Rosquillas de San Isidro are Madrid's May ring biscuits, sweet and lemon-glazed (listas) or matte and aniseed (tontas), eaten during the San Isidro patron-saint festival each 15 May.
Rosquillas de San Isidro descend from the medieval Castilian rosquilla tradition, with the Madrid version becoming canonical in the 18th century. Four types exist: tontas (matte, aniseed), listas (lemon-glazed), de Santa Clara (white meringue) and francesas (sugar-dusted). The biscuits appear in Madrid bakeries from late April through mid-May, peaking on May 15, the feast of San Isidro Labrador (the city's patron saint). The Pradera de San Isidro picnic on May 15 still draws thousands of locals carrying boxes of rosquillas, tortilla, empanada and a bottle of Valdepenas. La Mallorquina on Puerta del Sol and Horno de San Onofre near Gran Via produce the city's reference rosquillas; boxes sell from 10 to 14 euros.
3 editor picks for Rosquillas de San Isidro in Madrid, ranked by editorial score. All Madrid signature dishes · Rosquillas de San Isidro across every city.
La Mallorquina ★ 4.5
centro · Puerta del Sol 8, 28013 Madrid
La Mallorquina on Puerta del Sol in Madrid has sold the napolitana de crema (custard-filled puff pastry) since 1894. The 19th-century counter still queues out the door every morning.
Antigua Pasteleria del Pozo ★ 4.5
centro · Calle del Pozo 8, 28012 Madrid
Antigua Pasteleria del Pozo in Madrid is the 1830-founded pastry shop with the city's oldest sweet-pastry counter, the pastel ruso, and the wood-and-marble shopfront preserved since the 19th century.
Horno de San Onofre ★ 4.4
centro · Calle de San Onofre 3, 28004 Madrid
Horno de San Onofre in Madrid's Gran Via is the 1972-founded panaderia and pasteleria with the canonical rosquillas de San Isidro (May festival ring biscuits) and a daily-changing fresh-bread counter.