The iconic Sintra pastries
Travesseiros are Sintra's signature pastry: crispy, flaky puff pastry filled with sweet almond and egg cream. The name means "pillows" because of their rectangular shape. The best place to try them is Piriquita, a bakery that has been making them since 1862.
Queijadas de Sintra are small cheese tarts made with fresh cheese, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon. They have been made in Sintra since at least the 13th century and are sold in the traditional bakeries along the main street.
Local wines: Colares region
The Colares wine region, between Sintra and the coast, produces some of Portugal's most unique wines. The sandy soil protected the vines from phylloxera in the 19th century, so some vines are over 100 years old. The Ramisco grape variety is found nowhere else in the world.
Several food and wine tours include visits to Colares wineries with tastings.
Where to eat in Sintra
- Piriquita: The essential stop for travesseiros and queijadas. Two locations in the town center.
- Cafe Saudade: Specialty coffee and pastries in a cozy setting near the National Palace.
- Tascantiga: Traditional Portuguese dishes, good value for lunch.
- Incomum by Luis Santos: Fine dining with creative Portuguese cuisine, for a special meal.
Food tours worth booking
If food is a highlight of your trip, consider a dedicated food and wine tour. These typically include pastry tastings, a wine tasting at a Colares winery, and a traditional Portuguese lunch, all guided by a local food expert.
Book a food tour in Sintra
Taste travesseiros, Colares wines, and local cuisine with a guide.
Frequently asked questions
Sintra is famous for travesseiros (puff pastry filled with almond cream) and queijadas (small cheese tarts). Both are traditional recipes dating back centuries and are sold in bakeries throughout the town center.
Piriquita bakery for travesseiros, Cafe Saudade for coffee and pastries, and Tascantiga for traditional Portuguese lunch. For seafood, head to Cascais or Azenhas do Mar nearby.
