El Riojano
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Recommended Reviews - El Riojano
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This place is dripping in royal vibes and antique mirrors and that makes sense. Once upon a time, the queen's personal pastry chef wanted his own bakery. And the queen helped him make that dream come true. El Riojano is a fancy sugar and treat palace where your coffee comes with a side of powdered sugar and thick chocolate to dip. Reminder: if your employee is amazing, promote them or they'll open a pastry empire and flex on you as they should.
Cool bakery with crazy history. You're first greeted with the badge of honor outside showcasing this business has been here for over 100 years. Everything is so ornate because the queen helped build this masterpiece.... Over 100 years ago!! We liked the hot chocolate experience. The place really comes alive when you walk in, otherwise you'd walk past it and never know basically a bakery museum is inside.
It feels like all my life I've been searching for the best hot chocolate. Rich, creamy, dark-but-not-too-dark, just sweet enough, thick-but-not-too-thick... and, of course, insanely chocolatey. In the U.S. it is a tragedy that the default hot chocolate is that powdery, bland, horrid instant nonsense. This was the opposite - the most perfect cup I've had so far!! Don't be fooled by the long lines and make your way to the back for seating - generally seems like you don't have to wait and it isn't too busy, unless you're there during the post-dinner hour. The pastries all look great and the ones we had were fine, but the hot chocolate is the real showstopper. Get the dipping cookies if you want, and yes, they do cost extra. LOVE this place and its history, highly recommend!
If you're okay with getting poor service from the waitstaff and offered average sweets, then this is the place for you. My family came here twice since the first go-around we figured the poor service was due to us coming in 20 minutes before they were closing; however, that definitely wasn't the case. Both times we came, we were confronted with indifferent waiters who quickly became inpatient if we didn't already know what we wanted. Once we did place our orders, I will say that we did receive them in a timely manner. Although I do distinctly remember wanting to try some ensaimada, and the waiter flat-out refused to take that order; I'm not sure if it was because they didn't have any more of it, or he just didn't want to do the extra work. The highlights of this place has got to be the chocolate and cafe vienes. Rich, creamy, and flavorful! Even so, I do think that there are other restaurants that can offer you BOTH great drinks and service.
Staff is not friendly or helpful. They act as if they dont want you there. The cookies are labeled by name but if you dont know what the ingredients are or what they taste like you are going to ask right? When you ask they give you one word responses and act as if you are asking for the world! I had done some research so I knew what I wanted but there were some new things I saw once there. My husband thought the cookies tasted average. Nothing to write home about. We had better at a smaller bakery. We actually gave them away to a homeless person. Alot of the cookies are only available in large quantities. I do not recommend. So much for the oldest bakery which once baked for the royal family.
Founded in 1855 and to this day following Madrid's traditional calendar, El Riojano was originally the idea of a Baker who worked for the Royal Family, its interior of mahogany and marble harkening years past while service is abrupt and most certainly not willing to accommodate English. Maintaining a hidden tearoom and outdoor tables, the latter refused as "reserved" at 08h45 even though only one of four was occupied, it was after perusing several dozen selections that choices were made, some such as a glazed Palmier easy to identify while others required a bit of faith. Now in its fifth ownership, though many of Damaso de la Maza's original recipes remain, it was after passing row-upon-row of Pastas that teeth punctured an airy Ensaimada while El Riojano's Caracola falls short of those elsewhere thanks to too much heft and Fruit that is gummy. Remiss to skip the Torrijas, but not about to abide a bare minimum of service seemingly designed to force tourists out, both Lazos and Mujis each fared well to finish, especially the former which looks like a Donut but eats like Viennoiserie.
We discovered this place as an alternative to the popular Chocolatería San Ginés. Hard to describe their dipping chocolate, but it definitely has a somewhat better pop of richness by comparison. We ordered the soletillas (ladyfingers) which came in a pair for 1.60€. They're almost sponge-like and soft, but a bit lacking in flavor, so I prefer the crunch of a churro instead. The front is filled with glass cases of dozens of bakery goods. The back dining area does full waiter service and has the aesthetics of a 17th century palace dining hall. Scouting the front would give a good idea what the menu items are before sitting to order. Our waitress spoke English after my bout of stuttering Spanish, but I noticed she wasn't as warm and friendly to us or other customers. Note they consistently close for about several hours mid-day so time your visit accordingly.
