by December 20 at 6 PM, and for December 31, by December 27 at 6 PM.

Sweets from Pastelaria Suíça

Since December 2, it has been possible to order the classic Bolo-Rei (€14.95), Bolo-Rainha (€16.95), or Chocolate Log (€25/kg). The Bolo-Rei can also be tasted by the slice in the store (€2.50).

The famous miniatures tin from Pastelaria Suíça is now filled with Broas Castelares, perfect for completing the Christmas table or as a last-minute gift.

To add a touch of tradition, all Bolo-Rei orders come with a special surprise: a message from Mr. Vasco, the shoeshiner from Suíça, making the moment even more magical.

Orders can be made directly at the store located at Praça da Figueira, nº 5C, in Lisbon or by contacting 217 933 766 and suica@pastelariasuica.pt. Remember that Pastelaria Suíça is a historic Portuguese brand, revived in 2024 by Primefood.

The Caramel and Chocolate Christmas Log from Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade

If you want to bring sophistication home, the caramel and chocolate Christmas log (€65), a creation by Chef Mónica Azevedo, combines cocoa biscuit, hazelnut crunch, salted caramel, and vanilla mousse. If you want to try the mini version at Tivoli Avenida Liberdade, you can do so for €13.

In addition to this, there’s more to try at the Lobby Bar, such as the Berry Snow cocktail (€16) or Cocoa Wonderland, a chocolate sphere that melts to reveal marshmallows and chocolate powder (€7). Joining them is the unmissable Hot Chocolate by Bettina Corallo served with cream and salted caramel grissinis (€7) and a comforting Hot Wine (€6).

This year, the Glee Boutique Café, from Tivoli Marina de Vilamoura, is also back in Lisbon in a pop-up format, offering some items like a selection of chocolates and truffles (€2 each), also available to take home.

The Christmas Collection from Brigadeirando

The exclusive sweets from Brigadeirando are designed for those who love festive treats with a twist.

Among the standout options are the Christmas logs, available in two versions: the classic traditional brigadeiro salami (€38) and the new salted caramel version (€38), decorated with currants and pine trees, ideal for sharing (15 slices).

The mini cakes (€49) bring charm and sophistication to the table. There are three options: Christmas circus, with chocolate cake, traditional brigadeiro filling, blue-tinted cream, and themed decoration; Christmas tree, with hazelnut cake, Nido milk brigadeiro filling, and Nutella, covered with green cream and decorated with red currants and a star; and Christmas charm, with red velvet cake, cream cheese filling, covered with pink cream and raspberries.

For those looking for a lighter touch, the pavlovas are the choice. The Christmas wreath (€58), filled with lime brigadeiro and green cream, decorated with raspberries and festive details, serves up to 12 slices, while the mini Christmas pavlovas (€35), a kit with 10 units filled with traditional brigadeiro and green cream, decorated with raspberries and leaves, are perfect for sharing or gifts.

Orders should be made online by December 20 and can be picked up in-store at LX Factory, or delivered to homes in the municipalities of Lisbon, Oeiras, Cascais, Amadora, Odivelas, Loures, Sintra, Mafra, Almada, and Seixal from Monday to Saturday.

The Bolo-Rei from Confeitaria Nacional

For the end, we leave the classic of classics from Lisbon's pastry shops, especially since we are talking about a house with 195 years of history. The Bolo-Rei from Confeitaria Nacional is one that is worth many queues at the door, but fame seems to pay off, being the original cake.

Did you know that the pastry shop was a pioneer in the making of Bolo-Rei in Portugal in 1875, an idea brought from France by Balthazar Castanheiro Jr.? And that since then they have maintained the secret and unaltered recipe? Orders for Bolo-Rei or Lampreia de ovos can be made via email at encomendas@confeitarianacional.com.