If you're fighting off hunger pangs before a 10 or 11 pm dinner, it's hard to beat the Madrileños' classic combo of thick hot chocolate with churros and porros (long, light, crisp Spanish doughnuts). The Chocolatería San Ginés has been around since 1894, and it looks about the same as it must have appeared on its opening day more than a century ago. Churros (thin) and Porros (thick) arrive through a kitchen portal as long spirals of extruded and quickly-fried dough, which the waitresses cut to length with scissors before serving with hot cups of thick chocolate...or coffee. ....yum! In terms of opening hours - it's pretty much open 24 hours -so if you enjoyed your late- afternoon snack, you can return after an evening of tapas and tipples for another round of chocolate and churros, or just for a coffee. Alternatively a post-clubbing snack at 5am is just as satisfying.....Enjoy!

Chocolate con churros = AMAZING! I'd go there again and again. The service is fast and friendly. Our waiter patiently took pictures of us and the churros with our cameras. I'd recommend that if travelling with a group of people, to split cups of chocolate between people, unless you plan on eating A LOT of churros. One cup could easily work for one plate of churros between three or four people.

The best place for churros con chocolate! One serving is good for 2-3 people... depends on how much you eat!

Whenever I am in Madrid, it has been my tradition to get my churros fix in Chocolateria San Gines -- no matter how much I am pressed for time.