This was my go-to place to get breakfasts while traveling in Madrid. They were known by their hot chocolate with lady finger, but I prefer to have lady fingers with coffee :) There's a lady at the store who greeted me every time when I stepped in. She's really nice, always explained the bakery varieties to me patiently. Loved their lady fingers and all other cookies :)
A nice place to rest the back after long walk in this busy neighborhood. The two servers were kept very busy all the time we were there. They performed their duty but lack of any personal touch. Really can't blame them! Actually I felt sorry for them! The pastry and coffee were ok. I am sure many other enticing sweets or else must be very delicious that the business was so good.
Wonderful establishment that makes you feel like a queen (or king) while you dine. I wanted to try the melted chocolate for breakfast since I've heard they melt down actual chocolate in comparison to powdered chocolate used in other establishments. During my time in Madrid, I tried a few chocolate places but nothing comes close to El Riojano. It looks small from the outside but is actually a lot bigger once you get to the seating area further inside. The staff was so friendly and made our experience of visiting Madrid enjoyable. The vibe here just screams royalty as the room will make you feel like you are eating in a royal palace. I ordered the chocolate y soletilla and I thought the chocolate was amazing but didn't care too much for the soletilla. This is just a personal preference though. I didn't like the texture of it after it's combined with the chocolate. I guess I'm in love with my crunchy churros. A positive is that the soletilla was lightly sweetened which I thought was a pleasant experience for my palate. Now let's get to the good part. THE CHOCOLATE!! Man, it was so rich and smooth. I almost wanted to drink the whole cup! I ended up getting in (several) spoonfuls well after my soletilla was gone. I hope that lets you know how wonderful the chocolate really is! I also had a yummy warm crissount and coffee and it did not disappoint. Overall, chocolate lovers must visit! I only regret not buying chocolate in the bakery section to bring back home.
5 months ago
I had walked down Gran Via towards Plaza Mayor with the intention of grabbing a snack at Mercado San Miguel. Sadly, it is closed for renovation and upgrades. As I was walking back towards Gran Via, I found El Riojano and stopped in. There is the pastry shop in the front and a cafe in the back. I was seated immediately and almost all of the tables were full. This is a very casual place. The menus were on the table, and a server came quickly to take my order. I ordered a cappuccino and a puff pastry with spinach and goat cheese. Both were good and exactly what I needed for a bit of energy. I asked for the pastry to be heated, and it was slightly warm (still cold in the middle). My only critique is that I wish the pastry had been a bit hotter. A steady stream of people arrived and departed while I was there so this seems to be a popular place. I would visit again and look forward to trying one of the bartolillo (traditional to Madrid). read more
Cute spot for desserts and a warm drink. I tried their hot chocolate which was rich but did taste like it was thickened with starch and not as decadent as some other places. The pastries were great. I tried the Roscon which was fresh and airy. Not overly sweet either. We had a short wait of 10 minutes and also took some pastries to go after. Staff was veryyyyy busy and not the most attentive but otherwise friendly and helpful. read more
Lovely spot for locals and tourists to relax and catch a cup of coffee or tea with some old world style pastries, sweet buns, cookies and sweet treats. The baker used to bake for the Royal Palace of Madrid. We asked which of their items were the most popular. We chose one called the Riojanito and it tasted a lot like a Chinese bun but with a piece of dark chocolate in the center. Their tea was absolutely lovely. I like that it tells you the benefits of it on the menu. Service was excellent. We were able to sit for however long we wanted without feeling rushed. read more
This place is dripping in royal vibes and antique mirrors and that makes sense. Once upon a time, the queen's personal pastry chef wanted his own bakery. And the queen helped him make that dream come true. El Riojano is a fancy sugar and treat palace where your coffee comes with a side of powdered sugar and thick chocolate to dip. Reminder: if your employee is amazing, promote them or they'll open a pastry empire and flex on you as they should. read more
I went here once and had to return because the Torrija de leche (like a bread pudding) was the best I had. It's a very traditional pastry shop. There's eating inside or you can take your food to go. Service is very fast. It looks fancy. read more
