Mazatlán is a coastal city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that’s a popular stop on Mexican Riviera cruises. It has a historic old town, buzzy hotel zone, and an impressively long malecon (boardwalk) that stretches from Olas Atlas to Zona Dorada. It’s a more affordable Mexican resort destination than spots like Puerto Vallarta and Cabo, and it draws much more domestic tourism as a result. (Something I love to see, as many stunning destinations in Mexico have priced out people who actually live in the country. But that’s a conversation for another post…)
The Koningsdam called into Mazatlán nearly a dozen times, and I developed a ritual I looked forward to each cruise. Immediately after safety drill, I’d walk into the Old Town along the Blue Line. (The Blue Line is literally a blue line on the street that the tourism board put in place to guide visitors down safe, well kept streets from the cruise port into the Old Town.) I’d stop into a cafe to procure a treat followed by a stop into OXO to get an ice cold liter of Topo Chico. Maybe a Coke Zero if I was feeling frisky. Then I’d take my items to the beach for sun, sand, and salt water.
This ritual was part of my “create little moments of joy” strategy for keeping my head on my shoulders during an extremely tough time of managing the job alone while Jeremy was filling in on another ship. And nothing quite brings me joy like a treat on the beach…
So of course I’m going to share my 3 favorite spots for dessert in Mazatlán, Mexico…
1. Tótem
Tótem is a trendy spot with rustic-chic vibes and a cozy rooftop terrace that begs you to have “just one more….” because you simply don’t want to leave. They serve coffee by day and cocktails by night along with brunch, lunch, and dinner menus that boast unique Mexican-fusion fare. Tótem is also home to a bakery, Bake Bake, that is my personal favorite place to get dessert in Mazatlán.
Bake Bake is located on level two of Tótem, and the glass pastry case holds an impressive range of tantalizing baked treats. There are huge cookies, beautiful tarts, interesting bars, and the occasional cake. The options are constantly rotating, and I tried a few things over my visits including the red velvet cookie and bread pudding slice pictured above. The red pudding cookie was admittedly a bit dry, but the bread pudding slice was full of warm spices with the perfect soft, gooey texture.
While the red velvet cookie was so-so, the other cookies I tried were home runs. The chocolate chip cookie was totally loaded with chocolate chips and had a perfectly gooey center. And the pistachio cookie was stuffed with a thick layer of pistachio cream along with a pistachio drizzle on top. Delicious is an understatement.
The baked treats from Bake Bake in Tótem are closer to NYC prices than Mexico prices. We’re talking $3-$6USD per item. But I think it’s worth it, evident by the fact I ended up going 4 times!
See my guide to the best NYC mega cookie here!
2. Dolce Mami
Dolce Mami is a popular spot for brunch, lunch, and desert in Mazatlán. There are a few locations, including one in the Old Town. They have an impressive selection of cakes on offer, and you can tell custom cakes are a huge part of their business. I went in for tres leches, which they were out of, but left with a giant cinnamon roll for just 60 MXN/$3usd.
It was totally loaded with a gooey cinnamon mixture, and I would have been happy to eat the cream cheese icing on top by the spoonful. The outer layers were a bit dry. But the “tenderloin” (as my dad would say) in the middle was what cinnamon bun dreams are made of.
Dolce Mami has loads of delicious looking sweet treats for very reasonable prices, and is an excellent spot for getting dessert in Mazatlán.
3. Panamá Pastelería Belisario (Panamá Restaurante y Pasteleria)
If you Google “best dessert in Mazatlán”, Panamá Restaurante y Pasteleria will be on every list. There are numerous locations in Mazatlan, but Panamá Pastelería Belisario in the Old Town is exclusively a bake shop. This joint is a classic Mexican pasteleria serving up all types of pan de dulce ranging from conchas to orejas. It also has an extensive cake section, included one of my all time favorite dessert: tres leches.
I think I found the best tres leches in Puerto Vallarta, and you get the scoop HERE!
This bad boy was amazingly moist and perfectly sweet with a dreamy, light texture. No bells and whistles. Just a really freaking good tres leches.
If you’re looking for dessert in Mazatlán, Mexico, any of these 3 spots are sure to wow your taste buds.
Cheers to more foodie adventures to come!
