Want to Take a Dip? Come on in, the Chocolate’s Fine
The Entrance to Chocolateria San Ginés
If you only have one breakfast in Madrid, make it chocolate con churros at Chocolateria San Ginés. The café, which was opened in 1894, is located in a passageway near the San Ginés Church. But the café’s close proximity to eternal salvation has never prevented it from serving a confection so sinful, it will make you say, WOW!”
Decorated with mirrors and green wood paneling, green velvet seating and marble topped tables, Café San Ginés greets you with an atmosphere of classy comfort. But you’re not there for the trappings, you’re there for Madrid’s emphatic answer to café au lait and beignets at Café du Monde in New Orleans.
Coils of Churros Ready to Serve
Simon and I waited until our last day in Madrid to sample this signature delight that is enjoyed any time of day or night by locals, tourists and celebrities. This was fortunate, because we would have been tempted to sin every morning, and beg our arteries for forgiveness.
Churros are long, approximately the circumference of a typical wine cork, deep fried doughnuts that have a crisp, ridged exterior and a tender interior. By themselves, they’re rather ordinary, but when dipped in a strong, thick hot chocolate, they are transformed into something for which your taste buds will be eternally grateful.
One serving of chocolate con churros consists of six churros and a coffee cup of pure hot chocolaty goodness. Simon and I shared an order, and that was more than ample to keep us going for hours.
A Serving of Chocolate Con Churros
The ridges in the surface of the churros do a good job of holding most of the chocolate until it reaches your mouth, but available napkins are a must.
Although the combination was a beautiful blend of sweet, neutral, crisp, tender and semi-liquid, I had to try the components separately. The churros were hot and, although not mind-blowing, had a subtle note of sweetness. When our churros were gone, I, not wishing to be wasteful, took a sip of the remaining chocolate. It had a smooth, thick texture with a taste of something between semi-sweet and bitter-sweet chocolate.
Churro Dipped into Hot Creamy Chocolate
Of course this potentially deadly combo isn’t for everyone. Chocolateria San Ginés opened a café in Tokyo in 2010. It closed the following year.
Along with the satisfying sustenance, prompt and friendly service made our breakfast a tasty and pleasant experience. For those who live in Madrid, or are frequent visitors, chocolate con churros at Cafe San Ginés may be an occasional treat. For Simon and I, who sampled this decadent concoction for the first time, it was a most delicious WOW!
Chocolateria San Ginés is located in Central Madrid at Pasadizo San Ginés 5., west of Puerta del Sol. Along with its world-famous chocolate con churros, the café also serves cake and coffee for those who prefer to sip rather than dip.
