Cafe Belem, a European cafe and bakery specializing in Portuguese sweets, treats, and imported goods, comes from the father-son duo behind Mercado Restaurant. 

Since opening at the beginning of November, the small shop has been crowded with diners marvelling at the glass display of freshly baked pasteis de nata and golden brown croissants. 

Owner and head baker William Oliveira grew up in the restaurant industry. Inspired by his parents, he worked numerous roles, from waiter to cook, trying to find his footing, but his studies in science are what first led him to pursue what would become a passion for baking. 

Going back to his roots, Oliveria moved to Portugal to learn the craft of Portuguese breadmaking. Ready to showcase his talents, Cafe Belem is an ode to traditional Portuguese flavours and other renditions of European-style delicacies. 

"This is a product of my passion for baking and me falling in love with this art form - despite waking up at 4 am," laughed Oliveria. 

Oliveria's dad, Carlos, who has an eye for decorating, is responsible for the cafe's warm and charming interiors. Closely resembling what you might find in Lisbon, the cafe features intricate blue ceramic tilework, impressive chandeliers, and even a pasteis de nata clock. There's also plenty of greenery and two window nooks perfect for cozying up with a good book. 

With a rich and velvety cappuccino ($4.50) in hand, I was ready to unwind, dig in, and grab a seat at one of the bistro-style tables. 

Starting with the famous pastry, synonymous with the Belem name, the pastel de nata ($3.00) is an egg custard tart with a flaky, buttery crust. Made daily in-house, the custard is sweet and creamy, and the shell has the perfect amount of crunch. 

Another Portuguese classic is the bolo de arroz ($3.25). A childhood staple for Oliveria, the miniature rice cake is tender, light, and fluffy and has notes of lemon. Dusted with sugar, it goes well with any of the hot beverage options. 

My favourite sweet was the pao de deus ($3.50), which translates to God's bread. 

"It's one of those comfort foods for me," shared Oliveira. "I grew up eating it in Portuguese bakeries."

The bun is soft and pillowy with the sweet, buttery flavour of brioche and is topped with a layer of coconut that melts in your mouth. 

For savoury options, there are several daily sandwiches on rotation. 

The Pork Sandwich ($10.50) was inspired by Bairrada, a region in Portugal that neighbours where Oliveria's family is from. With slices of well-seasoned pork and juicy orange segments, the sandwich draws on the flavours of the region's most well-known dish, suckling pig. It's complete with peppery arugula and a creamy swipe of mayo. 

The Focaccia Sandwich ($10) featured layers of mild salami, ham, and Havarti cheese between thick squares of the soft, olive oil-infused bread. Baked fresh in-house, the focaccia was crunchy and light. It was also served with a pickled giardiniera, which has to be the ultimate sandwich condiment.  

Also not to be missed is Cafe Belem's selection of imported goods. 

With shelves offering a curation of quality, hand-selected wines from Portuguese winemakers, you can be rest assured any will be well-suited for your next dinner party. Bottles span regions of Portugal, Spain and Argentina.

The selection of canned fish is also sure to catch your eye. Pleasingly stacked in a colourful assortment of aluminum tin cans, there's everything from tuna in olive oil to salty sardines, and the cafe plans to expand its offerings to include clams, squid, and mussels as well.

While they might not be for everyone, I love the small tinned fish market addition. 

Situated in Little Italy, Cafe Belem couldn't have come at a more perfect time - while you sip and savour, it's easy to imagine you're somewhere in coastal Europe. 

Cafe Belem is located at 546 College Street.