A pair of classics in their respective cities (2 of 2) - - - - - I'm not surprised there are a lot of reviews. Then, I've had this bookmarked for an eternity based on the reviews of a Yelp friend (acquaintance) from the Yelp Talk chapter who did quite a bit of traveling. I had seen Chocolateria San Gines before but did not go in. I don't know why. This time, I did go in. They have two salons across the street from each other. I prefer the one on the east side of the street, which has the taller ceilings and more glass and mirrors. There may be a line around the side, but it will move quickly. I knew they had chocolate based on their name, but I didn't understand how they factored it into the equation. I sort of assumed that one could get chocolate churros. After all, there are now chocolate cannoli shells and, in some cases, cannoli can also have chocolate filling. The lady at the counter very quickly gave me an education. One gets the standard churros, but they come with a chocolate sauce that you dip them into. This all made for an interesting snack. This is not a place intended for a meal. The churros have a nice bland sort of crunchiness and the chocolate sauce is one heck of a counterpoint. The combination is tasty and unique. I also had a hot drink. Upon asking, they immediately provided me with a small glass of cold water - seen at many adjacent tables - probably to counter the effects of the richness of this snack. Be it at the counter or at the table, the staff was very well mannered and helpful, which was commendable for how busy they were. The interior is very clean and has a lot of history on its walls. The pricing was to my liking, so coming to Chocolateria San Gines is a "no brainer." Everything is there and the intersection of its history and visitors from the world over take this one to 5 stars. A friend of mine who once lived in Madrid laughed upon learning it was on my list. I mentioned I had already been to Mallorquina, which is a few blocks away on Plaza del Sol. The story was that Mallorquina is where Madrid's version of chatty magpies might go to do the dessert and coffee thing with their friends in the afternoon. It closes in the evening. Instead, Chocolateria San Gines is open all the time and might be the last stop of the evening or night before Madrilenos turn in from a night on the town. It is also very easy to reach, only a few blocks from either the Sol or Opera Metro stations, from which you can also take in fascinating nearby Plaza Mayor. read more

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An unmissable institution when travelling to Madrid. This place is open 24hrs so when u have a sweet craving you can visit this place and treat yourself to the most delicious churros and hot chocolate. Their hot chocolate is creamy rich chocolaty and decadent perfect for the savory deep fried churros. Spanish people have this for breakfast but why restrict yourself only that time so we enjoyed this as a snack anytime during the day/night. They also sell their hot chocolate in a pack and we picked up plenty to bring back home with us. There almost always is a huge line here but it moved pretty fast. Grabbing a seat inside (after placing your order) can be challenging but we happened to get lucky especially when we visited pretty late at night. Stopped by multiple times during our trip to Madrid. Highly recommend them. read more

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Whelp, the hype was real. Was started in late 1890's as a small chocolatería has now expanded to include more than 4 store fronts and even a small plaza. The churros are very fresh, crunchy in the outside, and deliciously fluffy on the inside. The melted chocolate is very delectable, and smooth without being too overpowering. They also have delicious ice cream and the perfect coffee drinks to accompany. Because of the large volume, they are very efficient too with very dedicated service. It's an absolute staple that everyone must stop by at least once in Madrid. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Churros w/choco and cappuccinos - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

Delicious, classic churros for about $7 USD! Comes with 6 skinny churros + a full cup of hot chocolate. Quick service and very old school feel in the chocolateria. I think this place has been around for 100+ years! Would recommend! read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Churros con chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

Okay the line is somewhat long but does move quickly. The only reason one star got knocked off was for the staff. I understand they are extremely busy but sometimes they can be rude. But it wasn't on every interaction. Most of the time they are professional and straight to the point. Just be ready to order quickly. I had to come back on several occasions. A must stop if in Madrid. And I recommend grabbing a capuchino with the churros and chocolate. It is great complement and you can add the left over chocolate to your capuchino. Such a cool place to visit with a long history. read more

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I was reflecting on our Spain trip over three months ago and smiled when I thought of San Ginés. If you're anywhere in this area, you need to make a pitstop here for churros and chocolate. We got there at around 10 AM on a cold fall Saturday morning. There was a line out the door, but they move quickly through it. They have a fast turnaround, but the shop is also really small - standing room only for a handful of customers. I got an order of chocolate 2 orders of 6 for my group of 6. We probably could have eaten a lot more, but we were trying to save room for other food! The chocolate is warm, rich, not too sweet. The churros are freshly fried. We were just huddled around the person holding the chocolate dipping sauce in the alleyway outside the store. Just a very fun and memorable experience. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Sorry about this photo - 2.50 euro for 6 churros, 3.70 euro for chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

