The best pastry shops Basque Country

Since 1886, this pastry shop has been a reference in San Sebastián, with five establishments throughout the city (the Parte Vieja is the most famous!). Today, the third generation of the Otaegui family continues to delight gourmets with its traditional Otaegui panchineta, a cake made of puff pastry and cream, covered with small pieces of toasted almonds. The house is also famous for its homemade turrón, huesos de santo (literally "saint's bones", made from marzipan), Russian cake and Basque cake.

For more than 100 years, this tea room has been delighting gourmands at breakfast or snack time. Try the house's speciality, carolinas, a delicious meringue pastry.

Halfway between Güeñes and Galdames, on the heights of the town of Humaran, this is a golden address to buy delicious Basque cakes made entirely by hand. Here, everything is baked over a wood fire! The products are sold on the spot at weekends, but also at local markets - especially at the Gure Lurreko Merkatua market on Saturdays in Balmaseda - or distributed in the local bakeries. In addition to its famous Basque cakes, the house also prepares delicious madeleines, nut cakes, chocolate cakes, etc.

Just a stone's throw from the Teatro Arriaga, a pretty retro décor for a sweet break based on home-made biscuits and cakes. Among these sweets, classic or international recipes, refined pastries and a fine selection of Basque specialities: tiramisu, scones, bollos de mantequilla (typical Bilbao brioche), Basque cake, cheese or carrot cake... All to be enjoyed in a pretty stone setting with coffee, hot chocolate or fresh fruit juice. Unmistakable: the hojaldre (puff pastry cake)!

The first Martina pastry shop in Zuricalday dates back to 1830. It is therefore today the oldest artisan pastry shop in the Basque Country. The sixth generation of the family now runs the four eponymous shops and continues to delight gourmets with its famous bollos de mantequilla (brioche with custard), cakes and other varied delicacies (macaroons, financiers, cupcakes, etc.). Other specialities from Bilbao include the Carolina (tartlet topped with a meringue-chocolate cone) and the bollo suizo (sugar brioche).

Since 1852, this pastry shop is an institution of the city. Its decoration, which has remained practically unchanged for a hundred years, preserves beautiful pieces of furniture such as this superb Carrara marble counter. A wide variety of cakes and chocolates have been delighting Bilbao's people for generations, but the house's great specialty is the chocolate truffle, whose traditional preparation has remained unchanged for decades. Sold in boxes and assortments, it is a good souvenir idea for your greedy friends!