Wíthin the city, there are century-old bakeries that have become must-visit stops for anyone with a sweet tooth. These historic establishments offer some of the best-known desserts in Aragonese cuisine, from traditional Frutas de Aragón to meringues and other specialties. If you are someone who cannot resist a good dessert, here are the bakeries you absolutely must visit when you come to Zaragoza.
FANTOBA PASTRY SHOP
It has just celebrated its 170th anniversary and is, without exaggeration, one of Zaragoza’s most famous bakeries. It is located on Calle Don Jaime, and its eye-catching exterior is enough to make you stop, although it is only when you walk through the door that you discover the full essence of this historic establishment. With Ivana at the helm, the bakery is especially known for its meringues, one of the treats that continues to bring many Zaragoza residents here, generation after generation.
But that is not all. One of the bakery’s defining features is that its products are made by hand, with the team overseeing the entire process, from the doughs to the fillings. And there is something even more surprising: they also make their own chocolate. It is produced beneath the bakery, where they have a space dedicated to working with it and allowing it to rest until it is ready to be used in their sweets.
LA ALMOLDA PASTRY SHOP
This bakery is located at 11 Calle Méndez Núñez, and do not let its small size fool you: inside, it hides impressive sweets capable of winning anyone over. Open since 1920, La Almolda has made tradition one of its defining features. Its tea pastries, doughnuts and most classic cakes are some of the products that have shaped the history of this century-old establishment.
It is a bakery that has managed to reinvent itself and adapt to modern times without losing the essence that defines it. Its offerings include home-delivered breakfasts, a perfect way to start the day on a sweeter note. The most complete box costs around 35 euros and includes a chocolate palmier with a personalized message, pastries, hot chocolate, juice, tea pastries and churros.
LOS MAYSES
With as many as five shops across Zaragoza, Los Mayses has become one of the city’s best-known bakeries. It has been treating Zaragoza residents to sweet delights for more than 30 years, and over that time it has built up a loyal customer base that continues to trust its creations.
It is one of the city’s most renowned bakeries thanks to its handmade pastries and, especially, its XL croissants and doughnuts. Although these have become some of its most popular products, the display counter hides many other temptations. Handmade cakes, cookies, torrijas, fritters and palmiers round out an offering designed for the sweetest of tooths.
HORNO ISMAEL
Since 1978, this bakery has been part of Zaragoza’s baking history. More than four decades later, it continues to champion handmade production and maintains its own bakery, one of its main distinguishing features. Its sweets have accompanied several generations of Zaragoza residents at celebrations, afternoon snacks and family gatherings.
Every day, its bakery produces pastries, baked goods and confectionery following the same philosophy that inspired the business from the beginning: making handmade sweets. This tradition can be seen in details such as the Frutas de Aragón, cut and coated by hand, and the tea pastries, which are still piped using a pastry bag. These classics have been joined by new creations, including an oversized croissant filled with and coated in chocolate.