2 years ago
Cool bakery with crazy history. You're first greeted with the badge of honor outside showcasing this business has been here for over 100 years. Everything is so ornate because the queen helped build this masterpiece.... Over 100 years ago!! We liked the hot chocolate experience. The place really comes alive when you walk in, otherwise you'd walk past it and never know basically a bakery museum is inside. read more
It feels like all my life I've been searching for the best hot chocolate. Rich, creamy, dark-but-not-too-dark, just sweet enough, thick-but-not-too-thick... and, of course, insanely chocolatey. In the U.S. it is a tragedy that the default hot chocolate is that powdery, bland, horrid instant nonsense. This was the opposite - the most perfect cup I've had so far!! Don't be fooled by the long lines and make your way to the back for seating - generally seems like you don't have to wait and it isn't too busy, unless you're there during the post-dinner hour. The pastries all look great and the ones we had were fine, but the hot chocolate is the real showstopper. Get the dipping cookies if you want, and yes, they do cost extra. LOVE this place and its history, highly recommend! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Yummy pastries and coffee. We really wanted the little lemon cookies but the server had no idea what we were talking about. Once we paid and spoke to the woman in the front area she explained the lemon cookies had it come out yet and we waited patiently for them. Warm and yummy!! read more
If you're okay with getting poor service from the waitstaff and offered average sweets, then this is the place for you. My family came here twice since the first go-around we figured the poor service was due to us coming in 20 minutes before they were closing; however, that definitely wasn't the case. Both times we came, we were confronted with indifferent waiters who quickly became inpatient if we didn't already know what we wanted. Once we did place our orders, I will say that we did receive them in a timely manner. Although I do distinctly remember wanting to try some ensaimada, and the waiter flat-out refused to take that order; I'm not sure if it was because they didn't have any more of it, or he just didn't want to do the extra work. The highlights of this place has got to be the chocolate and cafe vienes. Rich, creamy, and flavorful! Even so, I do think that there are other restaurants that can offer you BOTH great drinks and service. read more
Staff is not friendly or helpful. They act as if they dont want you there. The cookies are labeled by name but if you dont know what the ingredients are or what they taste like you are going to ask right? When you ask they give you one word responses and act as if you are asking for the world! I had done some research so I knew what I wanted but there were some new things I saw once there. My husband thought the cookies tasted average. Nothing to write home about. We had better at a smaller bakery. We actually gave them away to a homeless person. Alot of the cookies are only available in large quantities. I do not recommend. So much for the oldest bakery which once baked for the royal family. read more
5 years ago
Founded in 1855 and to this day following Madrid's traditional calendar, El Riojano was originally the idea of a Baker who worked for the Royal Family, its interior of mahogany and marble harkening years past while service is abrupt and most certainly not willing to accommodate English. Maintaining a hidden tearoom and outdoor tables, the latter refused as "reserved" at 08h45 even though only one of four was occupied, it was after perusing several dozen selections that choices were made, some such as a glazed Palmier easy to identify while others required a bit of faith. Now in its fifth ownership, though many of Damaso de la Maza's original recipes remain, it was after passing row-upon-row of Pastas that teeth punctured an airy Ensaimada while El Riojano's Caracola falls short of those elsewhere thanks to too much heft and Fruit that is gummy. Remiss to skip the Torrijas, but not about to abide a bare minimum of service seemingly designed to force tourists out, both Lazos and Mujis each fared well to finish, especially the former which looks like a Donut but eats like Viennoiserie. read more
