Maritozzo mania is everywhere. From pastry shops and restaurants to supermarket shelves, the traditional Roman cream-filled bun has made its way to Japan and South Korea, conquered London under the name “Italian cream bun”, and become a TikTok sensation, with countless videos devoted to recipes and tastings.
The craze began in Rome
Yet the craze began in Rome, where locals have never hidden their affection for this indulgent treat. Even in its hometown, the maritozzo has enjoyed something of a revival in recent years.
To find out where to taste the very best, we turned to three chefs who have made the food of Rome and Lazio a source of culinary pride.
“For me, a maritozzo filled with whipped cream has always marked three moments in the day,” says Arcangelo Dandini. “There's the morning, when I go out and pick up a small one from Roscioli Caffè; the mid-afternoon snack; and then the late-night maritozzo ritual, when we used to head home after a night out as teenagers. “To me, it's the ultimate Roman sweet treat, a faithful companion that stays with you from morning until late at night.”
Glorious excess
For Gianfranco Pascucci, the appeal lies in its glorious excess. “To me, it represents indulgence, that delicious surrender to temptation that's part of our culinary tradition,” he says. “The extravagant amount of cream is perfectly balanced by the bun itself. It's almost as though someone invented the finest possible sweet bread specifically to hold all that cream. And Romans judge the cream before anything else: how it's arranged, whether it's spread evenly, its texture and, of course, how much there is.”
“They're really a breakfast food,” says Sarah Cicolini. “The dough has a tighter crumb (with smaller air pockets – Ed.), and the size makes it rather difficult to eat at the end of a meal. But for breakfast, it's something special. A maritozzo with whipped cream is one of those things that brings you closer to Rome, just like carbonara.”
Since opening her restaurant SantoPalato, Cicolini has offered a dessert inspired by the traditional maritozzo, made with grano arso, or toasted wheat flour. “It's a tribute to the Roman maritozzo, made with brioche dough and Chantilly cream. As a modern trattoria, or a trattoria 2.0 if you like, we allow ourselves a little poetic licence. We take inspiration from a traditional recipe that tells the story of a place — in this case, Rome — and create our own interpretation.”
Dandini has never put a maritozzo on his menu, except as a playful savoury accompaniment to Roman-style tripe or coda alla vaccinara, the city's traditional oxtail stew.
Pascucci, meanwhile, has served miniature maritozzi at events, topped with a little caviar on unsweetened whipped cream.
“I like taking this little piece of Rome and giving it a taste of the sea,” he explains. “Caviar is an indulgence, a luxury that takes nothing away from the maritozzo. I have no interest in making a mockery of tradition.”
So where should you go for a proper cream-filled maritozzo? Here are our picks in Rome, with a few tempting detours beyond the capital.
Romoli – Viale Eritrea 142, Rome
Asia's fascination with the maritozzo is said to have begun here, following a feature on Japanese television. Light, soft and airy, Romoli's bun holds a generous cloud of whipped cream. For devotees of freshly baked pastries, there are even batches coming out of the oven late at night.
Roscioli Caffè – Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 16, Rome
Excellent whipped cream, a soft but sturdy bun and just the right level of sweetness: an indulgence well worth giving in to. Savoury versions are also available.
Regoli Pasticceria – Via dello Statuto 60, Rome
A historic pastry shop, home to what many Romans consider their favourite maritozzo. The bun is generously filled with whipped cream, neatly smoothed with a spatula. Traditional Lenten pastries, known as quaresimali, are also available. Be prepared to queue.
Pasticceria Walter Musco – Largo Benedetto Bompiani 8, Rome
Excellent whipped cream, lightly sweetened and scented with vanilla seeds, fills these maritozzi, which also come in miniature versions. Musco's creativity extends to savoury interpretations, too.
Casa Manfredi – Viale Aventino 91/93, Rome
Not enormous, but more than enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. Raisins are folded into the dough, while vanilla perfumes the whipped cream. Pure indulgence.
Pasticceria Patrizi – Piazza Giovanni Battista Grassi 8, Fiumicino
Almost round in shape, these maritozzi are generously filled with fresh whipped cream, carefully smoothed with a spatula. The sweetness is beautifully restrained, while the skilful proving produces a bun that is soft yet resilient, holding its shape with every bite.
Café Merenda – Via del Gazometro 5/A, Rome
Soft and rounded, Chiara Caruso's maritozzi are generously filled with a Chantilly-style cream made with whipped cream and mascarpone. A final dusting of icing sugar completes the picture.
Chalet del Pincio – Via Buonarroti 3, Civitavecchia
Made according to a family recipe, the dough contains raisins. Alongside the traditional version, fillings include whipped ricotta or plant-based cream. Online ordering is also available.
Iginio Massari – Galleria Alberto Sordi, Piazza Colonna, Rome
Round, soft and airy, Massari's maritozzo hides a heart of pastry cream beneath its generous topping of whipped cream. The celebrated pastry chef offers the bun across his shops, along with limited-edition seasonal flavours.
Dolcemascolo – Via Madonna della Neve 77, Frosinone, and Viale Giuseppe Mazzini 84–86, Rome
Elongated and wonderfully soft, this maritozzo is finished with a delicate sugar glaze that adds sweetness without overwhelming the palate. The generous whipped-cream filling provides just the right balance.
This article was reviewed by an external translation partner