Scroll through to find some of our favourite ensaymadas in and around the metro
Cover Photo: The Daily Knead Official Facebook Page

Cheesy, buttery, and insanely soft, ensaymadas are irresistible Filipino staples for a delicious and addictive reason—try out some of our favourites, listed below

Ensaymadas are a quintessential Filipino pastry. A unique evolution of the Mallorcan ensaimada (a traditional coiled sweet bread usually served at Easter) the Filipino ensaymada features a much richer dough. Enjoyed at breakfast, merienda, or even as dessert, these soft, buttery buns are coated in sugar and topped with cheese, making for a unique and ultra-addictive indulgence that goes perfectly with a cup of coffee or tsokolate. 

Read on to find some of the best ensaymada in and around the metro, including the classic iterations and luxurious takes with truffle or prosciutto.

See also: Must Know Panaderia Favourites 

1. Cafe Mary Grace

As the verifiable monarch of this baked treat, no ensaymada list would be complete without the one and only Mary Grace. Setting a high standard for ensaymada enthusiasts, their famous iteration of the Pinoy staple is remarkably soft, buttery, and delicious—trust us, it’ll have you reaching for seconds before you’ve even realised you’ve finished your first.

See also: Kakanin Quiz: How Well Do You Know These 11 Filipino Rice Cakes?

2. Cibo di Marghi

Fusing her relentless passion for authentic Filipino cuisine and undying love for Italian fare, Margarita Forés rolls out luxurious ensaïmada at Cibo di Marghi. These indulgent pastries come in three genius variations—parmesan, prosciutto, and the bestselling truffle ensaïmada.

See also: Kakanin Cravings: Where to Order Suman in Metro Manila 2022

3. Luxury Sweets by Joey Prats

Dubbed by some as the “Rolls Royce of ensaymadas”, Froey’s (formerly known as Luxury Sweets by Joey Prats) uses only the finest, top-quality ingredients to craft these decadent buns. Best enjoyed warm, their gourmet queso de bola ensaymadas truly melt in your mouth—try it out for yourself, with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate in hand.

See also: Where to order the best bibingka

4. The Daily Knead

Since opening their bakery in 2020, The Daily Knead has been a go-to for many foodies in the city. Without any preservatives and extenders, the treats from head-baker Franchesca Herring are made with her kids in mind to produce the best bakes. This holiday season, the brand has rolled out multiple ensaymada variations for you to choose from, including their jamon and manchego ensaymada, leche flan ensaymada, and hot chocolate ensaymada.

See also: Where to buy the best empanadas and meat pies in Metro Manila

5. Wildflour Café + Bakery

This celebrated bakery churns out countless baked goods for every mood, so it comes as no surprise that Wildflour also produces ensaimadas. Offering their quality take on the Filipino classic, this sugar-coated brioche comes with a generous mountain of cheese, and even comes in an ube variant.

See also: Where to order cassava cake in Metro Manila

6. Bungalow Café and Bakery

When you see a line out the front of a bakery for pick-up alone, it’s a tell-tale sign that you’re in for some great eats. Bungalow Café and Bakery is a brunch (and boozy lunch) gem in the metro’s south, pumping out great coffee, whimsical drinks, exquisite food, and excellent bakes—including a classic ensaymada.

7. Breakfast At Antonio’s

As another institutional breakfast destination, Breakfast At Antonio’s has won the hearts and stomachs of many Filipino gourmands, seducing even the most home-bound city-dwellers to make the journey out-of-town. On your next daytime date at the beloved breakfast spot, try out their classic or quezo de bola ensaymadas, which you can even opt to have grilled and served with a side of parma ham and hot chocolate.

See also: Where to order a juicy Christmas ham for Noche Buena dinner

8. Buttery & Co

Buttery & Co takes their classic sugary-buttery-brioche ensaymada decorated with fine powdered Edam cheese to a whole new level. Apart from the reliable classic, Buttery & Co also offers salted egg custard ensaymada, which is adorned with an indulgent salted egg yolk custard.

9. The Peninsula Boutique

Tatler Asia
The Peninsula's ensaymadas prove their Filipino finesse goes beyond their iconic halo-halo
Above Miniature versions of The Peninsula Boutique's ensaimadas

Everyone knows about the hotel’s iconic halo halo, served at the equally legendary hotel foyer. On your next visit to The Peninsula Manila, pick up some of their ensaimada, which comes in the classic ensaimada topped with cheddar cheese, an ube-stuffed iteration, and a forest ham-packed variant.

See also: 9 Cosy Christmas cocktails to make at home

10. Pasteleria Mallorcas

Tatler Asia
Pasteleria Mallorca's ensaymadas resemble the authentic, old-fashioned buns we know and love
Above Photo: Pasteleria Mallorcas Official Facebook Page

Specialising in traditional Spanish pastries made with heirloom recipes, the ensaimadas at Pasteleria Mallorca resemble the authentic, old-fashioned buns we know and love from our childhoods. The Mallorca bakers use only the finest butter, sugar, and quezo de bola, producing a bun that achieves that valued nostalgic sumptuousness. 

See also: Tatler's Ultimate Guide: Where to order lechon In Metro Manila

11. Cunanan Bakery

Tatler Asia
The mother-daughter duo behind Cunanan Bakery produce some of the most well-known buns around - and for good reason.

Cunanan Bakery has the esteemed stamp of approval from titas throughout town, fostering a growing clientele thanks to the power of word-of-mouth. "We make them meticulously and as perfectly as possible by giving maximum attention to the baking process, to wrapping them neatly and consistently, and to placing them in the box", shares Marga Cunanan Kwok, store manager and daughter of the matriarch behind the bakery. "We strive to make sure that our customers are more than satisfied with our product"—a sentiment that certainly shines in their classic buns, which come in large, small, and miniature sizes.

See also: The Cunanan Bakery refuses to go digital—How are they so successful?

12. Diamond Hotel

Pop into Diamond Hotel’s Lobby Lounge to tuck into their beloved ensaymada (in ube or plain), topped with buttercream frosting and cheddar.

13. 50 Shades of Dough

50 Shades of Dough is not one to skimp on flavour, smearing their tasty rolls with a lavish serving of butter and cheese. “This is the Holy Grail of ensaymadas”, said one happy customer. Raving on, they proudly declared “I will probably be 50 pounds heavier and look like an ensaymada after eating this whole box and I don’t care”. These winning ensaymada also come in an ube variant just as creamy as delicious as the classic.

14. Baked By V

Another brand with a diverse range of ensaymadas to choose from, Baked by V offers the queso de bola ensaymadas in classic, salted egg, and bacon, each of which are also available in miniature sizes.  In addition, they also produce a beautiful ube ensaymada with a striking purple base made gooey and moist with a cheese and ube filling.

See also: More pasta please: Ally Gonzalez of Noodle Lab PH goes from pasta-lover to pop-up chef

15. Hizon-Ocampo Ensaimadas

Tatler Asia
The heritage recipes of the Hizon-Ocampo sisters live on through these ensaimadas.

The heritage recipes of the Hizon-Ocampo sisters live on through these ensaimadas. Auring Ocampo Escaler and Charing Hizon Ocampo were the founding mothers of two culinary schools–one in Manila and one in Pampanga. Today, their grand-nephew Tito Villanueva pays homage to their timeless craft, working with one of their former pupils at the San Fernando branch to produce these perfectly light and cheesy ensaimadas. Apart from the invaluable historical value and the time-consuming process it demands, Villanueva shares that another unique secret to the success of these tasty rolls is the use of butter and lard. To try them out for yourself, place orders through this number: +63 917 819 5498.

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