The 5 best pastry shops in Cagliari according to Gambero Rosso

The crystal-clear sea, the market of San Benedetto, the bastions of the Castle, offering unforgettable views: all this is Cagliari, a city that knows how to amaze lovers of sweets with a pastry art that honours local tradition at its best yet does not lack creativity. Here are the unmissable addresses from the 2024 Pasticceria e Pasticceri guide.

The best pastry shops in Cagliari

Chez Les Negres

Founded in 1964, Chez Les Negres is an institution in the city that has always stood out for its quality offerings that combine French pastry, Italian tradition and local specialities. The restaurant is designed exclusively for take-away, so the proposal focuses mainly on cakes (there are always ready-made ones, but it is ideal to order them as needed), mignons and dry biscuits. The house must-haves are the Charlotte and Lorraine cakes (a sort of soft brioche with cream and cream), also good are the profiteroles, the Sacher, and the unmissable Paris-Brest, delicate and with a nice balance between cream and butter. There is no shortage of savoury proposals, including a tasty Cagliari pizzetta with capers and anchovies. Worth mentioning at Carnival is the typical 'frittura araba', leavened and fried dough.

Chez Les Negres – Via S. Sonnino, 175 – Pagina Facebook

Ditrizio Pasticceria

Elegant and cosy, Piero Ditrizio and Valentina Fais's central location conquers locals and tourists alike with one of the most interesting offerings in the region. Here, breakfast smells like wonderful croissants, wonderfully leavened and filled with balanced and delicious creams, pain suisse or au chocolat, Venetian pastries and the iconic maritozzi with cream. The care in the choice of ingredients, as well as the workmanship and aesthetics, is evident in every dessert, from the craquelin puffs to the unmissable babas, Sicilian cannoli and cassatines, from Paris Brest to tarte with fruit to the masterful Sacher. The savoury side is just as good, with sandwiches (the puccia with boiled meat, giardiniera and vegetables is very tasty), arancine, stuffed croissants and a pizzetta sfoglia to die for. Don't miss the festive specialities, primarily the large leavened pastries.

Ditrizio Pasticceria - via Francesco Crispi, 21 – ditrizio.it

Dulcis

The restaurant run by Elisabetta Todde, who continues the family tradition begun in the 1920s with a bakery in Desulo, is pleasant and well-kept. The service starts early in the morning with good coffees or cappuccinos accompanied by beautifully made brioches and croissants, empty or variously filled. Ample space is dedicated to dry pastries, also available in nice take-away packages: there are shortcakes, doughnuts, biscuits, but also typical preparations such as tiliccas with honey or sapa, pardulas with ricotta, almond paste macaroons or pabassini with dried fruit and icing. There is a good assortment of grandma's cakes, Sacher, cheesecakes and other delicacies. Other sales outlets in via Sonnino 71, in Quartu Sant'Elena in viale Colombo 46, in Elmas in via Bacco 22.

Dulcis - via Baylle, 25 – www.dulcispasticceria.it

Pasticceria Piemontese

This is the realm of Gianluca Aresu, son of art, pastry chef and maître chocolatier. Those who come to the Piemontese cannot miss tasting the exquisite cream cannoncini, which have always been the pride of the place, but also the cream brioche, the bombs, the oyster (a crispy chocolate pastry) and the croissants, flaky to perfection and with a hint of fresh butter. Experience and excellent ingredients come together to create an appealing offer that satisfies every taste, including mignons (tiramisu, lemon pie and mini crème brûlée, among others) and single portions, such as ricotta and saffron mousse and raspberry gelée, dry biscuits and cakes. Chocolate is artfully crafted into excellent pralines, chocolates, cakes and parfaits.

Pasticceria Piemontese - Via Enrico Lai, 4 – www.pasticceriapiemontesecagliari.it

Pasticceria Pirani

Opposite the San Benedetto market is Pirani's historic shop, where the workshop is also located. Worthy of a stop from the morning thanks to the pastries, cream bombs and croissants, all well leavened and fragrant, but the real must of the production is the mignon. The ones with fresh seasonal fruit are delicious, the shortcrust pastries are excellent, and the cream puffs or mini mille-feuilles are well filled. Also noteworthy are the dry pastries and the savoury department, which, in addition to the legendary pizzette sfoglia, includes rustici, paninetti and filled croissants. Cakes and parfaits for special occasions are available to order. The brand is also present in the city with La Brasserie in Via Sulis and its headquarters in the courtyard of the Palazzo Doglio hotel.

Pasticceria Pirani - Via Pacinotti, 11 – www.piranicagliari.it