12 BEST Bakeries And Cafes In Buenos Aires
Every food obsessed traveler should explore the sweet treats of Argentina. From baked croissants to amazing tarts, Buenos Aires showcases amazing baked goods and perfect coffee. Keep reading for my list of the best bakeries and cafes in Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires Has Some Of The Best Bakeries And Cafes In The World
Who would’ve guessed that? Despite being known for the best steaks in the world, Buenos Aires has a long standing baking culture stemming back to the European immigrants coming to Argentina. I spent a month in the city eating at the best restaurants in Buenos Aires and dove face first into the bakeries discovering delicious treats I never experienced before.
Although bakeries constitute most of this article, I felt inclined to add the best cafes in Buenos Aires as well. Most bakeries offer coffee and all cafes offer some sort of baked good made in house or locally sourced. Either way, baked treats await the adventurous travelers willing to hunt down the sweetened treasures.
1. Daniel Bakery – Best Croissants In Buenos Aires
Nestled on a quiet street sits Daniel Bakery, an amazing little shop serving the best croissants in Buenos Aires. Seriously these are next level with thin layers of crispy dough baked to golden brown perfection.
A dozen pastries waited for me in the glass counter inside with each having a special filling or topping. My wife and I chose the Pistachio and the Hazelnut croissants with a latte and iced chai.
The croissants looked like works of art, delicately crafted into delicious morsels. With a creamy chocolate center, the Hazelnut croissant felt luxurious with pools of filling spilling into the crevices.
Like a more chocolatey Nutella, the Hazelnut croissant tasted of rich cocoa with a hint of hazelnut on the finish. Delicate and decedent at the same time.
The Pistachio by far takes the show with a vanilla and pistachio cream center that consumed each flaky bite. I love pistachios for their buttery flavor and creamy texture, and the croissant highlighted these characteristics through a balance of sweetness and richness. The crushed pistachios on top added more texture creating a well rounded experience when eating the whole croissant.
With their selection of different pastries, everyone can find a pastry to love at Daniel Bakery.
Daniel Bakery Honduras 3714, C1180 CABA, Argentina
2. La Piedad – Best Bakery In Centro Buenos Aires
A bakery located in Centro, La Piedad serves classic Argentinian favorites with perfection. My wife and I were feeling a bit snackish so went in for the Medialuna and two of their crust free sandwiches.
One of the must try foods in Buenos Aires is the Medialuna, meaning half moon, and it’s not a croissant but resembles more of a twisted dinner roll that makes the perfect snack for walking around the city.
These Medialunas felt soft to the touch and practically disintegrated in my mouth from their fluffy texture. The outside tasted slightly sweet and citrusy, making these bready treats that much more addictive.
The sandwiches were moist with the soft white bread holding in all the goodies. The egg, red pepper, and cheese sandwich became my instant favorite reminding me of an egg salad sandwich with pickled red peppers. I definitely think of these sandwiches as some of the best cheap eats in Buenos Aires and totally worth trying.
If you plan on exploring the city, keep La Piedad in mind to refuel your adventures around the city.
La Piedad Florida 31, C1005 AAA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3. Panadería y Confitería Armenia – Best Baklava In Buenos Aires
Armenians immigrated to Buenos Aires in the 20th Century, bringing with them a heritage of delicious food traditions. For dessert one day, my wife and I decided to try Panadería y Confitería Armenia, to see how it compared to the baklava we ate while traveling in Turkey a few years back.
We grabbed a pistachio filled pastry and a triangular walnut baklava. Both tasted delicious but the walnut baklava came out on top with layers of thin phyllo wrapped around walnuts, baked until crispy and soaked in a honey syrup. Crunchy and sweet, this cheap snack makes for the perfect dessert while exploring Palermo.
Panadería y Confitería Armenia Av. Raúl Scalabrini Ortíz 1317, C1414DOA CABA, Argentina
4. Cafe At El Ateneo Grand Splendid – Best Cafe Setting
Located in the super awesome Grand Splendid book store sits a wonderful cafe serving plenty of sweet treats and caffeinated beverages. The El Ateneo Grand Splendid is a bookstore converted from an old theatre with each level filled with different genres of books.
I took my time through the bookstore and got lost through the shelves and slowly made my way to the cafe on the stage.
We ordered a brownie cake, a Nutella cake, a frappuccino, and an Argentinian style cappuccino.
