Tenerife's Oldest Pastry Shop: A WWI Story Still Baking After 100 Years
The Canary Islands' oldest pastry shop, Casa Egón in Tenerife, founded in 1916 by a German chef stranded by WWI, continues its century-old tradition of baking sweets and recently gained renewed popularity after a social media influencer's visit.
The story of the Canary Islands' oldest pastry shop isn't about business plans or food trends. It began with a war, an unexpected trip, and a young German pastry chef who ended up making Tenerife his home. Over a hundred years later, Casa Egón in La Orotava, Tenerife, still bakes sweets using recipes passed down through generations since 1916.
This famous spot, also known today as Taoro restaurant, is a historical and culinary landmark in the Canary Islands. Recently, new people have discovered it after content creator Corina (@Corina2G) visited and shared her experience on social media, highlighting some of its most traditional treats.
Casa Egón's story began in 1914. Egon Alfred Wende Bard, a young German pastry chef, stopped in the Canary Islands during a journey. But then World War I broke out, completely changing his plans. Unable to go back home, he settled in Tenerife, where he sought political asylum and decided to start a new life.
Four generations of the family have now run this special place. It continues to draw in both locals and tourists who find a piece of living history inside. The founder's great-grandchildren manage Casa Egón today. While keeping its centuries-old pastry traditions, the shop also adds new items that delight visitors. What started as a small family workshop has grown into a cultural and food icon in Tenerife, blending the heart of European baking with local Canarian tastes.
Today, part of the building is also a restaurant, serving its own harvest wine. You can find Casa Egón at 5 Calle León in La Orotava, on a narrow, sloping street. Many people visit daily, looking for a delicious dessert or a sweet treat any time of day.
Corina shared with her followers how much she enjoyed Casa Egón's tasty sweets. The Madrid-based creator ordered a selection, which included the famous apricot mille-feuille, a glazed ring cake, a pistachio puff pastry, and the traditional almond sweets. She described these pastries as "amazing," praising not only their "incredible" flavor but also their generous size.
Their affordable prices are another reason people come to try them. Casa Egón keeps the feel of an old-fashioned sweet shop, with wooden display cases, a warm family atmosphere, and the sense that every treat inside holds a century of history.
Over a hundred years since it opened, Casa Egón is more than just a pastry shop. It's a popular meeting spot and a must-visit in La Orotava, where tradition, history, and delicious flavors come together in every single bite.