San Ginés Chocolateria, Madrid

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An institution in madrid for as long as I remember. I used to come here with my mother when living in the city when I was 10 yrs old, way back, and still there ,and still doing the best hot chocolate with churros in Madrid.
Its a must for any visitor, to be here is to partake in the traditions and history of the city.

it never closes, and when older was my hangover cooling spot after going to joy eslava next door, then a community dance theater, later a disco and now a nightclub of all the best in Madrid.

Translating a bit from the link in spanish here it is in English
It was founded in 1894 and it has become the most emblematic places of the city . The current building was built in 1890 what was before a hostal and bar to become in 1894 the place we know today making churros with a new technique call “a hombro” or from the shoulder (best t). It is the placing next to the theater Eslava (the one I started going lol!) more than 30 yrs ago (;;)) becoming a discotheque that allow the public from it to come over for the breakfast before getting home (sort of detoxification place lol!) It was the night owls hanging out place for sure. During the period of the previous govt, it was popularly called the “La Escondida” or the hidden one. It has been named in literary modernist arts such as “La buñolería modernista”, as well as in the book “El Capitán Alatriste” , and prize with honors in the Círculo de Lectores (reader's guild) and the city hall of Madrid as a historic tourist place. In 2010, the chocolateria San Ginés established a branch in Tokyo, Japan in the district of Shibuya adapting the menu to Japanese tastes!!!
The place resembles a bar from the end of the 19C, with two floors, and very old white marble tables and counter with decorative tiles where you can taste your chocolate con churros !!. For being close to the Puerta del Sol, its the place with patient to drink the first chocolate of the new year.

Favorite Dish: hot chocolate and churros of course. simply the best in the right place.

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We stopped at San Gines on a rainy afternoon to warm up with some hot chocolate and churros. Growing up I would drink hot chocolate on winter days, but the hot chocolate of my childhood was more milk than chocolate. Oh, the hot chocolate in Madrid is more like a melted chocolate bar – so thick and rich. And dipping warm churros (fried dough) into the warm chocolate is absolutely heaven on earth!

We came here with Santi (VTer redang) who told us that this was one of the best and most famous. Even on a rainy day, there was a line of people waiting to get inside. We opted to sit outside so we didn’t have to wait as long; even though it was raining, we were under an umbrella and the warmth of the snack kept us from getting too chilled. And Santi told us that this place is hopping most of the evening and into the early morning hours by partiers looking for a snack.

And to make things even better, while researching this tip to find the exact address of the San Gines Chocolateria, I learned that National Geographic as named this café as one of the world’s Top Ten Places for Chocolate.

A definitely must-see and must-taste while in Madrid!

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So much has been said about this place, and it well worth the trip here ..... the chocolate is out of this world good !!!! One comes in orders and pays for the chocolate and churros ... is given a receipt and you find a seat either inside or outside, motion to the waiters who take a look at your receipt and then they bring you your order. the prices are fair ... a combo of chocolate and 6 churros are 3.50 euro. They also have coffee and a couple of other delights but the star attraction is the chocolate and churros ...... a must do !!!!! and they also sell there chocolate for sale in nice container's for gift !!!!! Also seems this place never closes .... were went there at 8:00 am and it was open and also went there at 2:30 am and was still open and packed with almost no space to walk in !!!!! wow !!!!!!

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At San Gines Kim and I experienced the pleasure of Churros. VT friends Santi, Ursula and Joaquin met us downstairs in a very cosy and warm booth. Churros was immediately ordered and the fun began. These delicious long sticks of fried dough are enjoyed by dipping into mugs of warm delicious chocolate. This we found to be a very enjoyable way to chat with friends and pass time. A big thanks goes to our VT mates in Madrid for the treat. WARNING can get very messy and is highly addictive.

San Gines is a very popular hang out for all ages and favourite haunt of many Madrileños. If you loved chocolate go to there.

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Stopping by the Chocolateria San Gines is such an experience, I almost felt like putting this tip in the "Things to do" section! Without necessarily being the best place for chocolate in Madrid, it certainly is the most popular and it's worth going in just to soak up the slightly old-fashioned atmosphere of the place. It's pretty much always full of people, and the later it gets, the more crowded it becomes - it seems like going out for chocolate and churros after a night out in Madrid is the Spanish equivalent to going out for poutine at 3:00 am when you're in Quebec ;o)

So what is so special about chocolate and churros? Well, first of all, chocolate in Spain has nothing to do with the hot chocolate we get in Canada. It is so rich and thick, I guess I would describe it as a chocolate fondue poured into a cup. Churros are fried-dough pastries that you can dip in the chocolate, but I prefered my technique: eat the chocolate with a spoon (because it's so thick you can't really drink it), and then take a few bites of churros to cut the massive sugar intake. Another tradition I fell in love with!

Favorite Dish: I'll let you guess!

San Ginés Chocolateria is an institution in the Madrid's downtown. You cannot miss it because is between the Gran Via and the church of San Ginés, indeed. The ambience is very nice but NOTHING compared to its chocolate, so creamy, soft and tastly. The only disadvantage is that it is always overcrowded but don't loose your patience: the chocolate will re-pay you completely. Of course you have churros (better not to think to the cellulite a churro can increase) or other "potres". You can standing or sitting. I cannot remember exactly but I think that smoke is forbidden. Considering the high price for a cappuccino in Madrid (that in in 90% of cases is milk+coffe....non a real cappuccino) I think it's better to have, for a lower price, chocolate with churros.

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Have a good Chocolate con Churros is one of the things you must to do in your visit. I did it and it was good. I read some comments about San Gines and we decided to go, my sister got a table and i took the ticket, we wait about 2 minutes and after we were enjoying the best churros in long time. San Gines is one of the most popular place to have hot chocolate and churros.

Tomarse un buen chocolate con churros es una de las cosas que debes hacer cuando estás en Madrid. Leí varios comentarios sobre San Gines y nos decidimos a ir a merendar una tarde, mi hermana cogió mesa y yo me quedé en la barra sacando el ticket, esperamos un par de minutos y después estabamos disfrutando del mejor chocolate con churros.

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Make sure to pay/order first and then go sit...they will bring it to you. I went to Madrid thinking that chocoalte and churros was going to be the best thing ever, don't get me wrong it was good but did not live up to the hype, they have the same hot chocolate in paris and the churros are a little greasy...good though. I am sure this would of been much better if i would of just came out of a bar late at night hungry. Don't get me wrong it is good.

The restaraunt was very crowded but bright when we entered. You have to place your order at the counter and you pick a seat when you get your order. There are two floors with one downstairs. This restaraunts specialty is desserts.

Favorite Dish: The churros are freshly made and are served with a cup of melted chocolate that can be used to dunk the churro or can be a drink

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Just North of Calle Major this place is easy to miss. It makes for a fun and entertaining and tasty way to enjoy a bit of decadence. You basically order a small mug of melted chocolate and dip your churros. I prefered mine with a cafe con leche. But you can also eat them straight up.