The desserts were great, filling the chocolate fix and pumping our bodies with sugar for some afternoon energy, and the coffees tasted perfect, each made with a skilled hand. Although the coffees were delicious, the brownie cake was my favorite with a thick and extremely rich chocolatey center.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid definitely makes the list of best things to do in Buenos Aires, but make sure to hit the cafe for an afternoon pick me up.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid Av. Sta. Fe 1860, C1123 CABA, Argentina
5. Cinna & Co – Best Cinnamon Roll In Buenos Aires
For cinnamon sugar goodness, head to Cinna & Co for delicious cinnamon rolls that will impress even the most diehard Cinnabon fan. With different flavors and sizes, this bakery offers a different type of cinnamon roll, baked individually in tightly wound spirals before getting a thick sugar glaze and covered with a variety of toppings.
We tried the Classic and the Nutella, both having a sugar glaze but the Nutella got extra love with a chocolatey hazelnutty drizzle. Creamy and super gooey, these cinnamon rolls are extra soft having the consistency like the middle of a traditional cinnamon roll.
To make a great treat even better, each cinnamon roll is heated and served warm so everyone gets that freshly baked consistency. No indoor seating here, but take yours to go or suck them down on the sidewalk without shame.
Cinna & Co Paraguay 4387, C1425 CABA, Argentina
6. Bicho Cafe – Best Latte In Buenos Aires
A tiny cafe with delicious baked classics, Bicho cafe served the best latte I had in Buenos Aires. Although the cafe lacks the space for laptop campers and board games, it makes up for it with precisely made coffees.
Served in a handmade, red clay mug, the latte tasted perfect with velvety steamed milk served at the perfect drinking temperature: hot enough to enjoy without scorching the tastebuds.
Although I don’t think they make their baked goods in house, their pastries are well curated with enough cookies, scones, and croissants to appease any cafe connoisseur.
I decided on the croissant which hit all the trademarks with flaky layers and a decadent buttery flavor. Nothing fancy here but excellent coffee and the perfect pastry.
Bicho Cafe Agüero 2039, C1126 CABA, Argentina
7. Boûlan – Best Bakery In Buenos Aires For A Ricotta Tart
I love it when bakeries create pastries I wasn’t expecting. At Boulan serves the classics like sourdough, baguettes, and croissants, but then I saw this gem, a Ricotta tart. Of course, I needed to get a few other things, so I decided on the sugar crusted croissant and a white chocolate chip cookie.
Everything tasted wonderful, but I’m here to talk about the Ricotta Tart. I have no idea how they made this. A light crust outlines the tart with soft sweetened ricotta hiding in the center. Biting into the tart gives a slight snap before giving way to the ricotta.
The taste reminds me of the cheesecake at Whole Foods but a little less sweet. A slight hint of lemons lingers which rounds out the sweet and tangy flavors nicely. This Ricotta Tart certainly makes my list of the best things I ate in Buenos Aires.
Boûlan EVE, Ugarteche 3045, C1425 CABA, Argentina
8. The Shelter – Amazing Banana Bread and Latte
The Shelter coffee shop feels like an NYC boutique hotel’s attached coffee shop. A leather sofa lines the main seating area with dark hardwood tables and chairs filling in the center. Everything looks nice and refined with hints of wear on the leather and the edges of the furniture.
I wanted a different kind of baked good today, so I asked the barista to name his favorite item on the menu. Without hesitation, he calls out the banana bread, an excellent suggestion for my cravings today.
The banana bread was super moist with bites slightly sticking to the roof of my mouth, but in a good way if that makes sense. A hint of banana comes through which I appreciated since I abhor the taste of artificial bananas that I find in cheap banana muffins in America.
On the top of the cake lays thin slices of banana baked right into the loaf so the top edge perks up with indentations of melted banana. Extra delicious and the perfect addition to my wonderfully poured latte.
The Shelter Arroyo 940, C1007 CABA, Argentina
9. Madre Panadería – Best Bakery For Addictive Confections
In a small space tucked away on a quiet street lies Madre, a bakery cranking out extremely delicious pastries with expert precision. I still consider Madre one of the best bakeries in Buenos Aires despite the small size. Although only a few people can stand inside at a single time, their baked goods speak for themselves.
