Girona is, without a doubt, one of the most charming cities in Catalonia. Its fascinating medieval heritage, with its iconic Jewish quarter and impressive cathedral, attracts thousands of visitors every year. However, beyond its picture-postcard walls and bridges, the capital of Costa Brava hides an even more delicious secret: it has established itself as a first-rate gastronomic epicentre, capable of surprising even the most demanding palates.
In this guide, we will focus on one of those sweet gems that is an intrinsic part of Girona’s identity: the xuixo. While a stroll through the ‘call’ (Jewish quarter) and along the Onyar river are a must, no visit to Girona is complete without indulging in this traditional delicacy that everyone loves.
Get ready to discover which bakeries and pastry shops make the city’s most famous sweet treat and where to find the best xuixos you will ever taste. Book your transfer from Barcelona Airport to Girona now! To get you to the capital, Shuttle2Sun offers shared transfer services and private transfer services from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Girona Airport, Reus Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
What Are Xuixos?
The xuixo (pronounced roughly ‘chui-cho’) is much more than just a pastry; it is Girona’s most iconic baked good. Its origin and consumption are intrinsically linked to the city’s identity, where it has traditionally been the favourite sweet treat for breakfast or afternoon tea.
But what makes it so special? The xuixo is a fermented puff pastry or brioche dough that is rolled into a spiral or tube shape, then fried until it is perfectly golden and crispy on the outside, and generously filled with authentic custard on the inside.
Finally, it is sprinkled with a generous layer of sugar. The result is an addictive combination of crunchy, fluffy, sweet and creamy that should be enjoyed freshly made, ideally accompanied by a coffee or hot chocolate.
Discover the Origin of Xuixos
The birth of the xuixo dates back to the 1920s and is shrouded in a popular legend that places its origin in a now-lost bakery run by the Riera family.
It is said that the baker at the time, Emili Puig Burch, was trying out new doughs when a French acrobat, who was in love with his daughter and frequented the place to see her, unexpectedly sneezed. He exclaimed ‘xui-xui’ when he sneezed, and the pastry chef, in a moment of inspiration and humour, named his new creation after that sound, which phonetically evolved into the current xuixo.
If you want to taste the best xuixos in Girona, travel in comfort with Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services, available from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Girona Airport, Reus Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
From Tradition to Innovation: The Xuixo in the 21st Century
Although the traditional xuixo—with its unmistakable custard filling and sugar coating—remains the gold standard, the vitality of Girona’s pastry scene has embraced innovation in recent decades. Girona’s master pastry chefs have begun to experiment with the classic recipe, maintaining the crispy, fried texture of the dough but diversifying the fillings to suit new tastes.
Today, it is common to find xuixos filled with a wide variety of ingredients, ranging from dark or white chocolate cream to dulce de leche, cheesecake, sweet sausage or apple.
These creative reinterpretations have allowed the xuixo to remain relevant and appealing to a new generation, proving that this local classic has the versatility and ability to reinvent itself without losing its original soul.
Searching for these innovative versions in the city’s bakeries is now part of the fun modern gastronomic route.
Where to Try the Best Xuixos in Girona?
The search for the perfect xuixo in Girona is a delicious adventure that charts a map between historical tradition and modern haute patisserie.
Can Castelló, the Authentic Xuixo of Girona
For those seeking exceptional quality within the orthodoxy of the xuixo, Can Castelló is a haute patisserie benchmark.
Its version is highly acclaimed, standing out for the superior quality of the custard and the exact frying time that ensures a perfect crunch. Can Castelló offers a wide variety of options, from lemon pie and coffee cream xuixos to tiramisu and nougat, among many others.
Traditional Recipes
To savour the sweet as it was conceived, it is essential to visit pillars such as Casa Moner and Antiga Casa Bellsolà. Casa Moner is revered by many as the gold standard, offering a xuixo with a robust and authentic flavour, unchanged by the passage of time, with innovative options such as its xuixo filled with chestnut cream. For its part, Antiga Casa Bellsolà is famous for making a particularly fluffy and light dough, which is perfectly balanced with a thin layer of sugar and smooth cream.
Following this artisanal tradition are Pastisseria Armengol and Can Noguera. Armengol is known for its workshop philosophy that guarantees a homemade flavour and meticulous preparation with local ingredients, while Can Noguera maintains centuries-old recipes guidelines, offering customers an experience of pure tradition since 1982. On the other hand, we have Pastisseria Reverter, whose xuixo is characterised by being one of the most generously filled and maintaining a remarkably crispy pastry.
As you can see, the xuixo is the sweet soul of Girona: a gem that encapsulates the history of the city in every bite, compelling any traveller to embark on this delicious route of tradition and flavour. If you want to try each of them in person, remember that Shuttle2Sun offers shared transfer services and private transfer services, so you can travel to Girona from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Girona Airport, Reus Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
