You can tell a lot about a city by its pastries — and in Buenos Aires, they’re a testament to the history of Argentina’s bakers. Created in 1887 by anarchist immigrants, the first bakery workers’ union went on a major strike in 1888 demanding better labor conditions. In homage to that struggle, they decided to give their immense variety of “facturas” (from the Latin facere: to make something) names that satirized elements of porteño society.

The most famous include suspiros de monja (nun’s sighs) and bolas de fraile (friar’s balls), which made fun of the catholic church. Vigilantes poked fun at the police forces, while cañoncitos (little cannons) mocked the armed forces.

But while some Argentine bakers’ handiwork will send you to heaven on a flaky trail of crumbs, others are dry, hard, and have the mouthfeel of a piece of cardboard slathered in congealed disappointment. To help you sort the wheat from the chaff, here are some of the Herald’s favorite pastry shops in the city.

Recoleta – Almagro – Núñez – Vicente López – Villa Urquiza – Palermo – Caballito – Colegiales
Instagram: @atelierfuerza

Also known as the ‘kingdom of sourdough,’ Atelier Fuerza is the spot if you’re looking to eat outstanding medialunas or the best sourdough bread in the city. Their goal is to maintain the essence of........

© Buenos Aires Herald