We will visit the pinnacle of pastry with the best cakes in Madrid. Pastry is going through an interesting moment: on the one hand, traditional fine pastries are consolidating, both in classic establishments and in new openings; and, on the other hand, healthier versions are emerging, or those that avoid ultra-processed products, a trend that is here to stay.
1. 9 Lives
9 Lives represents two fashions: that of pies (as befits the fact that it is in this article) and that of pancakes. Their proposal includes classics like the Pumpkin Pie or the Apple Pie, but also more daring creations like the Mac and Cheese Pie or the Bourbon Pecan Pie. They also offer brunches.
📍Location: Calle de Fernando el Católico, 6 (Arapiles)
2. Salt in Cake
Salt in Cake started in Alicante, but now has an establishment in La Latina (with almost daily queues). The key to all their cakes is that they are made from natural ingredients, without additives or artificial coloring, and with little sugar. Everything is to go, they don’t have tables, and you can order online on their website. They also have vegan options.
📍Location: Calle de Toledo, 47 (La Latina), Calle de Hortaleza, 37 (Chueca), Calle Atocha, 4 (Downtown).
3. Alex Cordobes
Although cheesecakes are a category in themselves (as if they were something other than cakes), what they make at Alex Cordobés is more like pieces of goldsmithing -the store itself looks like a jewelry store- than a cake. They surpass all the limits of what is established or considered cheesecake and the proof of their success is their undisputed fame in social networks (more than 200 thousand followers on Instagram).
📍 Location: Calle de Velázquez, 60 (Salamanca neighborhood).
4. Nicolina
The trend of healthy and unprocessed cuisine has already been installed in pastries and Nicolina is a good example of this. In this pastry shop in Valdezarza they achieve the traditional textures, but their cakes have no sugar, lactose or gluten. You can also order online and they have a box with an assortment of 6 portions of different cakes for those who can’t decide.
📍Location: Calle Federico Carlos Sainz de Robles, 23 (Valdezarza)
5. Arce Sisters
At Hermanas Arce the pastries are made daily from scratch, and although their chocolate cookies and savory dishes deserve a mention, their cakes are on another level. The cheese cake, type de la Viña, burnt on top and almost liquid inside, is among the best in Madrid, but the highlight is the pavlova, made of meringue and whipped cream with seasonal fruits.
📍Location: Calle Marqués de Monasterio, 6 (Chueca)
6. Balbisiana
Paula Babiano, founder of Balbisiana, combined for a while her career as a lawyer with her baking blog until she was commissioned a cake from Grupo Larrumba, and in the end the hobby became a profession. Her cakes triumph both in person and on Instagram, especially her Botánica cake. Her physical store also looks like a coffee shop worthy of a Wes Anderson movie.
📍Location: Calle Velázquez, 55 (Salamanca neighborhood), Genova, 1 (Centro) and Concha Espina, 14 (El Viso).
6. The best chocolate cake in the world
With such a bold name, perfect to find them on Google, there is no need to explain much more. But in La mejor tarta de chocolate del mundo they have two percentages of cocoa: 53% and 70% for the most intense. It has no flour at all, because it is prepared in layers of mousse and sigh, but the mixture of textures is impressive: soft and crunchy.
📍Location: Calle Alcalá, 89 (Salamanca neighborhood) and Calle Cervantes, 9 (Las Letras).
7. Sweet Studio Café
Sweets Studio Café differs from the rest of the cafés -because you have to differentiate yourself among so much competition- in two fundamental things: one, its creations have Japanese and French influences; two, the quality of the raw material is outrageous. The best proof of this? Their matcha crepe millefeuille.
📍 Location: calle del Noviciado, 16 (Malasaña)
8. La Duquesita
Another essential stop had to be in one of the oldest pastry shops in Madrid. Since 1914 its desserts and handmade sweets are a specialty not to be missed. Among them, its cakes, which have such expert hands behind them as Oriol Balaguer’s, who among other awards has the Best Pastry Chef of the International Academy of Gastronomy 2018. If you have to choose one, the one above in the photo: Insinuation, with chocolate sponge cake, vanilla mousse and Raspberry compote.
📍 Location: Calle de Fernando VI, 2 (Salesas).
9. Celicioso
In Celicioso they have been working since 2012 on the best gluten-free sweets and has become a reference in healthy restaurants. An ideal option for celiacs (and non-celiacs) where in addition to pastries they also have savory cuisine.
📍 Location: several locations
10. Monroebakes
Monroebakes has brought together the best of Japanese and French pastries with a Spanish touch. This pastry shop, which has even dazzled the President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, is a real eye-catcher, both for its product and its presentation. For now it only has a store in Getafe, but there are those who travel to the south of the Community of Madrid just to try their desserts.
📍 Location: avenida de la paz, 21 (Getafe)