There are two clear trends among the best pastry shops in Madrid: the centenarian ones (which are also chocolate shops or confectioneries with traditional recipes) and, on the other hand, the very new and more experimental ones that usually focus on one product.
The local confectionery identity has not been diluted despite the strong influence of our peninsular neighbors -Portuguese pastries are abundant to say the least- and of the always refined French contests the development of new pastry shops, associations and the blossoming of new pastry shops in Madrid.
1. Balbisiana
Paula Babiano, founder of the Balbisiana pastry shop, combined her career as a lawyer with her pastry blog for a while until she was commissioned to make a cake by the Larrumba Group, and so her hobby became her profession. Her cakes triumph both in person and on Instagram: she has been a pioneer in online and made-to-order cake sales. Although its physical store is worth a visit, it is a coffee shop worthy of a movie of Wes Anderson.
Various locations.
2. Nunos Bakery
In Nunos everything is handmade, but if there is something for which it is known is because they sell “roscones de Reyes” all year round, with the most varied flavors, fillings and sizes. José Fernández Ramos, owner of this Madrid bakery, is also a master and expert chocolatier, capable of creating fantasies such as a chessboard or a cocoa Christmas tree. Without a doubt, this is a pastry shop where the Christmas spirit is present 365 days a year.
Calle de Narváez, 63 (Retiro)
3. La Duquesita
La Duquesita is a pastry institution in Madrid that has also been able to reinvent itself over the years. At the helm of his recipes is Oriol Balaguer, who, among other awards, has been named Best Pastry Chef by the International Academy of Gastronomy 2018. And here you can find, in addition to all chocolate delicacies, the “barquillos madrileños”, a classic from Madrid that is falling into oblivion. Since 1914, their handcrafted desserts and sweets have been a specialty not to be missed.
Calle de Fernando VI, 2 (Salesas)
4. Motteau Bakery
Motteau’s meringue is a masterpiece, but their lemon tarts are the real stars of their creations. Juan Manuel D’Alessandro is the Argentine pastry chef responsible for adding dulce de leche to almost all the desserts he sells, as a trademark and a nod to his home.
San Pedro Street, 9 (Downtown)
5. Moulin Chocolat
Chef Ricardo Vélez, one of the most awarded pastry chefs, is in charge of the recipes of Moulin Chocolat and also of other sweet institutions such as Chocolatería San Ginés or the pastry shop of the famous restaurant Lhardy. The French pastry and chocolate tradition is followed here, but their torrijas the bakery, roscones and other typical pastries make it a versatile bakery. Giving a gift of chocolates from here is a sure hit.
Calle de Alcalá, 77 (Salamanca district)
6. Estela Puff Pastry
Estela Hojaldre is a bakery specialized in puff pastry from Cantabria -the key to this is in the butter of the area- and that pastry richness can be tasted in the neighborhood of the Letters of Madrid. The most sought after of this bakery are the meringue mille-feuille, a classic of Spanish pastries. But here, everything with a puff pastry base triumphs, in case the name left any room for doubt (see their chocolate palms).
Plaza Jesús, 5 (Las Letras)
7. Celicious
Celicioso has been one of the pastry shops since 2012 gluten-free of reference in Madrid. American pastries are their forte: brownies, muffins, cheesecakes are always prepared with natural ingredients. In addition to being a clear choice for celiacs with a sweet tooth, they have a strong commitment to sustainability and claim to have made their carbon footprint negative. They have savory cuisine, focused on healthy and vegetarian dishes.
Various locations.
8. Maison Kayser
Sometimes finding an original croissant is not easy in Madrid, but at Maison Kayser they crunch just like the ones in Paris. Erik Kayser, French baker and food critic, has brought the best of French pastries to Spain after his success in his country. Macarons, pain au chocolat, and even the French version of the “roscón de Reyes”, the galette des rois, are as popular here as in New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Mexico, where it has also expanded.
Various locations
9. La Pajarita
La Pajarita is living history in Madrid, although it does not fit the definition of a pastry shop: it is a chocolate and confectionery shop, which could not be missing in this list. When it opened in 1852, it didn’t even have a name, it wasn’t even in vogue at the time, and it was the writer Miguel de Unamuno who suggested the name to Vicente Hijós Palacio -co-owner with Lorenza Aznárez- which also inspired the zarzuela La Pajarita. And it was precisely after buying some mythical violet candies here that the president of the Council of Ministers, José Canalejas, was assassinated in 1912.
Their establishment in Puerta del Sol closed in 1991 because the building was in ruins, but they continue to sell chocolates and more on Villanueva street, and it is still run by the same family.
Calle de Villanueva, 14 (Salamanca district)
10. Umiko
Umiko is the japanese pastries which won the award for the best king cake of 2024. And although Japanese know-how does not interfere at all with the local pastry tradition, their true specialty is mochis. The flavor combinations are very sophisticated, a good example is Verde tea with yuzu.
Calle de los Madrazo, 18 (Downtown)
11. Monroebakes
In Monroebakes, Noelia Tomoshige has united Spanish and Japanese roots -she is from Seville with Japanese parents- with French pastries and the result has been a success in just a few years. This bakery madrid, which has been dazzled even the President of the Government pedro Sánchez’s product and presentation are as appealing to the eye. 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.
Avenida de la paz, 21 (Getafe)
12. Salt in Cake
Salt in Cake started in Alicante, but now it has an establishment in La Latina (with queues almost daily). The key to all their cakes is that they are made from natural ingredients, with no additives or artificial coloring, and with little sugar. Its greatest hits meet all the baking trends of the moment: cheesecakes, cinnamon rolls and giant cookies. Everything is take away, they don’t have tables and you can order online on their website. They also have vegan options.
Calle de Toledo, 47 (La Latina)
13. The Riojan
Founded by the personal pastry chef of Queen Maria Christina of Habsburg in 1855, the interior of this restaurant on Calle Mayor remains practically unchanged more than 160 years later. Its pastries are almost as traditional as its decoration. Here you can buy san Isidro doughnuts, almudena wreaths and all the classic pastries, puff pastries, chocolates and buns. His tearoom expanded in the 1990s, but it still has the same old roots.
Calle Mayor, 10 (Downtown)
14. La Mallorquina
La Mallorquina has been recognized by Civitatis (an international planning portal) as one of the most important most famous bakeries in the world and its more than 125 years make it one of the oldest cafeterias in Madrid. Famous people such as Miguel de Unamuno or Benito Pérez Galdós have sweetened their palates at La Mallorquina. In fact, from 1960 onwards, its Tea Room became a cultural and political epicenter that hosted numerous gatherings and meetings. It is the only establishment from the 19th century that maintains its original activity.
Puerta del Sol, 8 (Downtown), Calle Velázquez, 39 (Salamanca neighborhood), Calle de Arapiles, 1 (Arapiles) and Avenida de Europa, 13 (Moraleja Green shopping center)
15. Santa Eulalia
Santa Eulalia is a French-style pâtissière . Their tarte tatin, fruit meringues and canelés (typical Bordeaux sponge cake) only confirm that their savoir-faire is indeed worthy of the north of the Pyrenees. It also has coffee, breakfast and brunches.
Calle del Espejo, 12 (Downtown)
16. Alma Nomad Bakery
Alma Nomad is the bakery fetish of pastry enthusiasts. No bun or sweet is the same as the other, here you can tell that everything is handmade just by taking a look at the counter. But if for whatever reason you have lost your way or you don’t feel like sugar anymore, try their bread and savory tartlets, doughs, in general, are their thing.
Urquiza Street, 17 (Chamberí)