Curros are good! The restaurant is so large it spans several units and goes around the corner. Most people that visit are tourists. It is clean and easy to find a spot. Prices seem reasonable. They supply a generous amount of chocolate! read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

Churro and chocolate were delicious! They gave lots of chocolate so we had a good amount left. The churro were crispy and soft at the same time. It was the perfect portion. There were many indoor and outdoor seating area spread throughout a couple of the shops in that area. There were people that brought us to the other store on the other side of the street since there were more parenting available. Very clean area. Space was big enough to have seating with a stroller. Worth the hype! read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

Overhyped and not worth it. There was a bit of a line when we came in. You can tell the staff taking orders was over this tourist spot. She ordered for me and asked to confirm and that's how you know everyone comes for the churros and chocolate. I've had way better churros at Disneyland .... By the way people talk about this place I expected some amazing churros but no .... The chocolate itself was even a big disappointment! I wouldn't be back and I wouldn't recommend it. Skip churros and chocolate here. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

Very famous chocolate shop we tried the churros con chocolate and café irlandés! So much history in this cute shop read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Café Irlandés - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

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I visited while I was vacationing with my family. It was a MUST stop. We loved the outdoor seating even though it was hot outside they had misters, which helped a lot. The guy that took our order was really friendly. We're Filipino and even knew a few a words. Since there was only 3 of us we got the 6 churros and chocolate. The waiters outside got our ticket and helped us grab a table. They were are really nice and helpful while we were there. The churros and chocolate were obviously DELICIOUS! Chocolate wasn't too sweet which was perfect. Hopefully I get to visit Madrid and come here again! read more

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This place is so popular and I was ready to stand in a long line but I am so surprised at how efficient they are! There are multiple locations around this area but they are all under Chocolateria San Gines. When we stood in line, another person took us to a location that has a shorter line and they sat us and served us very quickly. The chocolate is very thick and the churros were crunchy! It was crowded since all the tables were packed but we did not feel rushed at all. There were a lot of servers going around and they are very quick to respond but the ambiance was commercialized. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

The chocolate sauce for churro dipping is bomb.com. The chocolate is warm and not extra sweet, just right. The churros were not greasy and did not have sugar or cinnamon like we are used to in the states or Mexico. The warm chocolate dip does all the sweetening. We had a plate with six churros and two porras and that was enough for 3 of us to share. We also got coffee that was equally as good. We went on a Saturday around 2:00 and there was only one other person ahead of us in line. We found a seat outside and they brought our churros out to us in less than two minutes. Service was all-in-all quick and friendly. We chose to sit outside because despite the short line to order, it was packed inside. Outside, although the weather was extra warm, we enjoyed our churros in the shade and didn't have to talk over people. If it isn't obvious already, I highly recommend making a stop here when in Madrid! read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Warm, chocolate dip, churros and cafe con leche - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

Delicious and authentic churros that topped off my tapas tour in Madrid. Quick service, lively environment, amazing sauce, and they were allergy friendly! read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Churros and Chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

Chocolatería San Ginés is one of the first places you will see when searching for dessert in Madrid and for good reason. It is a must try spot that absolutely lives up to the hype. We lined up at the storefront marked with the number 5 and depending on your party size, a staff member will direct you to one of their nearby locations. We had a group of seven and were whisked away immediately to another spot just a few hundred feet down the street. The chocolate and churros are fresh and amazing. The churros are warm, crispy and hold their shape perfectly when dipped into the chocolate. The chocolate itself is not overly sweet and is slightly runny which makes it easy to enjoy without feeling too heavy. The interiors of all the locations are surprisingly trendy and modern despite the rustic appearance of the exterior. They also speak both English and Spanish which makes ordering very simple. The Americano we ordered used very good espresso which was a nice bonus alongside the dessert. read more

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A fun spot for churros and chocolate. They have several dining areas that are all within a few hundred feet of one another. There is one main line and the staff will direct you to the different dining areas from there. The churros are fresh and crispy and the chocolate is rich. The service is quick and it's a great place to try if you are in the area. read more

