Street churros vendors throughout Spain serve fresh fried churros. Madrid's Chocolatería San Ginés (since 1894) is most famous, open 24 hours.
Churros are one of Spain's most recognisable street foods and café staples — long, ridged sticks of fried choux-like dough served hot from the oil and accompanied by a thick, dark hot chocolate for dipping. The tradition of eating churros for breakfast or as a late-night snack after a night out is deeply embedded in Spanish culture, particularly in Madrid and the cities of Castile, Andalusia, and Aragon. While churros are available throughout Spain from dedicated churrerías, market stands, and café bars, the most famous single establishment is Chocolatería San Ginés in Madrid, located in the Pasadizo de San Ginés just off Calle Arenal near the Royal Palace and the Sol metro station. San Ginés has operated continuously since 1894 and is unique among churro establishments in being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making it the preferred destination for both early-morning breakfasts and late-night post-clubbing sessions. The porras served here — thicker, softer than standard churros — have become its signature, and the accompanying hot chocolate is made to a consistency designed for coating and dipping rather than drinking. The queue at San Ginés can be long at peak times (early weekend mornings and the 2–4 AM window after clubs close), but the turnover is fast. Beyond San Ginés, churros vendors appear throughout Spanish cities: in markets, on street corners during festivals and public events, and in many traditional cafés that bake or fry them on premises. The price for a serving of churros or porras with chocolate is typically €4–6 in most establishments.
Signature dishes
- Churros con Chocolate — $5
- Porras — $5
Good to know
- Hours
- 24 hours (Chocolatería San Ginés)
- Reservations
- Not needed
Location
Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5, 28013 Madrid
40.4175, -3.7069 View on map
Highlights
- Chocolatería San Ginés in Madrid (since 1894) is Spain's most celebrated churros establishment, open 24 hours
- Churros and porras served fresh from the oil with thick dipping chocolate — a classic Spanish breakfast
- Late-night churros culture is particularly strong in Madrid — queues at San Ginés peak at 2–4 AM on weekends
- Porras (wider, softer churros) are the San Ginés signature; thinner churros are more common elsewhere in Spain
- Churros vendors at markets and festivals throughout Spain serve the street version at €3–5 per cone
Tips for visiting
- Visit Chocolatería San Ginés at 8–9 AM on a weekday for the shortest queues and the freshest morning batch
- The 24-hour format makes San Ginés the natural post-nightclub destination in Madrid — arrive after 2 AM for maximum atmosphere
- Order porras rather than churros at San Ginés — the thicker version is the house specialty and better suited to the rich chocolate
- The hot chocolate at a traditional churrería is not for drinking — it is thick, dark, and intended purely for dipping
- Churros are also widely available at La Boqueria in Barcelona and at traditional markets throughout Spain for a quick snack
Accessibility
Chocolatería San Ginés is accessed through a covered pedestrian passageway with step-free access. The interior has tables at different levels, and some areas can be reached only via steps. The terrace section in the passageway is generally accessible. Street churros vendors are accessible by definition, being pavement-level service points.
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Frequently asked questions
What are churros made from?
Churros are made from a simple dough of flour, water, and salt, piped through a star-shaped nozzle and fried in hot oil until golden and crispy. Porras use a slightly enriched dough that produces a softer, thicker result.
Where is Chocolatería San Ginés in Madrid?
San Ginés is located in the Pasadizo de San Ginés, a small alley off Calle Arenal in central Madrid, near the Puerta del Sol. The nearest metro is Sol (Lines 1, 2, and 3).
Is Chocolatería San Ginés open on public holidays?
Yes. San Ginés operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including all public holidays. It is one of the very few establishments in central Madrid that never closes.
What is the difference between churros and porras?
Churros are thin, ridged, and crispy. Porras are wider, softer, and slightly doughier. Both are fried and served with hot chocolate, but the textures are distinct. In Madrid, porras are more common; in Barcelona and Catalonia, the thinner churro is more prevalent.
How much do churros cost?
A portion of churros or porras with hot chocolate typically costs between €4 and €6 at established churrerías. Street vendors at markets and festivals may charge €3–5 for a cone of churros without chocolate.