There’s nothing quite like biting into a fresh, flaky, buttery pastry—especially one that’s a specialty from another country. Every culture has its own variation of these delicious treats, both savory and sweet, and being able to order them like a local can make your experience that much more enjoyable. Here are ten pastries from around the world and how to order them when you’re there.
Croissant (France)
A croissant is the quintessential French breakfast pastry, made up of layers of buttered dough that provide the signature flakiness.
How to order: Say “Un croissant, s’il vous plaît” (A croissant, please). If you’d like it with chocolate, order a pain au chocolat.
Pastel de Nata (Portugal)
These delectable egg custard tarts are a breakfast essential to try in Portugal, especially in Lisbon.
How to order: Say “Um pastel de nata, por favor” (One pastel de nata, please). For the more traditional experience, sprinkle cinnamon and powdered sugar on top.
Baklava (Turkey/Greece/Middle East)
Baklava is a rich pastry with layers of phyllo dough, honey, and nuts. It varies slightly by region, but the flavors are always indulgent.
How to order: In Turkey, say “Bir porsiyon baklava lütfen” (One portion of baklava, please).
Danish (Denmark)
In Denmark, they refer to these fruit-, custard-, or almond-paste-filled pastries as wienerbrød (Viennese bread).
How to order: Say “Et wienerbrød, tak” (One Danish pastry, please).
Churros (Spain/Mexico)
Fried dough sticks sprinkled with sugar and often served with a side of hot chocolate for dipping.
How to order: In Spain, say “Unos churros con chocolate, por favor” (Some churros with chocolate, please). In Mexico, order churros rellenos (filled churros) for an extra treat.
Macaron (France)
These delicate, colorful almond meringue cookies contain a creamy filling.
How to order: Ask for “Un macaron, s’il vous plaît” or try a specific flavor like “Un macaron au chocolat” (A chocolate macaron).
Krapfen (Austria/Germany)
This jam-filled doughnut is a carnival favorite in Austria and Germany.
How to order: In Germany, say “Ein Krapfen, bitte” (One Krapfen, please). In Berlin, they are often called Pfannkuchen, while in many other parts of Germany they may be referred to as Berliner.
Mochi (Japan)
A soft rice cake filled with sweetened red bean paste, matcha, or other sweet fillings.
How to order: Say “Mochi hitotsu kudasai” (One mochi, please). For multiple, replace hitotsu with futatsu (two) or mittsu (three).
Éclair (France)
A long choux pastry filled with cream and covered in chocolate.
How to order: Say “Un éclair au chocolat, s’il vous plaît” (A chocolate éclair, please). Coffee or vanilla are also popular flavors.
Pastelitos (Argentina/Venezuela)
These small puffed pastry pockets are either sweet or savory, stuffed with dulce de leche or cheese, for instance.
How to order: In Argentina, say “Un pastelito, por favor” (One pastelito, please). If you would like it filled with something specific, say so, like “de dulce de leche.”
