New Year’s Day in Madrid: Your Guide to Churros, Roscón, and Avoiding Crowds

Madrid, a city that beautifully blends festive transformation with unwavering tradition, offers a unique way to kick off the New Year. One of its most beloved customs is indulging in churros with chocolate and the iconic roscón de Reyes. On the morning of January 1st, after the New Year’s Eve celebrations, both locals and visitors flock to legendary spots to honor this gastronomic ritual. To help you experience it to the fullest, here’s a comprehensive guide to the most prominent establishments celebrating this festive tradition.

New Year’s Morning in Central Madrid: A Culinary Reward

January 1st morning in central Madrid is no ordinary morning. After the grapes, the party favors, and perhaps the accumulated fatigue from the night before, the body craves both a break and a reward. This is where the traditional Madrid breakfast comes into play with full force, experienced with such intensity that long queues form at the doors of the most famous churrerías and bakeries.

The City Center: The Classic January 1st Setting

The epicenter of this New Year’s ritual is always the city center. Areas like Puerta del Sol, Callao, Plaza Mayor, and the Ópera neighborhood are the neuralgic heart where festivity and tradition converge. Therefore, if you want your first breakfast of the year to be an authentically Madrid experience, we recommend exploring these areas. The center offers a unique and bustling, yet familiar, atmosphere that makes the New Year’s celebration feel special. You’ll find many people starting the year with hot chocolate after a long night, alongside families strolling through a city still waking up.

Churrerías in Central Madrid: Your First Stops

Churros with chocolate in Madrid are the most comforting way to start the first day of the year. This tradition dates back centuries. Here are some of Madrid’s most emblematic churrerías:

Traditional Spots Near Sol, Ópera, La Latina, etc.

Take note of these establishments:

• Chocolatería San Ginés (Pasadizo de San Ginés): The undisputed temple of churros with chocolate in Madrid, and undoubtedly the starting point for experiencing New Year’s celebrations at their best. It’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. While the queue on the morning of January 1st is part of the ritual, the wait is well worth it. Its thick chocolate and perfect, thin churros have attracted artists, politicians, and all types of citizens.
• Los Artesanos 1902 (Calle de San Martín, 2): This traditional churrería is just a few meters from Plaza de Ópera and Callao. With over a century of history (hence its name), it’s famous for its chocolate and its offering of porras (thicker churros) and chocolate.
• Churrería La Madrileña (Calle Postas, 15): Located very close to Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, this is one of those traditional chocolaterías often overlooked by tourists but highly valued by locals. It’s ideal if you’re looking for an authentic Madrid breakfast alternative with the same genuine flavor, but without the gigantic queues of its neighbor, San Ginés.

Cafeterias with Churros and Chocolate in Madrid with History

Sometimes, after a long night of Christmas parties, what you crave is a comfortable place to sit, relax, and calmly savor a quality breakfast in Madrid. Therefore, your New Year’s route should include historic cafeterias that offer excellent churros with chocolate in Madrid in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Spaces to Sit, Relax, and Discuss New Year’s Eve

If the idea of a crowded bar overwhelms you, these traditional chocolaterías offer a haven of peace in the heart of Madrid. They are perfect for a late Madrid snack or a more sophisticated first breakfast of the year.

• Churrería Madrid 1883 (Calle Santa Ana): Located in the heart of La Latina, this churrería in Madrid is less known to the general public but highly appreciated by neighborhood residents. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a more local and quiet option, without sacrificing quality.
• Café Comercial (Glorieta de Bilbao): One of Madrid’s most iconic cafes, offering an elegant and historic atmosphere. It’s an ideal place to sit, read the newspaper, and enjoy delicious churros with chocolate at your leisure.
• Manosanta (Calle Espíritu Santo): Represents the new generation of churro establishments. It features a modern design, without neglecting artisanal products, demonstrating that tradition can be reinvented. It’s a must-stop if you’re looking for the highest quality and a more millennial and trendy experience for your New Year’s celebration.

Comparison of Establishments

To help you choose the best stop on your route based on your mood, here’s a comparison based on the average experience at these historic central locations. Remember that prices are approximate for the churros with chocolate pack in Madrid. As hospitality product prices constantly change and these churrerías do not publish their full rates online (especially on January 1st, when there may be a slight increase), it is not possible to obtain the exact and official price for each establishment.

