Bakery in Mexico City / Pastelería Madrid, legendary since 1939 in the Historic Center.
By Alejandro Pohlenz
On July 17, 1936, a group of military officers rose up in arms to crush the Second Republic, triggering the Spanish Civil War. I mention this fact not only because certain personalities continue to talk about Spain, regarding the supposed "forgiveness" they owe us, but because perhaps it is the opposite... what we owe them is gratitude. As we have seen, some restaurants reviewed in Food Police were created, especially in the 1930s, by Spanish immigrants fleeing the conflict. This has been good for Mexico, for employment, for the economic impact and, of course, also for gastronomy.
More than 80 different products
Only 3 years after the outbreak of the Iberian revolution, a family of refugees founded Pastelería Madrid, where there was previously a record and phonograph store, and a hat shop. Pastelería Madrid displays, in its locations between 5 de Febrero and República de Uruguay streets, some 80 different types of products: bread, bolillos, sweet bread, cakes, cookies, jellies, meringues, marzipans and mousses. The brightest star in the cosmos (the real one is called Sirius) is, evidently, the concha. One can consume the bread on site, because it also has a counter to have a coffee. On the other hand, I find the image of a bolillo that the people of Pastelería Madrid have published relevant because it explains a possible origin of another marvel of creation: the bolillo. It says: "one of the most accepted hypotheses about the origin of the bolillo is that it was introduced to Mexico by Camille Pirotte, one of the bakers of the court of Maximilian of Habsburg".
Bakery with restaurant
Pastelería Madrid also has a restaurant that was established in the 1970s. What is remarkable is that the dining room is a kind of photography museum: most of the photos belong to the Casasola Archive. I like the note from a fan of the place: "I love Pastelería Madrid... Whenever I go downtown for a walk or shopping, I end my visit at this bakery, where I eat or have coffee... And of course I take my bag of biscuits... It's a tradition..."
- What we love and you should try: the concha.
- Food Police insider advise: be careful with demonstrations or blockades, classic of the Historic Center.
- Address: Calle 5 de Febrero 25, Historic Center, CDMX
- Hours and days of operation: Monday to Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Ideal for: going for bread.
- Payment: cash and cards.
- Accessibility: yes.
- Parking: no.
- Telephone: 55 5518 2950
- Reservations: no.
- Nearby public transportation: Metro Isabel la Católica.
- Pet Friendly: yes.
- Suitable to go with children: yes.
