Casa Otaegui: 140 Years Preserving the Art of Basque Pastry
Casa Otaegui: 140 Years Preserving the Art of Basque Pastry
This year marks the 140th anniversary of Casa Otaegui, San Sebastián’s oldest pastry shop: a beacon of elegance, meticulous craftsmanship, and the love of gastronomy characterizing the city.
Since Raimundo Malcorra and Josefa Martina Otaegui opened the first store in 1886, Casa Otaegui has remained true to its distinctive style — a harmonious blend of respect for Basque pastry traditions and the most refined pastry art techniques of Europe. That loyalty soon bore fruit: in the early twentieth century, during San Sebastián’s golden age as a tourist destination, the pastry shop became the official supplier to the Spanish Royal House — Queen Regent Maria Christina was particularly fond of the firm’s almond sponge cake.
Today, the third and fourth generations of the family continue to uphold these values, guaranteeing strictly artisan processes and using the finest ingredients.
From its ovens have emerged creations as famous as the Pantxineta, an original masterpiece by Emiliana Malcorra, who created this puff pastry tart filled with cream and topped with a crunchy layer of toasted almonds nearly a century ago. Since then, many pastry chefs have tried to make their own versions of this delight, but none have matched Otaegui’s rendition, which has become the city’s most emblematic dessert — and perhaps that of the entire Basque Country. Every day, hundreds of visitors come to taste the Pantxineta at the firm’s shops on Calle Matia, Calle San Martín, and especially Calle Narrika, home to their most iconic location, distinguished by its marble façade, checkerboard flooring, and 1930s wooden furnishings. This dedication to preserving authenticity has made Otaegui not only a gastronomic landmark but also a living testament to San Sebastián’s urban memory.
Casa Otaegui
C/ Narrika 15, San Sebastián.
C/ Matia 3, San Sebastián.
