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 will 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 churro have a nice bland sort of crunchiness and the chocolate sauce is one heck of a counterpoint. The combination is great. 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 wall. 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!

My friend and I stumbled upon this shop on a walk that we've taken a million times-- but today was…read morethe first time we saw the little chocolate shop! As I do anytime I see a window full of chocolates, I stopped to admire all the different choices, and then we were waved in by sweet, friendly Paul-Héctor! After chatting for a few minutes, he showed us the different types he had, which included some really unique choices like cava or almond and balsamic vinegar from Modena (the one I chose). He also has jars of different chocolate spreads-- I haven't tried mine yet but I'm sure it won't disappoint! Please make an effort to support this small shop, it was such a delight to find it today!

After just translating the two Spanish reviews, I believe I got lucky two weeks ago when I found…read moreChocolala Belga. My friend and I were slightly lost trying to find a Mexican restaurant. Fortunately for me, I'm attracted to bright lights, open store fronts, and men wearing funny hats. We wandered inside, noted the hot chocolate (1.50) sign, and walked away with a business card. Mental note made. I returned tonight searching for small gifts to bring to the US. I don't eat chocolate, but I appreciate craftsmanship, finely displayed chocolate, open kitchens, and high ROI (return on investment). Chocolala Belga achieves high marks across these categories. I hope my friends enjoy these delectable treats, big and small.

We stopped here as we were taking a stroll thru the Madrid streets and it reminded us of our trip…read moreto Hong Kong and stumbling upon a similar shop that offered baked cookies. We fell in love with those so we stopped by this place to check it out and brought back some goodies. The stuff we bought (seen in the picture) looked really good but but it turned out to be just too sweet for us. I wish they'd provide samples as I can't imagine spending what we spent. The only thing that my kid liked was his lollipop that we got from this place and that too was pricey. And oh we did like the bag as well, haha.

This is a great store to get your chocolates and cookies…read more So many options. Highly recommended!

Very cute modern chocolate shop with all sorts of truffles, chocolate bars, and chocolate-covered…read morenuts. However, I was disappointed that the shopkeeper had a tray of chocolate pieces that were obviously free samples, yet she failed to offer any to me.

If you love chocolate, you must visit Cacao Sampaka. We (or maybe just me) loved it so much in…read moreMadrid, that one of the first things we (okay, I) did was scout out the closest Barcelona location and make sure that we paid it a visit amongst all the Gaudi and dining we had planned. What I really liked were the "collections" of different chocolates, arranged by "theme", and with 16 pieces to a box and at least 2 of each kind, so that you can savour each mouth-watering hit of deliciousness with someone else. This in itself is a bigger deal than it may seem, as I quickly realized that it's kind of lame when you say, "OMG can you BELIEVE how much like real truffle this tastes? Oh wait, I ate the only piece..." Wah wah. There are 8 collections in all (you can by the entire collection of 64 pieces if you want!), which include single bean origins; dried fruits and nuts; spices; flowers and herbs; liquers; fruit; truffles; and innovations. I've tried the single bean origins, fruit, and innovations collections, and am waiting to dig into a box of spices which made it with us back home. The single bean origins was fantastic, allowing us to compare and contrast the subtle notes, side by side, of chocolates from places like the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Granada, or Ecuador. The fruits were far from the overly sweet and pungent cream or jelly filled renditions one might be more familiar with, but crafted delicately so that the fruit flavours were gently infused into the chocolate itself. The innovations collection was, surprisingly, more variable in deliciousness that I might have expected, but interesting to see how flavours of soya or black truffle might sit alongside chocolate, or even parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar. What Cacao Sampaka has to offer extends far beyond just these collections, as there are a huge variety of not only other chocolates, but even wines to match. It really is a chocolate wonderland, and if it were not for the fact that our vacation had to come to an end, I would most certainly have been plunged into the depths of type 2 diabetes as my visits to Cacao Sampaka would have most certainly never ended.

Delicious chocolate, chic store, great customer service. I haven't had anything from their cafe,…read morebut the chocolate is just divine. They have so many wonderful and exotic flavors! I want to try them all!! I'd definitely return!

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!

Awesome chocolate truffles. Stopped here twice. Friendly and…read morepatient service. Brightly lit as you would expect.

I couldn't believe it when I paid 16.8 euros for twelve amazing truffles--say whaaat?!read more

If you are ever craving anything chocolate- Valor is your place…read more This is the best place in Madrid for chocolate, churros, coffee, milkshakes, candy, and chocolate covered fruit. The staff is incredible- nice and accomodating. The store has a great atmopshere- cute and elegant, with many seats to read, journal, or do homework. I love this place and go there at least once a week- mostly for their milkshakes.

From the owner: Chocolatería Cafetería VALORread more

Un clásico imperdible en Madrid Visitar la Chocolatería San…read moreGinés es toda una experiencia. Los churros son crujientes por fuera, suaves por dentro y el chocolate espeso y delicioso, perfecto para mojar. El ambiente tiene ese encanto tradicional que te transporta en el tiempo, y el servicio es rápido y amable a pesar de la cantidad de gente que suele haber. Ideal para desayunar o disfrutar de una merienda auténticamente madrileña. ¡Un sitio que no puede faltar en tu visita a la ciudad!

Delicious Churros in Madrid with chocolate sauce. Order and pay in front and get a table; they'll…read morebring it to you once you've ordered. Enjoy.