OK, this a secret bakery. I kid you not, as secret as a bakery can be. I mean, if you would find yourself walking by it, you would think you were passing in front of an accountants office or something like it.
The place was recommended to me by a local friend when I asked him about the best options to eat bolas de berlim. It means “Berlin balls”. A traditional (I don’t know how traditional, but they have been around at least for 60 years) pastry which is part of the ritual of going to the beach in Portugal. There, men (and more recently women) cruise the sand with their big white boxes announcing loud and clearly their product: “Bolaaaaaa de Berlim…… olha à Bolinhaaaaaaaa“. This sound, and the smell and flavor of these pastries formed part of the childhood of every Portuguese.
So, back to Faisca & Henriques. These fellows make one of the best bolas de berlim in the country (one other is also in Algarve, a bit east of Olhão). The dough is not extraordinary but the filling is heavenly. They prepare a filling rich in egg, which is not usual as it makes the final product more costly to the bakery. The price is, however, very low. If they didn’t raise it, each bola de berlim is less than 1 Euro!
Meanwhile the place has a new management. It is now run by Venezuelans of Portuguese ascent. I think the quality of their products decreaser slightly but it is still good and highly advisable.
Be aware that there is far more sweet things available besides bolas de berlim. I wouldn’t go for their pastéis de nata, but the products prepared with the traditional local products are excellent: anything with almond and fig.
They are open in business hours from Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings. Best time to go is after lunch, let’s say. at 15:00. Because by then the first bolas de berlim of the afternoon would definitely be ready and warm, at their best.
The place is not a cafe. It’s more like a pastry factory, with a simple counter where you can order to go. You won’t find here tables or anything, although there is a fridge with cold drinks.