Final Step: Roscón in Classic Central Bakeries

Once you’ve completed the ritual of delicious churros with chocolate, it’s time to put the finishing touch on the route with the most anticipated sweet of the Christmas holidays: the roscón de Reyes. Did you know that many Madrid bakeries compete every New Year to win the title of the best roscón? Imagine the level of quality of this traditional sweet in Madrid!

Roscón Varieties (Classic, Filled, with Cream, Truffle, etc.)

The roscón de Reyes is a tradition as beautiful as it is delicious. While it has evolved, many still defend the classic version without filling. Today, however, we can enjoy a wide variety of roscones to satisfy all tastes for our Madrid breakfast. For example, you’ll find:

• Unfilled (the classic): This type is the ultimate test for any bakery, as the dough is the absolute star. It’s the most versatile option and the perfect companion for dipping in hot chocolate or high-quality coffee.
• Filled with cream (the star version): Undoubtedly, this is the most popular variant. When the cream is fresh and whipped daily, the flavor is spectacular. It’s the most demanded option in all churro establishments and bakeries.
• Filled with truffle (the intense alternative): This filling, based on a chocolate ganache, offers a more potent, characterful, and deep alternative for cocoa lovers.
• Filled with custard (the elegant option): Ideal for those seeking a sweetness more balanced than cream. The smooth and silky pastry cream adds delicious moisture to the roscón, making each bite light and comforting.

If you decide to try the roscón, remember to order it in advance, as demand at the beginning of the year is immense, and many bakeries have limited production.

Bakeries and Pastry Shops with Traditional New Year’s Queues

This part of the route focuses on those places that have become legends of the Christmas holidays. Their roscones are mythical, and the queues to get them, especially on the days leading up to Epiphany, are endless:

• Antigua Pastelería del Pozo (Calle del Pozo, 8): Founded in 1830, it has been famous for its unfilled roscón ever since. It’s one of Madrid’s oldest and maintains a secret recipe worth trying. Its queues are legendary, demonstrating the loyalty of its customers who know they are buying the perfect traditional sweet. Those who wait here know they are getting a classic-flavored roscón, made as it was decades ago by different generations.
• El Riojano (Calle Mayor, 10): Located near Sol, this pastry shop was a purveyor to the Royal House and still retains that air of glamour with its oak wood interior and historic display cases. Its roscones stand out for the quality of their raw materials. Be aware that long queues also form here from early morning.
• La Mallorquina (Puerta del Sol): Its location is unbeatable, and although it is better known for its napolitanas (pastries), its roscones are also a classic. Its access from Puerta del Sol itself leads to constant queues, especially towards the end of the morning. This establishment is perfect for breakfast in the area, buying a roscón, and continuing to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the center.

Tips for Enjoying the Center Without Stress on New Year’s Day

Although January 1st is quieter than other Christmas days, it’s important to keep some tips in mind to avoid crowds.

The longest queues occur right after nightclubs close (between 7:00 and 9:00 AM) and during the traditional lunch/breakfast time (between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM).

Therefore, if you like to get up early, the 6:00 to 7:00 AM slot is the quietest. If you prefer to sleep in, delay your Madrid snack until the afternoon (from 4:00 PM onwards), when many people are already heading home.

Choose Alternative Streets, Avoid Long Queues, and Mind Your Budget

The key to a stress-free New Year’s traditional route is good planning:

1. Public Transport: Central Madrid will be closed to traffic, so we advise you to use the metro or Cercanías train.
2. Reverse Route: Most people go directly to San Ginés. Why not start with the roscón bakeries further from Sol and finish with churros with chocolate in Madrid at a traditional churrería in an adjacent neighborhood?
3. Buy and Take Away: Some of the churro establishments we’ve mentioned, like San Ginés itself, offer the option to take them home. Enjoying churros with hot chocolate quietly in a nearby park can be an equally pleasant experience.
4. Alternatives: Consider churrerías in Madrid that are slightly outside the center but easily accessible, like those mentioned above. You’ll get the same quality with less hassle.

In conclusion, we’ve explored the heart of Madrid in search of the best breakfasts and snacks that mark the beginning of the New Year. We hope you consider our tips to enjoy traditional and exquisite churros and roscones. Central Madrid awaits you with open arms and hot chocolate served. Come and enjoy this traditional route and start the year with the best flavor!

Source: https://www.ifema.es/visita-madrid/gastronomia/ruta-ano-nuevo-churrerias-centro-madrid