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My bestie wrote a Yelp review 13 years ago! Then when we went on a trip to Spain, he took me back with him and I got to experience all he raved about! Chocolatería San Ginés is like THE place to get churros in Madrid. My friend and I went first in the morning at 6am though I believe they are open 24 hours. Crowds can build throughout the day and even at 6am, the restaurant was full but we didn't have to wait in line. The chocolate here is richly thick and perfectly flavored. The churros are soft and tasty. They have other things, they have other flavors of dipping sauce, and they even have filled churros! But for me, it's all about the classic churros and chocolate dipping sauce. They've been open since 1894 which is just mind boggling. This may be chocolate overload but this chocoholic also found their hot chocolate delicious! Highly recommended when in Madrid! read more

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Though there's officially a Chocolatería San Ginés where I live in the States, there was no way I was having my first experience there--I had to go straight to the source: Madrid. When I arrived in the morning at San Ginés, it was chaotic. Crowds were everywhere, and it was nearly impossible to tell where the line started & ended (if there even was one). I assumed I was standing in the right spot, but the setup was pretty disorganized. There really should be someone directing--who's fluent in English & Spanish-- traffic. Eventually a staff member came over and moved me--and a few others--to a different line inside another location. Turns out, they have multiple lines in the same area to manage the flow. FOOD: Most people come for the classic 6 Churros with Hot Chocolate, but I noticed quite a few ordering the 2 Porras with Hot Chocolate as well. Even though I went with the Churros, I wish I had more time to try the Porras. The difference: Churros are thin, crispy, deep-fried pastries, while porras are larger, softer, and more doughy. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Welcome to Chocolateria San Gines - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

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These churros were hyped, but not good. They were cold and not cooked fresh, instead being under the heat lamp. Skip it..tourist trap. read more

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Recommended by a Madrideno. Did not disappoint but very busy!! Great place to sample churros and hang with locals. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Cool Vibe and yummy Porros! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

tl;dr the famous churros con chocolate are regrettably forgettable at this cornerstone Madridian cafe While churros are a commonplace dessert at county fairs and Mexican restaurants alike, these treats actually trace their origins back to Spain. Traditionally, they are paired with melty chocolate, and perhaps the most famous purveyor of churros con chocolate is Chocolateria San Gines. This cafe opened in central Madrid in 1894, named after the nearby San Gines church. Nowadays, the original shop has expanded to multiple storefronts down the block, and its late-night hours (including holidays) have made it a nightlife staple. The Circulo de Lectores (Readers' Circle) and the Madrid City Council have even designed San Gines as a Historic Tourist Center. The original shop is tucked away on an otherwise less-traveled alleyway; a vertically oriented neon sign above its entrance lights up the block. Order upstairs from a tired-appearing cashier and grab a seat downstairs in the dimly lit, tube-shaped basement. The shop maintains many 19th-century decorations, from forest green trim to marble tables. The walls are accented by black-and-white photos of celebrity patrons, including the likes of Stevie Wonder and Rafa Nadal. No background music drowns down the just the clatter of plates and the roar of multilingual chatter. My mother and I visited on a drizzly weekday, and we placed our order immediately. We opted for both churros and purros (a thicker, chewier churro-esque dessert). We grabbed a downstairs half-booth, and a server quickly dropped off our food. I didn't mind the crispy, pinky-width churro (even though I was surprised not to have any cinnamon or sugar coating), but extra-thick purros were unpalatably chewy, soggy, and oily. The thick dipping chocolate fell somewhere between a sauce and a beverage, but the flavor was one-dimensionally muted. By the time we left, a queue started to trail down the block. The service was brusque but efficient, and our bill totalled 8 euros. Although the charge didn't break the bank, the food was entirely forgettable; despite all of the acclaim that San Gines has garnered, don't expect it to be a palate-shattering treat. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Churros y Purros con Chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

They have good coffee also the most delicious thing they have is the churro that are so good they have two different types also they have churro with chocolate so delicious. read more

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Ordered coffee and churros with chocolate. The coffee with average and that's ok because I was here for the churros. ¡Hay Dios! The churros and hot chocolate were a total disappointment. The churros were cold and flavorless and the chocolate well my taste buds have had better, WAY BETTER! If you want to try this palace simply because it's the place to go to, go ahead but don't be disappointed because I've already told you not to have high expectations. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

