In the heart of Chiado, you'll find Pastelaria Bénard, one of Lisbon's oldest pastry shops, with a history dating back to 1868.
It was founded by Élie Benard, who opened a French-style pastry shop on Rua do Loreto. In 1902, it moved to its current location on Rua Garrett, next to the famous Café A Brasileira.
For many years, Bénard was a popular meeting place for Lisbon's upper class, especially women who came to enjoy tea and pastries with their friends.
But one of the most interesting moments in its history happened in 1957, when the pastry shop hosted a dinner for Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Portugal.
There's another interesting detail. Until 1926, it was called Pâtisserie Benard. The name changed to Pastelaria Benard when Lisbon started charging businesses for signs written in foreign languages.
Today, Bénard is still open and is particularly famous for its croissants, served plain or filled with chocolate, egg cream or strawberry jam.
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