Barcelona bakery Pastisseria Natcha has been crowned the creator of Catalonia’s best creative King’s cake.
The prestigious award comes from the sixth edition of the competition organised by Panatics Obra Social Ernest Verdaguer, which celebrates the traditional Epiphany treat known as the ‘tortell de Reis’.
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The winning bakery, located on Avinguda de Sarrià, triumphed with a unique mandarin and ricotta cheese filling.
Barcelona Bakery Wins With Italian Inspiration
The creative King’s cake from Pastisseria Natcha features a delicate combination of mandarin and ricotta cheese. Head pastry chef Claudio Sandino drew inspiration from Italian Christmas traditions for this innovative creation. “It’s born from the heart and from memories,” the bakery explained in an emotional Instagram post following their victory. They described how Sandino was inspired by “a very Christmassy fruit in Italy, like the mandarin, combined with ricotta to achieve a fresher, more delicate filling.”
Furthermore, the entire creation is wrapped in croissant-style pastry, making each bite “magical,” according to the bakery’s social media announcement. This recognition follows another recent achievement for the establishment, which also won an award for the best ‘coca de Sant Joan’ several months ago. The bakery’s success demonstrates the vibrant culinary innovation happening across Barcelona’s food scene.
Traditional Category Also Celebrates Artisan Excellence
Meanwhile, the traditional category saw victory for artisan bakery Can Girabent. Their winning cake adheres strictly to competition guidelines, featuring traditional brioche, exclusive marzipan filling, and classic candied fruit. The bakery, which has shops in Aiguafreda, Centelles, Hostalets de Balenyà and Figaró, uses mother dough, long fermentation, and completely artisanal processes.
“Thanks to Panatics and the jury of the Best King’s Cake of Catalonia 2025 for recognising our way of doing things,” celebrated the artisan bakery. “This prize is an immense pride for the entire Can Girabent team and recognition of the craft, time and passion we put in every day,” they emphasised. The dual recognition for both creative and traditional approaches highlights the diversity of Catalonia’s baking heritage.
Additionally, another Barcelona establishment, L’Atelier, located on Carrer del Doctor Fleming in Sant Gervasi Galvany, reached the finals in both creative and traditional categories. This strong showing from multiple Barcelona bakeries underscores the city’s position as a centre of pastry excellence. The competition results come as Barcelona continues to establish itself as a destination for food lovers, with various establishments gaining national recognition.
According to recent reports on Catalonia’s culinary scene, the region is experiencing a boom in artisanal food production. The King’s cake competition results reflect this broader trend toward quality and innovation in local gastronomy. For those interested in exploring more of what makes Barcelona’s food culture special, discovering hidden culinary gems across the city’s neighbourhoods offers further insight.
Barcelona’s bakery scene continues to impress both locals and visitors with its blend of tradition and innovation. The recognition from this prestigious competition confirms that the city’s pastry chefs are among Catalonia’s very best, creating magical experiences one delicious bite at a time.
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