Pastéis Lisboa has announced plans to expand its presence in Glasgow by opening a second café in the city centre. The new location will take over the former site of the Riverhill Coffee Bar on Gordon Street, which recently closed its doors. This café is set to launch in autumn 2023 and aims to bring authentic pasteis de nata to the heart of the city, just a short distance from Buchanan Street and Central Station.
The team at Pastéis Lisboa expressed their excitement about the new venture, noting the sadness surrounding the closure of Riverhill and the legacy of its founder, Eva. “We’re BEYOND excited to announce that Eva has entrusted the keys to us,” they stated. The café plans to recreate the success of their original location on Byres Road, where they have garnered a loyal customer base since opening in 2022.
Commitment to Authenticity
At the new Glasgow location, skilled bakers will hand-make pasteis de nata daily, adhering to a traditional recipe sourced from a fifth-generation pastry chef in Portugal. Owners Emma and Sebastian have emphasized that their pastries are crafted from high-quality ingredients, which distinguishes them from mass-produced alternatives found in supermarkets and other coffee chains across the UK.
“Our pasteis are handmade from scratch all day, every day, to an authentic, award-winning recipe from Portugal,” Emma explained. “The result is incomparable to the mass-produced, ultra-processed product you find elsewhere.” Customers will not only enjoy the freshly baked tarts but also have the opportunity to watch the baking process firsthand.
Expanding Offerings and Experience
In addition to their renowned pastries, Pastéis Lisboa will expand its unique Iberian deli offerings, providing a selection of artisan charcuterie, tinned seafood, and other delicacies from both Spain and Portugal. The café aims to create an immersive experience for customers, allowing them to engage with the culture and cuisine of the Iberian Peninsula.
The inspiration for Pastéis Lisboa stemmed from Emma and Sebastian’s travels, where they discovered a small bakery in Poland that specialized in these pastries. Their enthusiasm for the product grew during visits to Lisbon, where they sampled various versions of pasteis de nata. “It is such a popular product in the UK, but there was nowhere in Scotland where you could get the real thing,” Emma noted.
After extensive research and collaboration with the Portuguese bakery, Emma and Sebastian successfully replicated the authentic recipe, ensuring that every pastry is freshly baked and served warm. “Everything is fresh, always fresh,” Emma affirmed. “You’re never going to get them more than a couple of hours old.”
The opening of the new café signifies a commitment to preserving the culinary heritage of Portugal while contributing to Glasgow’s vibrant food scene. With their dedication to quality and authenticity, Pastéis Lisboa is set to become a beloved addition to the city’s café culture. The team eagerly anticipates welcoming both new and returning customers to their establishment.