09 Sep The sweetest side of Madrid
Posted at 12:19h
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The culinary culture of the capital could not be richer when it comes to its pastries, cakes and sweet treats. Here you’ll find sweets that are sold all year round and others that commemorate special dates and celebrations throughout the year. With a large portfolio of local recipes, many of which have an Arabic influence, the confectionery of Madrid also boasts specialities from other regions in Spain. This is evidence of Madrid’s role as the destination for Spaniards from all for corners of the peninsula.
Points of interest:
La Violeta
- Address: Plaza de Canalejas, 6, 28014 Madrid
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00am to 8:00pm. Closed on Sundays.
- GPS: 40.41659, -3.70079
- Phone: +34 915 225 522
- Email: info@lavioletaonline.es
- Web: go to main web
- Access:
Accessibility - Languages: Spanish and English
- Description: This family-run business was founded in 1915 by Mariano Gil and Pilar Temiño in Plaza de Canalejas 6. Since that moment the sweetshop has stood in the very same place, where to this day it still sells the very same sweets with the essence and character of its traditional roots. It is currently the third generation of the Gil Temiño family who are at the helm of this century-old shop, an indispensable stop on any visit to the capital.
- Reasons to visit: Founded in 1915, to this day the sweetshop still sells the tiny hard-boiled sweets conceived by the store’s first owner, who took inspiration from the violet flowers that were sold on the streets of Madrid at the start of the century. As the cuplé song goes, the presence of the violet sellers would announce the arrival of spring. Made with the natural essence of the violet flower itself, these sweets are so popular that, legend has it, King Alfonso XIII would come to this very sweetshop to buy gifts for both his wife and his lover. Buy these violet delights in boxes, cans or by the weight, with 400 kg sold every week!
- What’s on offer: Made with the essence of the violet flower itself, legend has it that King Alfonso XIII would come to this very sweetshop to buy gifts for both his wife and his lover. Buy these violet delights in boxes, cans or by the weight, with 400 kg sold every week!
- Resident’s tip: Buy these violet delights in boxes, cans or by the weight for a unique souvenir to take home. More than 400 kg of these violet-essence sweets are sold every week!
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Accessibility
La Pajarita
- Address: Calle Villanueva, 14, Madrid 28001
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 8:30pm.
- GPS: 40.42249, -3.68865
- Phone: +34 914 357 454
- Web: ir a la web
- Access:
- Languages: Spanish and English
- Description: A sweetshop founded in 1852, originally located near Puerta del Sol, today stands in the Barrio de Salamanca, on Calle Villanueva. Its name honours the small paper birds (pajaritas) that writers and intellectuals would make out of napkins when sitting in the city’s cafés.
- Reasons to visit: Most emblematic of all are La Pajarita’s classic hard-boiled sweets sold in 17 different flavours, using natural essences in the shop’s bakery. It’s the paper these delights are wrapped in that makes them that little bit more special, unique and recognisable; even if you’ve only tried these sweets once, you’re sure to remember them forever.
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La Mallorquina
- Address: Puerta del Sol, 8 28013 Madrid.
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 08:30pm to 21:15am
- GPS: 40.41665, -3.70469
- Phone: +34 915 211 201
- Email: info@pastelerialamallorquina.es
- Web: ir a la web
- Access:
- Languages: Spanish and English
- Description: Founded in 1894, the most central bakery in the entire country prides itself on the most traditional recipes that have evolved with the passing of time to include new ideas and innovative flavours. From the early hours of the morning, master patissiers begin to work at the century-old bakery La Mallorquina located right at Kilometre Zero.
- Reasons to visit: Since its very beginnings, La Mallorquina has expanded its offering of products, adding new sweets that remain on the menu to this day: cream- and chocolate-filled pain au chocolats are its most popular delight alongside its croissant, truffles, the reina de nata (cream-filled Swiss roll), assorted biscuits, and Bartolillos – very traditional cream-filled pastries found in few pâtisseries.
- What’s on offer: This bakery celebrates the most traditional festivities of the city with sweet treats as characteristic as the Corona de la Almudena (custard-filled sweet bread), Rosquillas de Santa Clara (ring-shaped pastries with meringue topping), Rosquillas Tontas y Listas (anise ring-shaped pastries with and without lemon fondant topping), Vergaras (layered cakes with custard filling), Rosquillas de Madrid (anise ring-shaped pastries), torrijas (Spain’s answer to French toast) and the Huesos de San Expedito (fried anise-flavoured fingers).
