The world’s best churros are finally here. With the opening of its Asian flagship, San Ginés brings over a century of Spanish café culture into Manila’s increasingly global dining landscape.
San Ginés Manila has officially opened, introducing local diners to the brand that has become synonymous with churros in Madrid since 1894. Known internationally for its signature pairing of crisp churros and thick hot chocolate, the Asian flagship concept expands beyond dessert with a menu of tapas, paellas, and coffee served in a lively cafe setting rooted in Spanish dining traditions.
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Why San Ginés Manila Goes Beyond Churros
While the brand is best known for its Churros con Chocolate, the Manila outpost creates an experience more akin to an all-day Spanish cafe. Alongside the signature pairing are tapas, paellas, and specialty coffee. That said, the churros remain the centerpiece: fried fresh with a crisp exterior and softer center, then served with the brand’s thick signature hot chocolate based on a recipe that has been preserved for more than a century. But the broader menu gives the space a more communal rhythm, particularly through its shareable tapas and paella offerings designed for longer meals and group dining.
What To Order
The obvious starting point is the Churros con Chocolate, paired with the cafe’s signature hot chocolate that’s rich and velvety rather than overly sweet. Closer to traditional Spanish-style chocolate, it’s designed as much for dipping as it is for drinking. Besides dessert, the menu includes a selection of Spanish tapas alongside heartier paellas available in seafood and meat variations. Specialty coffee completes the offering, making the space feel suited for both afternoon merienda runs and full sit-down meals.
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San Ginés Manila Brings A Familiar Cafe Ritual To The Philippines
Legacy food institutions continue to resonate with Manila diners, particularly those tied to a strong sense of place and ritual. For many, San Ginés already carries a certain familiarity through travel, word-of-mouth, or the steady stream of social media posts documenting the original Madrid cafe.
The Manila flagship channels that same approachable energy through a polished but relaxed setting built for long stays—whether over churros and coffee, a casual tapas spread, or a heavier paella meal shared with a group. San Ginés Manila arrives with a built-in cultural history that already gives it a place within the city’s evolving dining scene.
San Ginés Manila is located at the Ground Floor of SM Podium, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. For more information, visit @sanginesph.
Photos courtesy of San Ginés
Frequently Asked Questions
San Ginés is best known for its Churros con Chocolate, a signature pairing of freshly made churros and thick Spanish-style hot chocolate. The brand originated in Madrid in 1894 and is internationally recognized for its long-standing café tradition and preserved hot chocolate recipe.
San Ginés Manila is located at the Ground Floor of SM Podium in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. It officially opened on April 30, 2026 as the brand’s Asian flagship.
Beyond its signature churros and hot chocolate, San Ginés Manila serves Spanish tapas, paellas, and specialty coffee. The menu is designed for both quick café visits and longer shared meals inspired by traditional Spanish dining culture.
