Pastelería Ideal

According to Elena Reygadas, chef at Rosetta, La Panadería de Rosetta, Lardo, and Café Nin: "I really enjoy visiting traditional panaderías, bakeries. In Mexico City there are still several. In the Centro Histórico you can find them easily. I love the Pastelería Ideal, with its extravagant and colorful cakes and jellies, and Pan Segura, where you can find a good selection of typical Mexican sweet breads—concha, ojo de buey, polvorón, cocol, vidrio."

"Up on the second floor of one of Mexico City’s biggest pastry shops, Pastelería Ideal, you’ll find a room filled with cakes, cakes, and more massive cakes. This giant cake showcase features examples of the many multitiered, themed, and larger-than-life confections that you can order at the shop. The cakes on display are not meant to be consumed (they are for visual reference only, and filled with cardboard instead of actual cake), but it is worth ducking in as you wander the Centro Historico. If the cakes do whet your appetite, indulge it with some pastries down on the first floor. Load up a long tray with everything from concha to pan danes (danishes) filled with fruit. While you pay, sure-fingered staff artfully wrap your selections in the bakery’s lovely paper, adding bits of cardboard so they don’t get jostled on the journey. Know Before You Go The bakery stocks seasonal sweets, too, such as offerings and goodies for Day of the Dead." - taotaoholmes, mocchiatto, thekaustik

"Founded in 1927, this pastry shop caters primarily to locals looking for simple, traditional luxury. Look closely when walking around Centro and you'll notice people carrying huge white boxes with the shop's name printed in blue. The cakes and sweet breads inside are being ushered to birthday parties and Sunday afternoon gatherings." - Scarlett Lindeman