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Was it great? Yes. Was it worth the wait? I'm not sure. Overall, the crispy churros with the dark chocolate was unbelievable; something to cross off on every bucket list when coming to Madrid. However, when I come back to Madrid, I don't think I will come back. Service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean, and even the churros and chocolate were amazing!! I just wouldn't wait another 30-45 minutes for them. Rating is closer to a 4.5/5 read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Menu - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

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Be sure to order first before waiting in line for a seat. The hot chocolate here has good flavor and consistency. The cheesecake was okay, better with a bit of hot chocolate drizzled on it. read more

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Loved that they are open 24/7! Service is quick at night and seating was available both nights we visited after dinner/drinks. The churros are not coated in cinnamon or sugar (which we are used to in the US) so they have a more subtle flavor. The chocolate is delicious and very rich. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Churros, parras, and chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

A Must while in Madrid So delicious! Staff was very nice. Chocolate was not too sweet. The Churros were crunchy. I prefer the thinner churro. read more

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After seeing so many TikTok videos of the churros & chocolate from Chocolatería San Ginés, I knew I had to make some time during my trip to try it! I actually found it unintentionally on my own after leaving El Corte Inglés and saw the bright lit sign haha. There was a queue outside & you have the option to take away or dine in. The line moved pretty fast, so we didn't have to wait as long as I thought. We did take out and got an order of 6 churros w/ chocolate. The chocolate comes piping hot! Absolutely delicious with the churros, not too sweet at all & made for the perfect treat after a long day of walking. It was around 6€ for the 6 churros w/ chocolate. The chocolate is drinkable!! Highly recommend stopping by if you end up in Madrid! read more

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Iconic Madrid Breakfast Experience We came here for breakfast, and it was the perfect start to our day in Madrid! The churros were light, crispy, and freshly made--not too sweet, which makes them ideal for dipping into their famously thick, rich hot chocolate. It's more like a warm chocolate pudding, and it coats every bite perfectly. The atmosphere is classic and charming, with marble tables and quick service. Even early in the day, the place had an energetic buzz, and we loved sitting inside soaking in the history. It's easy to see why this spot has been a favorite for over a century! If you're in Madrid, even just for one morning, don't skip this. A truly authentic and delicious way to experience Spanish culture. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

And for my 3100th review... we absolutely adored our experience at Chocolatería San Ginés! There are several locations to choose from in the area, but this one is less touristy and had a couple seats right near the open windows which could technically be termed outside seating. The honey nabbed them while I went to order our porras and chocolate and a cafe latte from the very helpful and friendly barista at the front. Porras are rather similar to Disneyland churros, except these are plain and meant to be dipped in the decadent mug of chocolate that it comes with. The chocolate is similar to a thick hot chocolate and is not to be missed if you're in the area. All in all, I can't recommend them enough as a spot to stop into if you're in Madrid! read more

Came here after hours and there was no line, no people. We had it to ourselves around midnight (they close very late). It's more hype than anything else. Fried dough and flavor is ok. The chocolate tastes good. But hard to finish it all, it's very Rich. read more

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Chocolatería San Ginés is worth a stop. The place has history, the atmosphere is good, and the interior gives you that old Madrid charm people come for. You sit down with churros, thick chocolate, and coffee, and it feels like part of the city's ritual. That alone has value. Now, did it blow me away? No. I am glad I went, and for a first visit, I would still recommend it. But this felt more classic than unforgettable. Good churros, rich chocolate, nice setting, strong sense of place. Worth doing. Worth the photo. Just not the sort of stop that leaves you stunned into silence or plotting a second round before you even leave. read more

Chocolatería San Ginés - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Madrid, M

Hands down, the best hot chocolate dipping I've ever had. Come to think of it, it's just churro and hot chocolate, righttt? I don't know how they make it but their hot chocolate by far is the best I've tried. It's right smack in the middle of semi-sweet and semi-bitter level in terms of flavor. The texture is perfectly thick and yet still drippy enough to coat every inch of a churro, almost like a melted pudding. We took all our leftovers back to our temporary home and indeed became pudding-like when it got cold. I didn't care if the churro was a regular tasting churro, it's the hot chocolate that makes this place truly special. There's nothing like it, not even comparable to all those xurreria lining up Chocolate Street in Barcelona. Can't miss when in Madrid. read more

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