A pair of classics in their respective cities (2 of 2)…read more - - - - - 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.

The churros here are a must try in Madrid, Spain…read more The chocolate sauce is divine and great for dipping the churros. There's a dining area to sit inside and outside. The service is relatively quick. The churros are crispy and not oily. If you're in Madrid go here!

Do yourself a favor and stop here for torrija. I would recommend taking it to go or seeing if you…read morecan snag a spot upstairs. This place gets busy and packed and was hectic when we stopped in. The torrija was one of, if not the best one we had while in Madrid. The service was quick and friendly at the to go counter for me.

La Mallorquina came as a recommendation from our hotel when I asked for a local bakery with coffee…read more I'd had a long list of places I wanted to try but always like to ask as well. We happened upon it and I was so pleasantly surprised. I think we went three times during our time in Madrid. I loved the counter experience, I'd definitely recommend that option. I wasn't looking to sit down and do all of that upstairs so my review is solely based on counters on the first floor. The locals love this spot and that is quite obvious. I was told in advance that they do and coming here was very enjoyable. The pastries and coffee are very yummy, you won't be disappointed. Makes for the perfect spot if you really want to get your day started but want to grab a quick bite before doing so.

This is such a beautiful bakery! It offers an intimate atmosphere and the stars are the desserts…read more You won't find sandwiches here but you'll have some of the best cakes and tartes in town. It is close to the Prado museum and would be a perfect stop afterwards. Service is attentive and it seems even they are bakers as well. You can watch them make cakes if you have the inclination. We hade the pecan bar which was outstanding and the alfajor which looks like a cookie sandwich- delicious

We two stopped by for coffee and cake before visiting the nearby Prado Museum. Excellent experience…read moreand great food. FOOD: 4.5 - Mango Cheesecake: 4.5. - Apple pie: 4.5 - Espresso: 4.5 (not sour) SERVICE: 5.0. Very considerate and focused on us as customers, though we spoke no Spanish. We felt appreciated. AMBIANCE: 4.0. About three tables inside and a bench on narrow street outside. We had our cake and coffee on the outside bench. Pleasant.

Our last morning in Madrid and we walked a few blocks from the hotel. The best croissants and the…read morecappuccino was actually good because I am not a coffee person! Fantastic spot. I'm sure they all are in this town.

I'm still thinking about their chocolate churros!! Best dessert of my Spain vacation. I tried a…read morethick churro version in Grenada and it wasn't nearly as good as these thin classic Madrid churros. The dipping chocolate was nice and rich and the churros have a crispy exterior and chewy interior. Nice and light and didn't tasty too greasy. Definitely recommend the chocolate churros here!

We are happy to be back in Madrid and had the chance to have chocolate again at Chocolat Madrid. It…read moreis sooo good. They have new digs now just a minute walk from the old place. The new place has a bit more room, bathroom and kitchen downstairs, fresh new decor, comfy cosy, and wifi! You can order at the table with the QR code using their wifi. Or if you didn't realize like I did, you can certainly order from the wait staff. We were there in the morning, so only noticed the breakfast side of the menu. But it seems they also serve drinks and snacks for later afternoon/evening. There is also a freezer of ice creams sold by the scoop for when it's too hot for a hot chocolate. We ordered two hot chocolates and a combo churro and porra to share. It was just the right amount of chocolate and crispy yummy vehicle. Service was excellent. English is no problem. All in all a great place, great chocolate. Love it!

I stumbled into Pastelería Mallorca with a friend while looking for something light to hold us over…read morebefore a pedicure, and this spot ended up being one of my favorite spots during my recent stay in Madrid. I grabbed a mini croissant-style puff pastry with turkey, tomato, avocado, and pesto, plus a mini brioche bun with crab, pink sauce, and lettuce. The seafood bun was solid, but that turkey pesto croissant was ... excuse my language ... the f****n' truth! No exaggeration THEE best croissant I've ever had. It was so good chile, I came back the next day and got a full-sized one for lunch and it was still just as good. The space inside is clean and room with lots of comfy furniture; in addition, they also have free WiFi and clean bathrooms which is always appreciated while out and about in the city on vacation. If you're in Madrid (or Mexico City or Japan where there other locations are) this place is a must try! PS: The have a rewards app and will give you a free plain buttery croissant for joining.

