Great Madrid Traditions: Chocolate con Churros at Chocolatería San Ginés
by Julie Espinosa
Chocolate con churros is a quintessential Madrid treat, and a serving of both will usually only cost you around 3 or 4 Euros. This breakfast/late-night treat is served at cafeterías, chocolaterías and churrerías throughout the city.
Thick and pudding-like, Spain’s chocolate is best enjoyed with churro sticks, whose fried ridges are engineered for dunking. Porras are thicker than churros, but both taste best with chocolate since the dough is not very sweet. If you crave the Mexican-style sugared churros, there’s the stand outside of the Atocha train station (6 will cost you 2.50). They serve other fried sweets — like chocolate cream-filled churros — none of which I’d recommend if you’re diabetic or watching your waistline.
I like my churros warm and my chocolate on the bittersweet side. The classic Chocolatería San Ginés (which I visited twice last week) is a popular destination not only for taste but also for its ambiance, location and hours (open all night long). There’s nothing like chocolate and churros to end a night on the town.
Where do you go for this sweet treat? Which churrería, chocolatería or cafetería is your favorite destination?
Churrería Velázquez Groumet – Metro: Atocha. Outside Atocha Station, opposite Calle Alfonso XII
Chocolatería San Ginés – Metro: Sol, Opera. Pasadizo San Ginés 5. See map below:
Comments
Pingback from July, 2008. | MatNewton.com
Date: October 22, 2007, 1:19 am
[...] Courtesy of Notes From Madrid Archives [...]
Comment from Palmer
Date: October 24, 2007, 3:19 pm
I just got back from Madrid. I found San Gines on my second day there and felt as though I’d arrived at heaven’s gate! Next time I visit Madrid, I’m going to have my mail forwarded there.
Pingback from Escape the Sol: explore bars and nightlife on its side streets – Notes from Madrid
Date: March 18, 2008, 2:08 pm
[...] Round off a night well spent in the Sol/Santa Ana area by having chocolate con churros at nearby Chocolatería San Ginés (Pasadizo San Ginés, 5), open all night long. [...]
Comment from reade
Date: May 4, 2008, 6:08 pm
I discovered San Gines on my last night/morning in Madrid after spending 1.5 weeks there. Had i found this place earlier i would have had every breakfast/nightcap there.
Where can i get a recipe for that chocolate?
Comment from reade
Date: May 4, 2008, 6:14 pm
found it!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_21851,00.html
Pingback from Cactus Language Blog » Spanish Language Guide: Spanish Culture in Spain
Date: July 4, 2008, 2:51 pm
[...] No talk of food would be complete without a mention of chocolate con churros. This indulgent treat is particular to Madrid and consists of dunking doughnut-style churro sticks into thick, gloopy hot chocolate. Maybe not the best if you’re watching your weight, but boy is it good…either as a way to round off your night, in true madrileño style, or as a decadent breakfast to kick-start your day. [...]
Comment from Katie
Date: October 20, 2007, 12:27 am
I love the churros at San Ginés, and have become an addict of the porras from churrerías in my neighborhood, which deliver to some of the local bars. What a great Spanish tradition!