Style of the City’s Holly Weeks reviews the Portuguese bakery that’s taking over our capital city.
Cardiff is full of little coffee shops and bakeries, tucked around every corner and down winding arcade corridors. They’re the sorts of places you stumble upon on a lazy afternoon wander through town, fall in love with and want to shout to the world about. Nata and Co is no exception.
Ever since I saw that a Portuguese bakery, specialising in Pastel de Nata – that’s traditional Portuguese custard tarts to you and me – was going to be opening on Queen Street, I’ve been impatient to go. And finally, this week, I found a spare hour one afternoon and made the most of it; grabbing my purse and pulling my fiancé into town on the promise of coffee and sweet treats. We were not disappointed.
The shopfront itself is glorious: with bright yellow banners and posters and a display case full to the brim with custard tarts in all different flavours, ginormous desserts and cakes, as well as a range of savoury pastries. It truly is an mouth-wateringly beautiful sight.
The shop itself is small inside, but there are a few little coffee tables and we managed to nab one in the window, so that we could enjoy our treats whilst people-watching. There are a few different offers available, such as coffee and a custard tart for £2.50, or receiving 10% off when you buy 6 tarts (or more), as if you need any more enticing once you’re inside and can smell the buttery, creamy goodness. What’s more is that there were some custard tart pieces on the top of the counter, so that you can have a taster whilst deciding the details of your order – this was an opportunity I did not miss out on, and this little bite of heaven confirmed that I was about to find a new favourite shop in Cardiff.
The bakery specialises in the traditional Portuguese Pastel de Nata, but have also put their own twist on the original tart by creating different flavour variations, all of which are baked fresh every morning. We tried the lemon, Nutella and apple custard tarts; because it would be an unfair review to only try one flavour! But mostly because it would have been impossible to choose between them! The tarts all arrived slightly warm, making them seem even more indulgent, and with perfectly flaky pastry which complemented the soft, smooth custard beautifully. Although all the flavours were delicious – and I honestly could have happily eaten my way through the whole shop – the apple was my firm favourite and the one I most look forward to having again soon.
Although you can buy your tarts – as well as a selection of sandwiches and savoury goodies – to takeaway, I would recommend sitting inside if there are tables available as the crumbly pastry is a little messy and you don’t want to lose any of the precious custard filling, either to gravity or a keen seagull!
We also ordered coffees to enjoy with our tarts, which cut through the sweetness of the custard and really topped off the afternoon. We both agreed that Nata and Co’s coffee was a much tastier, richer flavour than that of the typical high street coffee chain. If you find yourself in town soon, even if you’re not in the mood for a heavenly custard tart – and why wouldn’t you be? – then I would definitely recommend popping by for a coffee.
It is only having researched Nata and Co online since this wonderful afternoon that I discovered that this is not their only store in Cardiff! They also have premises on Castle Street, Clifton Street (Adamsdown), Bute Street (Cardiff Bay) and have, more recently, opened a stand in the St David’s Shopping Centre.
Just how this gem has remained hidden from me until now I will never know, but this is why I urge you to try it out if you haven’t already; trust me, you need this bakery in your life. It was such a treat to visit and enjoy such delicious and indulgent delicacies and I will cannot wait to go back again.