The tarta de queso fundente (melting cheesecake) is one of the best desserts I have ever tasted!…read more I actually sought out Pastelería Mallorca because I read somewhere that the Fismuler cheesecake was available there. But from what I can gather, the tarta de queso fundente is a completely different dessert. I was not disappointed! According to their website, the cheesecake has a "thin and crispy cookie layer, a creamy interior, and a flavor blend of cream cheese, fresh cheese, and premium parmesan." I admit I'm a parmesan fanatic. This cheesecake has such an interesting, intense flavor. The texture was indeed "melting" - gooey on the inside, a little bit more set toward the outside. It was rich but not overly sweet, and had a savory kick from the parmesan. I will be dreaming about this cheesecake until I hopefully make it back to Madrid again one day. I came here for dessert and coffee after lunch at the Mercado de la Paz. I also got a lovely café con leche to go with the cheesecake. They have other food and desserts as well, but this cheesecake was so delicious, I wanted to leave a review just to spotlight it.

What a lovely way to start the day! The 2 of us enjoyed a wonderful cup of coffee, a cappucino, and…read morea choco croissant - couldn't have been more pleasant. The decor is lovely with a lot of attention to detail (see photos); we were transported to France, as we savored the ambiance and were delighted with the sweet offerings. The service was pleasant and friendly - enough for these Americans who don't know much Spanish. Loved it!

While visiting Madrid I went to explore San Aton market and stumbled upon this place. I saw the…read moresweets in the display and just knew I had to have a taste. I settled on the macarons out of all the deserts they had. I have to save that they were the best macarons I've ever had! Unique flavors. The texture of the macarons was incredible (slightly flakey). They even looked beautiful. I wish I could ship some back to the states.

Sadly, Real Cake did not provide the comfortable shelter (from rain) or delicious egg tarts I went…read morethere looking for. While searching for a place to sit and kill time before dinner, we found this place on Yelp and were lured in by the egg tarts. Three seats at a counter on uncomfortable stools did not really fit the bill. I actually could not find a stable position on the wobbly stools. The shop itself is quite small, and the pastries were not super buttery. If you liken it to a Chinese egg custard tart, I would say this crust was thinner, crisper/crunchier/harder, the pastry itself was quite greasy, and the custard itself is less creamy and tastes a little too strongly of cinnamon.

Adorable place for artistic and refined desserts! His specialty is mini cakes that are colorful,…read morebeautifully sculpted, and (most importantly) delicious. The passionfruit (Van Gogh) was my favorite. They also have an affordable breakfast deal (coffee/tea, croissant, and orange juice for a few euro).

This pastry shop was one of the culinary highlights of visiting Madrid! Unassuming storefront but…read moreabsolutely amazing pastries, both in terms of visual appeal and taste/texture. Very reasonably priced too.

Review: Gioelia Cremería Madrid If you are looking for an…read moreexceptional gelato experience in Madrid, Gioelia Cremería is a must-visit. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is clean, bright, and incredibly inviting, setting the stage for a premium treat. The staff here truly understands the art of service. Their product knowledge is impressive; they don't just scoop gelato--they understand the nuances of the textures and how to serve it at the perfect temperature to preserve its integrity. It is rare to find a team that treats their craft with such professional care. The flavor profiles are where the shop really shines, blending traditional Italian roots with great innovative flavors that feel fresh and inspired. Every bite reflects a commitment to high-quality ingredients and technical precision. Whether you are a connoisseur or a casual fan, the consistency and creativity here are world-class. Highly recommended for anyone seeking top-tier quality and service.

After really enjoying eating at a Gioelia in Seville, when I saw this near my hotel I had to stop!…read more Lamentably, they didn't have the biscotti flavor that I worshipped like the other location but they did have a great chocolate and a wonderful crema Catalana. Service was fast and friendly. The place was spotless and had a good play list. Terrific product, nice service, great facility....what's not to love?