Chocolatería San Gines

The Chocolatería San Ginés is a charming place. Part of it is actually due to the old decoration and furniture: the counter, the wall clock, the marble tables will not go unnoticed to the lovers of antiques, but what it is really famous for is the chocolate with churros (strips of fried dough): very thick and served in traditional white cups and typical waiters. The churros and porras (variety of churros, thicker) are to die for and even during the winter they put the tables outside in the narrow street, warmed up with lamps.

The customers at San Ginés are varied. It is a shame it is almost always packed, especially during weekends, when foreigners occupy the terrace and the place.

Without a doubt one of the most legendary places in Madrid. To begin with, it is a place with history, where at the beginning of the century one could see all the intellectuals of the period like Unamuno or Valle-Inclán. The latter was precisely the one to include the place in his book "Luces de Bohemia" and thanks to which he has a plaque in that street.

However, San Ginés is where everyone ends a good party night, especially in the winter when at 7 am the best you can have is chocolate with warm churros. It is a place that moreover is always open, that is to say if you feel like chocolate at a more reasonable time it is absolutely possible. Also if the party only goes until 2 am, it is also open. The question is: when does this place close?

I love this place. I’ve ended many long nights of partying there and every time I come back to Spain I try to stop by. However, I almost always go at 10 in the morning to avoid the crowds, which can get quite big, even during the week.
The chocolate is very good and very sweet, and the porras and churros are absolute delicacies. The orange juice is fresh-squeezed and the price is similar to the other chocolaterías in the area.
As I mentioned, the place is full of history which makes it a must-see.
During its more than 100 years of existence, this chocolatería has garnered fame and renown in Madrid and its surrounding. Few places offer such castizo atmosphere and hot chocolate and churros (or porras) as good as this place.

After having seen some of the most typical and traditional places in Madrid, we went to this Pasadizo de San Ginés and we went to the chocolatería named similarly and we sat down on one of the few tables outside and in the shadow.

Only trying those thin and long churros I was tempted to keep eating despite the heat on this September afternoon. I did not order chocolate but an long coffee with them. I imagine that in the winter enjoying them must be an inevitable option.

One of the most typical things in Madrid is to have a good chocolate with porras (thick strip of fried dough). But there is a chocolatería where the chocolate as much as the porras are delicious. It is the Chocolatería San Ginés, located in the center of the capital.

You can find it easily since it is located between Plaza Mayor and Arenal street. The street is called Pasadizo de San Ginés and you will find it entering the narrow street just in between the famous Joy-Eslava club and San Ginés church.

You have to order at the cash desk at the counter and then they serve you wherever you sit down. It has a ground floor, a basement and a terrace. This chocolateria was founded in 1894 and is decorated in an elegant way.