Local converts and curious tourists come to this canny Lisbon cafe, Pasteis de Cerveja, to sample this curious speciality: a sweet pastry made with beer. According to the proprietor, the unique cakes first appeared in the 1920s and have been popular ever since. The small pies seem to sell like hot cakes, although in truth the taste of beer is masked by a sweet almond paste and the novelty value far outweighs the quality of taste.

The café itself is instantly forgettable – a painfully bright room filled with plastic tables. However, the cakes are sold exclusively on the premises, giving the owners a comfortable monopoly. If you can’t get enough of the stuff, cardboard carry cases are available for home delivery. Not the most mouth-watering of pastries, but an inspired excuse to indulge a sweet tooth.