- Resident’s tip: Among others, Rubén Darío, Juan Ramón Jiménez and Pío Baroja have all visited the bakery’s tearoom (now café). What do you think they ordered? Back then, it’s likely they had ensaimadas, a spiral-shaped pastry typical in Mallorca (where the owner was from) that was initially first served in Madrid. Now it is the pain au chocolats filled with cream that are this bakery’s most popular product. And even though we’re pretty sure the owners aren’t French… people queue up to buy them!
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La Duquesita
- Address: Calle Fernando VI, 2, Madrid 28004.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 8:30pm. Saturday from 9:30am to 8:30pm. Sunday from 10:00am to 8:30pm.
- GPS: 40.42571, -3.69699
- Phone: +34 913 080 231
- Email: info@laduquesita.es
- Web: go to main web
- Access:
- Languages: Spanish and English
- Description: This quaint century-old bakery, one of the most famous in Madrid, has welcomed through its doors some of the country’s most renowned personalities, including Queen Maria Christina of Spain. Today, with the prestigious pâtissier Oriol Balaguer at its helm, find an exquisite mix of traditional sweets with the most avant-garde flavours and baking techniques.
- Reasons to visit: In its very beginnings, La Duquesita was primarily specialised in boxes of chocolates, small cakes and biscuits with jam that knights who were called to military service would give to their families and relatives. The wooden interior of the bakery is decorated with gold adornments and an alabaster doll figures welcomes all those who join her on this journey into the past. From hand-made cakes and sweets treats such as pestiños (honey-glazed fried pastries), brazo de gitano (chocolate Swiss roll) and, everyone’s Christmas favourite, the cream-filled sweet bread that is the Roscón de Reyes.
- What’s on offer: Don’t miss their chocolate palmeras (palm-shaped puff pastries).
- Resident’s tip: Founded in 1914, today the bakery is headed by the master chocolatier Oriol Balaguer. Located on Calle Fernando VI, the bakery’s original shop front still remains, as does the original alabaster figurine of a Duchess that inspired the name above the door.
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Manolo Bakes
- Address: Plaza de Santa Bárbara, 4 Madrid 28004.
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8:00am to 9:00pm.
- GPS: 40.42744, -3.69639
- Phone: +34 911 384 568
- Email: info@manolobakes.com
- Web: go to main web
- Access:
- Languages: Spanish and English
- Description: The traditional sweet treats that are manolitos can be traced back to Manolo’s bakery, created by the owners themselves. These small croissants are made with slightly more butter than is usual.
- Reasons to visit: There are the classic manolitos with no filling, but also find them with a hint of dark chocolate, with both white chocolate and dark chocolate, and many more! We recommend you get there early… this bakery sells 500 kg of its speciality sweet every single day!
- What’s on offer: Don’t miss the star product: delicately prepared pastry made with the best quality butter.
- Insider tip: One of the bakery’s shareholders is Álvaro Morata of Atlético de Madrid football club.
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Moulin Chocolat
- Address: Calle Alcala, 77, Madrid 28009.
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 9:00pm. Sunday from 11:00am to 6:00pm.
- GPS: 40.42057, -3.68692
- Phone: +34 914 318 145
- Email: marketing@moulinchocolat.com
- Web: go to main web
- Access:
- Languages: Spanish and English
- Description: Ricardo Vélez, owner and pâtissier, has succumbed to French influence with his bakery serving delicacies that taste as though they’ve come from across the border. Find butter croissants and brioches, and tubs of ice cream with chocolate sauce and pieces.
- Reasons to visit: The moreish macarons at Moulin Chocolat with a fresh, creamy filling and a truly unique texture. Find them in a range of flavours from dark chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, and even violet with a hint of rose essence.
- What’s on offer: Their star product, without a doubt, are the macarons, but also find a range of chocolates, such as the Malvasía-flavoured treats created in collaboration with Freixenet, in addition to chocolate bars, cocoa powder, cakes, and desserts.
- Resident’s tip: Even though they aren’t originally from Spain, macarons have become very popular in Madrid thanks to Moulin Chocolat.
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San Ginés
- Address: Pasadizode San Ginés, 5, Madrid 28013.
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8:00am to 11:30pm.
