What do we love most about Easter? Torrijas, of course. That’s why in this article you will find where to enjoy the best torrijas in Madrid. Whether in its classic version or in the most innovative, this sweet is the protagonist in these dates and in our hearts.
For lovers of the simplest and at the same time most mystical dessert, this is the route through the bakeries of the capital that will brighten up your vacations.
1. Mifer
Mifer’s master pastry chef won the award for the best traditional torrija in Madrid in 2022. The Association of Entrepreneurs of the Pastry Sector of Madrid (ASEMPAS) wanted to reward this pastry shop in Ventas, which in its 53 years of life has managed to maintain the original flavor and recipe. Their touch of distinction is the sourdough brioche they use, as well as extra virgin olive oil instead of sunflower oil and a honey and rum syrup on top.
📍 Calle Virgen del Coro, 15 (Guindalera)
2. El Riojano
El Riojano can not miss in the list of the best torrijas in Madrid. Not only for being one of the places with more tradition (it was founded in 1865), but also because they are the most authentic we have tasted to date. Their recipe follows tradition and they prepare them by soaking the bread in milk or wine.
📍 Calle Mayor, 10 (downtown)
3. Panod
Panod’s torrijas are different in shape and form, to begin with, they are square and they are made like this: instead of frying them, they are prepared in the oven. They soak the bread in milk with cinnamon and sugar and before putting them in the oven they paint them with egg. The result is just as good, but less caloric.
📍 Various locations
4. Moulin Chocolat
The torrijas of Moulin Chocolat are far from the traditional recipe, but they do not disappoint, on the contrary, they conquer even the most skeptical. They use biscuits of soletilla andsoak them in a liquid pastry cream that gives them an irresistible flavor. The final touch is given by flavoring them with aniseed. Delicious!
📍 Calle Alcalá, 77 (Salamanca district)
5. Cercadillo
The most innovative torrija of 2024 according to ASEMPAS is made by Cercadillo, a pastry shop in Usera. It is covered in chocolate, like a bonbon, with a touch of orange. A classic combination that continues to be a success.
📍 Calle de la Cal, 15 (Usera)
6. Formentor
Formentor’s are the torrijas that are characterized by their delicate and juicy bread. This year, in addition, they have been awarded by ASEMPAS in the category of traditional recipe. Their touch of cinnamon and lemon make every bite of this Lenten dessert a true religious experience.
📍 Hermosilla Street, 81 (Salamanca neighborhood) and Santa Engracia Street, 62 (Chamberí)
7. Paco Pastel
Paco Pastel is the pastry shop in San Lorenzo de El Escorial that was awarded as the best traditional torrija in Madrid in 2021 by the Association of Artisan Pastry and Bakery Entrepreneurs of the Community of Madrid (ASEMPAS). The key to their success lies in their traditional brioche dipped in milk infused with orange, lemon and cinnamon. They have three locations in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, one of them in the Casita del Príncipe Carlos IV.
📍 Plaza de la Constitución, 10; C.C. El Zaburdón and La Casita del Príncipe Carlos IV in Av. Reyes Católicos, 1 (San Lorenzo de El Escorial).
8. Villaroy’s
Villaroy’s enters the list of the best torrijas in Madrid because in addition to being one of the winners of 2023, in 2022 it sold 4,000 torrijas. Martín Martínez, the young chef and owner of the place, makes his torrijas with his grandmother’s recipe, thus rescuing the tradition of artisan cooking, not only during Easter, but all year round.
📍 Calle de Maudes, 11 (Cuatro Caminos)
9. La Oriental
The gluten-free torrija of one of the most famous and oldest bakeries for celiacs in Madrid, La Oriental, has also been awarded the best of 2023 and 2024 (in the gluten-free category) by ASEMPAS. The flavor is the classic one, the one given by the mixture of milk, lemon, cinnamon and sugar. Simple and always effective.
📍 Calle Ferraz, 47 (Argüelles)
10. Viena Capellanes
Last year’s winner was Viena Capellanes. The award was given for the originality of their recipe (which they maintain this year): it has chocolate and raspberry on a double fermentation brochette bread soaked in crème anglaise. If you have a sweet tooth, it’s bound to make your mouth water.
📍 Various locations
11. The new Gran Café del Espejo
Paco Torreblanca, one of the world’ s most awarded pastry chefs, is behind the torrija served at the renovated Gran Café del Espejo. The boundaries with french toast are blurred in his creamy caramelized butter brioche torrija, served with ice cream and fresh fruit.
12. The Westin Palace
This year’s viral torrija is the one prepared by Yolanda Rebollo at The Westin Palace. Hers is a savory torrija of potaje de vigilia with brioche bread based on chickpea flour, aquafaba (water from cooking chickpeas) and crispy spinach corals. So much originality has earned him the first place in the ACYRE contest for the best innovation torrija.
As choosing is very complicated and both maintaining tradition and continuing to innovate is important, it is time to give a chance to the route of the best torrijas in Madrid. Let’s get to work.