Tasting Location #1: Loja dos Pastéis de Chaves - Taste Porto

We love Loja dos Pastéis de Chaves!

Today, we have the pleasure of introducing you to two incredible individuals: Jorge and Vanessa. Jorge, once a hotel concierge, and Vanessa, a former lawyer, made the bold decision to leave their previous careers behind and open this charming shop. With great enthusiasm, we extend a warm welcome to Loja dos Pastéis de Chaves.

The shop takes its name from the delightful pastry it specializes in, originating from the city of Chaves, located approximately 150km northeast of Porto, near the Spanish border. In order to be called a Chaves Pastry, this pastry has to be exactly like this: shaped like a half-moon and featuring a light, flaky pastry crust filled with minced veal meat.

Chaves Pastry

Come on in!

Have a seat and present the QR code to the waiter in order to enjoy a delicious Pastel de Chaves.

While you wait…

Allow us to share the story of the Pastel de Chaves while you wait for your food. Let’s travel back to 1862 when a saleswoman wandered the streets of Chaves city with a basket filled with some weirdly shaped pastries but so good that they were not enough to satisfy the “flavienses” (people from Chaves). The product was so loved and yet so scarce for the regional gluttony that the founder of Casa do Antigo Pasteleiro offered 1 pound for the recipe and began producing it. The rest, as they say, is history. The popularity of this pastry soared not only within Portugal but also internationally, eventually earning protected status.

Yeah, that’s right!

The European Commission has recognized the Pastéis de Chaves (aka Chaves pastry) as a product from a protected geographical location. This means that no one else apart from the producers in Chaves can claim to have “Pastéis de Chaves”. Anticipating this, the owners of the Pastéis de Chaves shop (who are from Chaves) moved their production from the shop to a location in Chaves where they can make bigger quantities while applying the same quality control throughout the process. Once the batch is ready, it is transported to the shop in Porto, where the final touches are added.

Just to be clear: to ensure the integrity of the recipe and maintain the true essence of Pastéis de Chaves, a government board conducted an inspection before the shop could bear its name. And guess what? They passed with flying colors! So, without further ado, let’s try this delicacy!

Remember to share your #TastePortoMoments with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. We will soon resume our walking tour, but before we do, please feel free to use the restroom facilities.

When you’re ready, click “Next” to continue exploring Porto with us. Our next destination awaits:

  • Tasting Location #2: Bolhão Wine House (inside Mercado do Bolhão)
  • Address: Rua Fernandes Tomás 701 (closest metro station: Bolhão)
  • Working Hours:
    Bolhão Wine House is inside the fresh produce market so it depends on its schedule (closed on Sunday)
    Monday to Friday: 10 AM to 5:45 PM
    Saturday: 10 AM to 1 PM
  • Contacts: +351 919 981 895
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