Best of Philly

Best Pastry

2023 Best Bite

Pastéis de Nata at Gilda

It’s not your imagination; a quarter of the people on your timeline are traipsing around Lisbon right now. Whether you can join them doesn’t matter — get a taste of Portugal’s de facto national sweet right here in Fishtown. Gilda’s pastéis de nata are platonically perfect, with lush, cinnamon-infused egg custard brimming from a crust so crisp and delicate, it’ll shatter at first bite. And you know what you (probably) can’t get in Lisbon? Specials from owners Brian Oliveira and Brian Mattera in flavors like coconut almond and lemon raspberry. Read More »

300 East Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Website

2019 Best Pastry to Eat With Coffee

Pulla at Rowhouse Grocery

Chef and co-owner Jenn Holman makes pulla — Finnish cardamom-infused twists of rich, buttery dough with just a dusting of sugar — the same way her grandparents did when she was growing up. Read More »

1713 McKean Street, Philadelphia, PA Website

2018 Best Pastry You’ve Never Heard Of

Cake Life Bake Shop’s Nanaimo Bar

Trudeau isn’t the only thing Canada got right: Inspired by Cake Life co-owner Nima Etemadi’s Vancouver roots, this specialty from our neighbors to the north is a chocolatey coconut biscuit on the bottom, vanilla bean custard in the middle, thick ganache on top, and totally delicious throughout. Read More »

1306 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA | 215-278-2580 | Website