I went for a croissant filled with chocolate coffee cream and a flaky baked pastry covered in cinnamon sugar which I’m calling a croissant churro.
The coffee croissant cracked with flaky goodness forcing the creamy filling interior into every crunchy crevice. Weirdly addicting. I literally couldn’t stop eating barely leaving anything for my wife! The chocolate and coffee worked together creating a palate cleansing ability making each bite better than the last and I couldn’t eat enough.
The croissant churro was another hit with cinnamon and sugar dusting every crunchy ridge. I’d rip off a piece, enjoy the crunchies, lick my fingers, and mindlessly repeat. Why couldn’t I stop? I’m not sure if Madre Panadería is adding “a little extra” something to their baked goods but I found every bite amazing.
Madre Panadería Malabia 440, C1414 CABA, Argentina
10. Obrador de Panes – ABSOLUTE Best Bakery In Buenos Aires
A true hidden gem in the San Telmo neighborhood, Obrador de Panes is a bakery and coffee shop serving freshly baked cakes, bread, cookies, and pies.
Just the smell of walking in was enough to comfort every fiber of my body. The decor is antique chic with mismatched chairs and tables and vintage decorations lining the walls. Repurposed windows attached to paint stripped dressers made up the bakery counter with a wide variety of sweet treats perfectly arranged like on the cover of a baking magazine.
Everything looked wonderful making it impossible to choose. The baker kindly walked me through her favorites before we landed on a Sweet Potato and Chocolate Tart with a coconut crust and coconut whipped topping. YUUUUUUUUUUM.
Who knew that chocolate and sweet potato make such an awesome pairing? The crumbly coconut crust added a nice texture and the whipped topping added a hint of coconut to every bite. I really enjoyed the cocoa and the sweet potato filling with its velvety rich texture resembling a french silk pie.
Paired with my latte, I found the perfect spot to spend a quiet afternoon in San Telmo.
Obrador de Panes Chile 524, C1098 CABA, Argentina
11. VHS Cafe – Throwback Cafe
I loved the 90s and the VHS Cafe brings back all the feels with a themed cafe reviving those energetic Friday nights at the movie rental store. No, you can’t actually rent any movies, but who has a VHS player now anyway?
My wife and I stopped in on a whim after glimpsing the sign from a block away. We needed a quick pick me up from our afternoon exploring the Palermo neighborhood, so we ordered two lattes and an Alfajor, a sandwich cookie with a generous smear of dulce de leche.
Everything came out perfect, with our lattes steamed velvety smooth. The Alfajor needed to grow on me a little before I started to enjoy it. I never encountered this cookie before and apparently, it’s a big deal in Buenos Aires. Paired with the coffee everything balanced out and I enjoyed our afternoon coffee break.
VHS Cafe Fray Justo Sta. María de Oro 1702, C1414 CABA, Argentina
12. Panaderia Andre – Best Bakery In Buenos Aires For Alfajores
If you need something sweet on the go or to take back to your room, head over to Panderia Andre, a San Telmo favorite with a wide variety of pastries cookies, and cakes.
I saw a fresh batch of chocolate covered Alfajores that were calling my name. I asked for a few and got a slice of some sort of pie and brought it back to my apartment to share with my wife.
The raspberry pie tasted familiar like a breakfast danish with a soft crumbly crust. I can see this as the perfect partner for a nice cup of coffee after dinner.
The thin chocolate layer coating the Alfajores melted nicely in my mouth before revealing the crisp cookie and dulce de leche. All the flavors combined tasted sweet but not too overpowering. I just needed a cold glass of milk to wash it down.
Panaderia Andre Bolívar 848, C1066 CABA, Argentina
Conclusion: Eat MORE Pastries and Drink MORE Coffee In Buenos Aires
Every traveler to Buenos Aires needs to put focus on the bakery and cafe culture. Sprinkled throughout the city are amazing places that create unreal baked goods along with the perfect cup of coffee.
I hope this list of the best bakeries in Buenos Aires gives you some ideas about what to expect and encourages you to try something new. Although Buenos Aires is in South America, these baked goods rival those I experienced in Europe and Asia. Take these bakeries seriously and you might find your favorite pastry somewhere in the city.
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Chris Kretzer has traveled the world visiting over 35 countries and eating his way through every city. With his wife Tiarra, they explore different food cultures and create food guides, podcasts, and travel articles helping everyone experience the world through food.