Dulcería de Celaya

Dulcería de Celaya has been selling Mexican sweets since 1874, which makes it one of the oldest shops of its kind in the city. It was opened by the Guízar de Arias family on what was then Calle de Plateros, now Madero, next to the old Café de La Concordia, and after 26 years it moved to its present home on 5 de Mayo, two streets from the Zócalo, when that street was developed in the early 1900s. The name refers to Celaya, a city known for its sweets and especially its cajeta.

The shop is worth visiting for its interior alone. The decoration is Art Nouveau, with a stucco ceiling and beams painted with flowers, a symmetrical mosaic floor and a chandelier. The mirrors are French and date from the period, the display cases are made of white oak, and much of the original furniture survives. The large front windows show off the sweets to passers-by, and El Financiero's 2026 report on the shop counted it as 151 years old.

At first the family bought sweets from suppliers in other states, but later they bought the recipes and began making everything themselves in a small basement workshop, using wooden paddles, copper pans and a small oven. Today the shop sells around 120 varieties, all made by hand without machines. Look for leche quemada, besos de nuez, glorias, yemitas de almendra, aleluyas of pistachio and pine nut, cocadas, jamoncillos, buñuelos, puerquitos de piloncillo and limones rellenos de coco. In season you will also find sugar skulls for the Day of the Dead and roscas de Reyes in January.

It is a good place to buy edible gifts, and the shop also prepares gift baskets for celebrations and corporate events. Cards are accepted. Allow 15 to 20 minutes, longer if there is a queue.

The shop is on 5 de Mayo in the historic centre, two streets from the Zócalo. Pastelería Ideal, the great downtown bakery, is also in the historic centre on 16 de Septiembre, so the two make an easy pairing for a sweet break during a day of sightseeing.