Lisbon’s Pastelaria Versailles (Versailles coffee and pastries shop), one of the most iconic in the city and named after a French palace, celebrates its 100th anniversary today. Founded on 25th November 1922 by Salvador José Antunes, a Portuguese “who loved French pastry and art (…), the house in the Louis XIV style had a very select atmosphere, decorated with paintings by Benvindo Ceia, portraying the lakes of Versailles and the carved woodwork by Fausto Fernandes”, explains Lusa. “Frequented by several Lisbon personalities, the Versailles had a distinctive service made by employees with ‘impeccable uniforms”. The uniforms, and the ‘magic’ persist to this day.
