Throughout the city, century-old pastry shops have become must-visit stops for anyone with a sweet tooth. These historic establishments offer some of the best-known treats in Aragonese cuisine, from traditional Frutas de Aragón to meringues and other specialties. If you cannot resist a good dessert, here are the pastry shops you absolutely have to visit when you come to Zaragoza.
PASTELERÍA FANTOBA
It has just celebrated its 170th anniversary and is, without exaggeration, one of Zaragoza’s most famous pastry shops. Located on Calle Don Jaime, its striking exterior already invites passersby to stop, although it is when you walk through the door that you discover the full character of this historic establishment. With Ivana at the helm, the pastry shop 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 pastry shop’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: it also makes its own chocolate. This is done beneath the pastry shop, where there is a dedicated space for working with the chocolate and letting it rest until it is ready to be used in its desserts.
PASTELERÍA LA ALMOLDA
This pastry shop is located at 11 Calle Méndez Núñez, and its small size should not fool you: inside, it hides outstanding desserts capable of winning anyone over. Open since 1920, La Almolda has made tradition one of its defining features. Its tea pastries, ring-shaped cookies and most classic cakes are among the products that have shaped the history of this century-old establishment.
It is a pastry shop that has managed to reinvent itself and adapt to modern times without losing the essence that defines it. Its offerings include breakfast deliveries, a perfect option for starting the day in the sweetest way possible. The most complete box costs around 35 euros and includes a chocolate palmera 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 pastry businesses. It has been bringing sweetness to Zaragoza residents for more than 30 years and, during that time, has built a very loyal customer base that continues to trust its creations.
It is one of the city’s most renowned pastry shops thanks to its artisan baking and, especially, its croissants and XL doughnuts. Although these have become some of its most popular products, its display counter hides many other temptations. Artisan cakes, cookies, torrijas, fritters and palmeras round out an offering designed for the biggest sweet lovers.
HORNO ISMAEL
Since 1978, this pastry shop has been part of Zaragoza’s baking history. More than four decades later, it continues to champion artisan 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 prepares pastries, cakes and other desserts following the same philosophy with which the business began: making artisan 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 made using a piping bag. These classics have been joined by new offerings, such as a large croissant filled and coated with chocolate.
LOS MALLORQUINES
You do not need to travel to Mallorca to taste an authentic ensaimada. In the heart of Zaragoza’s Old Town, Los Mallorquines has kept the tradition of this sweet alive for more than 70 years, turning it into the emblem of a family bakery and a true benchmark of Zaragoza’s pastry scene.
The history of this business dates back to 1952, when Miguel Catalá and his son Jaime left Mallorca intending to seek new opportunities in France. However, their plans changed and they eventually settled in Zaragoza. There, they took their first steps in a small bakery on Coso Bajo, where they made pastry products for other establishments.
Over time, the family moved its operations to Calle Santo Dominguito de Val, where the bakery is still in operation today. Since then, three generations have kept alive the recipe and artisan expertise that have made their ensaimadas one of the city’s most renowned sweets.
