5 de febrero street, in the Historic Center of Mexico City, is usually associated with pharmacies, drugstores and the like. However, one of the most emblematic establishments on this street does not sell pills or ointments, but rather cakes and breads. We are talking about Pastelería Madrid which, for more than 80 years, has delighted the palates of the capital without losing an ounce of authenticity in the process.
Compared to other bakeries in the area, such as La Vasconia or Pastelería Ideal, Pastelería Madrid is relatively young. It was founded in 1939 by a family of Spanish immigrants. This is the origin of its name and logo, the latter a representation of the monumental Fuente de Cibeles, with the Greek goddess of fertility riding a chariot pulled by lions. Since then and to date, the bakery has been in the same building at number 25, 5 de febrero street, which, before its incorporation, housed a record and phonograph store, as well as a hat shop. In 2007 they opened their second branch, a little smaller, at República de Uruguay 81.
For lovers of traditional Mexican baked goods, Pastelería Madrid is a true oasis in the city. It offers more than 80 types of products that overflow with color, aroma and flavor in each of the trays on display. This is how it should be, because although some pieces will always be the favorites of customers -such as conchas, orejas and cuernitos- the display cases must look abundant and varied, even if the production never runs out. Bolillos, teleras, Spanish bread, cakes, pancakes, sliced bread, donuts, puff pastries, cakes of all types and sizes, marzipan, jellies, mousses and even meringues can be found on the shelves and can even be tasted right there, as the store has a coffee bar and an eating area.
The dining room, located on the right side of the premises, was built at the end of the sixties. This is evidenced by a wooden beam on which the date June 13, 1969 was inscribed by hand, and which was left as a historical record of the place. In fact, the dining area, in addition to offering a clean and comfortable space for lunch, is a sort of permanent exhibition of photography, mostly composed of images from the Casasola Archive.
The series offers a brief review of some of the moments that have shaped the history of Mexico City: the severe floods of 1951 that left the Historic Center submerged for 10 days; the car races that took place on the plains of Balbuena in 1910; the protests against sex education in 1934; the iconic Cuando una mujer guapa parte plaza por Madero by Nacho López; the Santa Paula Pantheon before its demolition in 1902; and the distinctive photo of the defeat of bullfighter Rafael Rodríguez in 1950, in which a pickpocket is caught in the act. Of course, there are also images of the Pastelería Madrid over the years.
And if the bread and pastry offerings were not enough, Pastelería Madrid also shines for its lunch service. In different islands, the counters are filled with succulent dishes ranging from the classic chilaquiles and enchiladas, to tortas, tacos, sandwiches, tostadas and some specialties such as lasagna, pozole, chiles rellenos and, of course, the traditional Spanish paella. All you have to do is select the food of your choice, go to the cashier to pay and wait patiently for it to be brought to your table. The wait does not exceed 15 minutes. The prices are another of the attractions of the place because, although it is true that they have gone up in recent years, the most expensive item on the menu costs $110 pesos.
Visiting Pastelería Madrid is not only an act of consumption, there is also an appreciation for our rich bakery tradition and for this almost centenary place that, despite everything, has been able to adapt to the city of the new millennium without forgetting its history. Pastelería Madrid is located at 25-27 5 de febrero street in the Historic Center of Mexico City. It is open every day from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. except on Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
