Churros and hot chocolate is a treat any time of the year. Particularly in winter. With the holiday cheer just around the corner and all of Madrid dressed in its festive best, my family ventured into the heart of Madrid in search of the edible treasure famously found at Chocolateria San Gines. Known even in America as the home of Madrid’s best churros, this charming cafe tucked into a side alley promised us a dose of warmth and sweetness.
Stepping back in time at Chocolateria San Gines
Established in 1894, this cafe manages to retain its century of charm amidst the hustle and bustle of modern day Madrid. We tracked it down easily using Google Maps, and were surprised at its spread (it is much more than a little cafe). The interior had vintage flair telling its story through old photographs and old-world decor. But the place has also morphed into the present, marked by “churro” Christmas lights confirming we were in the right place.
Photo above: We took a side street down towards the San Gines complex. The churro lights hanging overhead grabbed our attention.
Photo above: In this alley, there were a number of San Gines entrances, including a to-go window down the opposite direction.
Taking in the vibe
Guests can grab chocolate con churros from a to-go window, or choose to eat on the premises, either inside or outside. We were there in winter, and the outdoor seating was kept cozy with outdoor heaters. The dining area was patrolled for paying customers only and there were signs telling guests to first order inside before getting a table. We showed our paid ticket to the waiter after we ordered, in order to be seated.
The culinary star: Chocolate con Churros!!!
This was my family’s first chocolate con churros ever. And it was a highly anticipated event on our Madrid itinerary. We ordered two chocolate con churros to share between the 6 of us and it was enough for everyone to enjoy without saturating our tastebuds. Watching my kids dip the crisp, golden churros into the thick, luscious chocolate was a sight to cherish. It had a timeless appeal; something so simple yet so fulfilling. New to us, but really an age-old treat. Experiencing this for the first time, as a family, brought many smiles and even some laughter to our table as we devoured the chocolate. Especially when my teenage son decided to drink the remaining thick chocolate at the end. I guess that is why it is served in a cup?! No one seemed to judge. The other guests were probably equally clueless tourists.
Euros for the Churros
As you can see from our receipt below, this little piece of culinary sunshine only cost us 16 EUR. And that is because we ordered two bottles of water to wash it all down with. Not a bad price for so much culinary delight.
Photo of our receipt: In December 2023, the churro combination we ordered cost just 5,90 EUR per serving.
Is it worth a visit to Chocolateria San Gines?
Of course it is! These are hot churros and chocolate, in Spain no less. How could these not be great?
Were these the best in Madrid, or in Spain? I don’t know for sure. I know we ate them so fast, it is hard to reflect on each delicate bite. What I can say is that they were so good we later bought churros con chocolate at a number of cafes across Spain. They were all good, in their own way and it was fun to sample them from various places. One place in Seville we could even watch the churros being made, which was pretty cool to see.
Lots of places offered thin or thick churros (often with a choice), and I imagine there were slight differences in the chocolate recipe too. Some churros were long; others were cut into shorter sticks. It seemed some places had runnier chocolate than others. I would say the consistency of the chocolate at Chocolateria San Gines was just right, and that a few other places could improve this by making theirs’s thicker like the one here. But then again, maybe someone else prefers a runnier or soupier chocolate than I do.
What stood out for me is that when it was cold, fresh churros and hot chocolate were the perfect treat. Everyone’s eyes lit up and the treat was quickly devoured. It was similar to hot cocoa on a snowy winter’s day. We are returning to Spain next week, but it is now summer. I hear we need to try horchata and fartons in the warmer weather, but I am sure we will still sneak in some churros and chocolate too.
Photo above: Emma, Ava, and Gary. Eating more churros elsewhere in Madrid, trying to fit in with the locals. I am not sure what Emma was thinking; probably that she didn’t want to share!
Get your own churros con chocolate!
If your own travels find you in Madrid, be sure to capture and share your own joyous moments at San Gines.
Chocolateria San Gines is generally open 8am to midnight, but open 24 hours Thursday to Sunday! So for the most part, you can literally stop by any time. Because any time is a good time, for churros and chocolate!
Check out their menu online here. Next time I return, I will pick up a San Gines souvenir mug!
Note that Chocolateria San Gines is world famous and has expanded to additional locations, including in Japan, Shanghai, Mexico, South America, and Miami. So who knows. Maybe the next time I visit, it won’t even be in Spain.
