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 local pastries in a globalized Buenos Aires. “Fewer croissants, more medialunas,” in the owner’s words. Atelier Fuerza started as a street spot, and all of their products used to fit in a wicker basket. Their medialunas were in such demand that they had a quota per customer. Now, they have their own large production facility and over 12 shops across the city. It’s every porteño’s go-to pastry shop.

Soler 4000, Palermo; Thames 841, Villa Crespo

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Instagram: @lievitomadrearg

If you’re a fan of new flavors, Lievito Madre is the place for you. Not only does their menu have an array of local and international delights, but they also offer different pastries and flavors every weekend. Size does matter, and this pastry shop knows it: their portions are perfect for sharing, so to try as many pastries as possible, bring a friend to help. Our recommendation: the pastelera CupRoll, a cup made out of croissant dough and filled with pastelera cream.

Charcas 3656, Palermo

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Instagram: @labanpatisserie

Laban is one of the most famous French pastry shops in Buenos Aires. They boomed thanks to their Macalado, an ice cream macaron that comes in new flavors every month, alongside staples like pistachio, dulce de leche, and vanilla and salted caramel. They also offer everything a classic patisserie would, including canelés, financiers, and lunettes. Our recommendation: the pistachio Macalado, the perfect sweet treat — even in winter.

Zapiola 4782, Saavedra; Av. Ricardo Balbin 4183, Saavedra

Hours: Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m

Instagram: @panaderiaartiga

If there’s one pastry shop that channels the porteño essence, it’s Artiaga. Founded in 1931, this family business is considered one of the best in the city, as it combines both their Italian heritage — they have the best panettones in the city — and the typical Buenos Aires sense of community: all their pastries are made to share. Head baker Juan Manuel Alfonso Rodriguez is a third-generation baker and the grandson of the founders. A multi-award-winning chef, he won the Best Foreign Panettone PWC in 2021 and the Argentine Panettone Championship in 2023.

Ravignani 1338, Palermo

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7.30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Instagram: @malcriada.arg

This typical Palermo spot likes to re-shape the classics. They specialize in alfajores and the variety can be overwhelming. If you’re looking for a genuinely excessive quantity of sugar, we recommend the Alfajor Chocotorta Triple, which emulates the Argentine chocotorta cake dare we say, it tastes even better. But if you’re not big on alfajores or you’re more of a savory person, try their cheese, bacon and chive chipa it’s a Herald favorite in its own right.

Juan Bautista de Lasalle 433, San Isidro

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Instagram: @lavalientepan

Set in a rural-style house with an open garden and an all-white interior, La Valiente is an invitation to relax and enjoy. They do a fine job of the classic facturas, but we’re particular fans of the cocadas — a Latin American favorite concocted with coconut and condensed milk. La Valiente brings new flavors such as clementine into the mix. We also recommend their organic sourdough bread.

Juncal 905, Recoleta; Montevideo 1690, Recoleta; San Benito de Palermo 1695, Palermo

Hours: Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Instagram: @confiteria.dosescudos

A real neighborhood classic, Los Dos Escudos is the place you get pastries before visiting your grandma on a Sunday evening, or the sandwiches you bring to a friend’s place to watch a Boca versus River football match. They have all the pastries Argentine children have enjoyed for years, and an exquisite, French-style shop in Recoleta. We recommend their cañoncitos with dulce de leche and the palmeritas. Beware: once you try them there is no going back.

Cover image: medialunas at Atelier Fuerza. Photo: Atelier Fuerza

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Herald favorites: pastry shops in Buenos Aires

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18.05.2024

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


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