- GPS: 40.416774, -3.706885
- Phone: +34 913 656 546
- Email: reservas@chocolateriasangines.com
- Web: go to main web
- Access:
- Languages: Spanish and English
- Description: Located on Pasadizo de San Ginés, a stone’s throw away from Puerta del Sol, is what is considered the most famous chocolaterie in the city. Since 1894 it has been serving locals and tourists alike the traditional chocolate and churros (fried dough sticks), in addition to soft drinks, coffee and a range of pastries and cakes. Enjoy these sweet treats both inside the chocolate shop and in its outside eating area on this pedestrian street.
- What’s on offer: Chocolate served with churros and porras (similar to churros yet made with bicarbonate of soda and a larger quantity of flour).
- Insider tip: With its marble top tables and tiled counter, the Chocolatería San Ginés has been cited many a time in multiple literary words including Benito Pérez Galdós’ National Episodes and Valle Inclán’s Bohemian Lights. It found fame in its very beginnings, when crowds leaving the theatre would pop in for chocolate and churros. Today it prides itself on being awarded honours from the Círculo de Lectores Cultural Centre and named a Site of Historic and Tourist Interest by the Madrid City Council.
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El Riojano
- Address: Calle Mayor, 10, Madrid 28013.
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm.
- Phone: +34 913 664 482
- Web: go to the main web
- Access:
- Languages: Spanish and English
- Description: This bakery observes all the dates on Madrid’s traditional calendar with its array of sweet delights. Try the Roscones de Reyes (cream-filled sweet bread served at Christmas), panecillos de San Antón (sweet bread rolls), rosquillas tontas and listas (anise ring-pastries with and without toppings), azucarillos de San Isidro (meringue-type sugar treats flavoured with lemon and strawberry), huesos and buñuelos de santo (custard-filled marzipan and fried pastries, respectively), and the corona de la Almudena (custard-filled sweet bread), etc. It may look small from the outside, but on the inside this bakery is full of treasures. The first thing to catch every visitor’s eye are, without a doubt, the window displays brimming with moreish delights. If you can tear yourself away, head inside to discover every type of sweet treat you can imagine. Don’t miss the other jewels of this bakery: the ceiling with elaborate plasterwork; the light fixtures and sconces from the time of Queen Isabella II; and, not forgetting, the truly magnificent counters and display cabinets built by the cabinetmakers of the Royal Palace using mahogany from Cuba, given to the shop by the Queen Maria Christina, alongside exquisite bronze work and Carrara marble.
- Resident’s tip: Founded in 1855 by Dámaso de la Maza, a pâtissier based in Madrid who worked for the Royal Family, more commonly known as El Riojano given his Riojan roots. Over the span of 150 years or more, this bakery has welcomed a number of illustrious figures through its doors, from Queen Maria Christina, who visited often to try its sweet delights, to the renowned Spanish dramatist, Jacinto Benavente.
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Puerta del Sol
- Address: Plaza de Puerta del Sol.
- GPS: 40.41694, -3.70352
- Access: Accessibility
- Description: With whichever sweet treat has taken your fancy in your hand, it’s now time to take a stroll through the emblematic Puerta del Sol. This bustling, central square is a symbol of Madrid. Semi-circular in shape, Plaza del Sol is an intersection where many of the city’s historical and busiest streets – such as Calles Mayor, Arenal, Alcalá, and Preciados – join, in addition to being home to some of the capital’s most representative landmarks and monuments.
- Reasons to visit: You can’t leave without contemplating the famous clock atop the Casa de Correos, the official headquarters of the Regional government of Madrid. On the last day of the year, join the crowds that form at its feet to ring in the new year with twelve chimes and twelve lucky grapes, in a celebration that is broadcast to millions on national television.
- What’s on offer: Right next to the emblematic clock is the plaque that marks Kilometre Zero: the point from which distances are measured in Spain for the many national roads that start in Madrid. Tourists from all four corners of the country flock to the square to photograph this spot every day. Puerta del Sol is also home to the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree. Loved by all locals, this popular meeting point features all the elements that form the capital’s coat of arms.
- Resident’s tip: Thanks to the Madrid Digital Memory Library, which digitalises and shares the cultural heritage of the Madrid City Council, enjoy a virtual visit to the square to discover exactly what it was like in 1854. Also, don’t miss the chance to take a photo of your feet standing on the plaque that marks Kilometre Zero.
