Proper Places
If Portuguese semi-industrial confectionery is present in all of our national territory, there are however some exceptional points of sale and consumption. These are today real urban reference points, and also real landmarks in Portuguese towns, not only for the quality of the cakes on offer, but also for their architectonic value, historical patina, or for the singularity of their patrons. We challenged the designer and journalist Luis Royal to, across the continental Portugal, find patisseries and cafés that were worthy of the title “proper place”. The examples found in the book speak to us about the condition of public space in Portugal, about the professionalism of a class and its care for the client’s experience and comfort of each establishment; after all, qualities not so easily found in our country as we would like to admit.