We discovered this place as an alternative to the popular Chocolatería San Ginés. Hard to describe their dipping chocolate, but it definitely has a somewhat better pop of richness by comparison. We ordered the soletillas (ladyfingers) which came in a pair for 1.60€. They're almost sponge-like and soft, but a bit lacking in flavor, so I prefer the crunch of a churro instead. The front is filled with glass cases of dozens of bakery goods. The back dining area does full waiter service and has the aesthetics of a 17th century palace dining hall. Scouting the front would give a good idea what the menu items are before sitting to order. Our waitress spoke English after my bout of stuttering Spanish, but I noticed she wasn't as warm and friendly to us or other customers. Note they consistently close for about several hours mid-day so time your visit accordingly. read more
This was my go-to place to get breakfasts while traveling in Madrid. They were known by their hot chocolate with lady finger, but I prefer to have lady fingers with coffee :) There's a lady at the store who greeted me every time when I stepped in. She's really nice, always explained the bakery varieties to me patiently. Loved their lady fingers and all other cookies :) read more
4 years ago
The Best Chocolate I had in Madrid. Hands down! Ordered a few treats and pastries from here as well. Superb read more
7 years ago
A nice place to rest the back after long walk in this busy neighborhood. The two servers were kept very busy all the time we were there. They performed their duty but lack of any personal touch. Really can't blame them! Actually I felt sorry for them! The pastry and coffee were ok. I am sure many other enticing sweets or else must be very delicious that the business was so good. read more
7 years ago
8 years ago
Wonderful establishment that makes you feel like a queen (or king) while you dine. I wanted to try the melted chocolate for breakfast since I've heard they melt down actual chocolate in comparison to powdered chocolate used in other establishments. During my time in Madrid, I tried a few chocolate places but nothing comes close to El Riojano. It looks small from the outside but is actually a lot bigger once you get to the seating area further inside. The staff was so friendly and made our experience of visiting Madrid enjoyable. The vibe here just screams royalty as the room will make you feel like you are eating in a royal palace. I ordered the chocolate y soletilla and I thought the chocolate was amazing but didn't care too much for the soletilla. This is just a personal preference though. I didn't like the texture of it after it's combined with the chocolate. I guess I'm in love with my crunchy churros. A positive is that the soletilla was lightly sweetened which I thought was a pleasant experience for my palate. Now let's get to the good part. THE CHOCOLATE!! Man, it was so rich and smooth. I almost wanted to drink the whole cup! I ended up getting in (several) spoonfuls well after my soletilla was gone. I hope that lets you know how wonderful the chocolate really is! I also had a yummy warm crissount and coffee and it did not disappoint. Overall, chocolate lovers must visit! I only regret not buying chocolate in the bakery section to bring back home. read more
7 years ago
Omg, their hot chocolate is amazing. Before coming to Spain, I did some research and people told us to try churros with hot chocolate. O was about to go the popular place that people keep mentioning, however, someone suggest to come here for the hot chocolate. So I got the hot chocolate with a piece of lady finger. The chocolate was pretty thick, almost like melted chocolate, so I thought it would be super rich. However once I tried it, I was just like omg, this is so good. Even though it was rich, the sweetness was very subtle so you can keep drinking it without feeling a sugar Rush. My friend, who is usually not a sweet tooth, drank it all and even want to lick it. The lady finger was just ok, nothing special read more
Amazing little place just down the street from the Sol Station and near our B&B. The pastries in the window are hard to miss. They beckon you. My daughter tried a raspberry pastry and I the blueberry. Instead of taking out like we had done the day before, we relaxed back in the sirting area in the back. Great service there with some excellent coffee and pleasant setting. read more
8 years ago
This was my favorite breakfast place in Madrid. It's truly a hidden gem in the middle of all the chaos of El Sol. Truly a locals hide out but they welcome tourists. It looks like only a bakery from outside or when you walk in but go to the back and there is a full service dinning room. Breakfast and pastries on point!!!!!! read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
8 years ago
The poison was a little small but delicious! I liked their atmosphere and food. Good service. It was busy around lunch time. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
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More info about El Riojano
Calle Mayor, 10
28005 Madrid
Spain
Sol
Directions
913 664 482
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.confiteriaelriojano.com
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