Do you have that one spot that you just can’t help but visit when you head home? Honestly, for Panjim is a pretty long drive away from Margao especially with two toddlers in tow.
We do however make the drive down to stay with my brother aka ace Photographer Darius Fernandes. (Yes! If you see some incredible photographs on Instagram, know that they are his work!)
Anyways, when we head to Panjim, we always always stop at Padaria Prazeres. Trust me, there is no better place to indulge in if you are a foodie. I’m not the only person who thinks on the same lines. You will always find Padaria Prazeres bustling. The food moves off the racks faster than you can blink but luckily it gets replaced almost as quickly!
Padaria Prazeres is one of the most popular cafés in Panjim. It serves up a lot of different European food. It is as close to perfection as you can get outside Europe. Many people would go as far as to say that there really isn’t much difference! (I’m one of them!)
Ralph Prazeres, the owner, is the magician behind the scenes. He seriously seems to transform the place with the smells of good food. I can never help myself when I visit. I over order every single time!
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Location And Timings Of Padaria Prazeres
Address: Celeste Plaza, Ground floor, opposite Models Celebrity, Caranzalem, Panaji, Goa 403002
Timings: 9am – 6:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday are closed.
If you are wondering about the best time to visit Padaria Prazeres, I highly recommend the mornings. This is the perfect place to head to if you want a nice luxurious breakfast. I’ll talk about the menu in a bit BUT suffice to say that you need to bring a huge appetite and expect to skip lunch.
The evening is a great time to visit for tea or coffee but I find that you don’t get much of a choice during this time of the day. Most of the options on the menu are sold out. It is definitely less active and it does close up at 6:30.
What Does Padaria Mean?
All the amazing baked goods at Padaria Prazeres.
Padaria Prazeres is such a perfect name and it has its roots in Portuguese. Padaria translates into ‘Bakery’ or ‘Bakery House’. Given that Padaria Prazeres is filled to the brim with all kinds of baked delicacies, the name is perfect. Oh and in case you are wondering about the word Prazares, it is the surname of Ralph Prazares.
Padaria Prazeres Menu
The Padaria Prazeres menu is really extensive!
If you think that the Padaria Prazeres menu is limited, think again. The only limit that you will have is on the amount that you can eat at one go. Almost everything on the menu is excellent. We do have our favorites though.
The iconic Pasteis de nata from Padaria Prazeres.
Pasteis De Nata: I think that Padaris Prazeres name goes hand in hand with the excellent Pasteis de nata. These Portuguese custard tarts sell off as quickly as they are made. In fact, people place orders in advance just so that they are not disappointed.
If you are stopping by you can catch a take away BUT trust me. If you want to feel the flaky crust and indulge in the hot custard, order them in advance and eat them straight out of the oven. They literally melt in your mouth. If you like a dusting of cinnamon and sugar you can get that too!
Salmon And Cream Cheese Bagel: I’ve eaten a lot of salmon and cream cheese bagels around the world and I love them. I however say with confidence that Padaria Prazeres makes one of the best I have ever tasted. There is no scrimping on the ingredients. The bagel is as fresh as it gets. I can’t think of anything that would make this better.
Berliners: The Berliners in Padaria Prazares are exquisite. The sad part is that I never really get to truly enjoy them because I always fill myself up on the pasteis de nata and then remember that there are other goodies to be eaten!
They have so many different kinds of Berliners on offer too. It is often just too hard to choose!
Decor And Ambiance Of Padaria Prazeres
You can catch a glimpse of all the freshly baked goods at the counter.
I really can’t end this article without talking about the décor and ambiance of Padaria Prazeres. The ultra cute café has both an indoor and an outdoor sitting area. The indoor seating area is highly coveted after the sun rises because it is air conditioned. It depends on your luck though because the café is always crowded.
The outdoor sitting area is also really quaint. It works well in the early morning or in the later hours of the day.
Trust me. If you are in the area and really need a break then you should consider Padaria Prazeres as a stop. You won’t be disappointed with the food and probably will ask for a to go bag just like us. If you head here with friends all the better. The café has a lovely ambiance which is perfect for catching up. The only downside is that the seating space is limited.