Airon A.

San Ginés is a Spanish style cafe located on South Lamar that specializes in tapas or shared plates as well as fresh golden churros. They have indoor and outdoor patio seating options. We were seated in the outdoor patio that had fans to keep us cool and a very relaxing atmosphere. Service was very attentive and friendly throughout the meal but the dining experience was a bit laid back and slower paced like a typical Spanish meal. Started the meal off by trying the red sangria with spanish red, brandy, orange liqueur, cinnamon, apple and orange and white sangria with Spanish white, tequila, pineapple, peach and cava. The sangria could have used some fresh fruit or more fruit flavors. We shared Pinchos or bite sized toasted baguettes with your choice of three toppings. We ordered chorizo with crushed tomato and pork tenderloin with Brie cheese. These were not my favorite because the baguette overpowered the other toppings. The chorizo was a bit too spicy and the tenderloin was overcooked. I also tried the spinach empanadas that come with an order of 2 with spinach and ricotta filling. I added the cilantro sauce which was out of this world and so flavorful. I ordered the beet salad with roasted beets, arugula, goat cheese, and candied pecans. The salad was very fresh and flavorful. My friend ordered the tortilla espanola, a Spanish omelette served with garlic aioli and house salsa brava. This was more like a brunch option in my opinion but was still very tasty. For dessert, ordered the infamous filled churros where you choose from your choice of three fillings, we tried dulce de leche and Nutella. The churros were warm, crispy, and filled perfectly inside for a sweet ending to the meal. Great place to sit back, and relax for a shared dining experience.

Rosha C.

Came here for dessert. We ordered half and half (half cinnamon sugar and half sugar) ($8 for 6), they ended up coming half cinnamon sugar and plain, but nbd. We had to get the hot chocolate to dip ($5.50). These were so good, they were fresh and crispy, had a little too much cinnamon sugar but lowkey that was good because the plain ones needed some! Chocolate is SO GOOD, it's so rich and definitely a sauce texture more than an actual hot chocolate. The patio was so cute, I definitely want to come back for their happy hour!

Ria A.

Food - 3/5 Service - 5/5 Ambiance - 4.5/5 We only came for the hot chocolate with churros so take this review with a grain of salt. I would be willing to come back and try the other food in case that's any better. The churros were hot and light and crispy but the hot chocolate was not so great in my opinion. I got a very sound sense of the cornstarch or whatever was used to thicken it more so than the chocolate itself. I think higher quality chocolate would have helped - I also found it sweeter than traditional Spanish style hot chocolate. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was very cool, especially as they seemed to be hosting some sort of mingling / dance event! Only minor issue we had on the patio was bugs. Definitely would come back to check out any other events hosted in this space.

Emily W.

Got some coffee about an hour after opening. Didn't have any issues finding parking, however the lot is very small so could see this being a hassle during busy times. Service was friendly and quick, but my $9 16 oz latte was really about 12 oz. The picture I took was without taking a sip. Yes, on me for not saying something. While yummy and well balanced (not overly floral) hard to rationalize a $9 flavored latte. Inside seating was very fun and vacation-like. Didn't get to peek outside, but am curious how the food is, so will be back to try it, will skip the coffee next time.

Emily H.

I've been twice now. Once for coffee and chocolate-filled churros and once for happy hour apps. It's a very lively and lovely outdoor space. There is a very small indoor section in case it rains. Music is fun, but not crazy loud Euro disco ambiance or anything. Churros are made to order so plan to wait about 15 minutes if you order them. They are known for their chocolate that has been centuries in the making, so definitely order that with your churros or in your churros if you are up for a splurge. The beet salad and the croquettes are huge portions! And are half off for happy hour 4-7 Monday-Thursday. Bring friends. This restaurant has only a few locations across the world so I was excited to check it out without going to Madrid or Florida.

Carl C.

San Gines has been on my list since it opened but I finally visited after finishing dinner nearby for some churros and drinks. It was a bonus that there was live music. The space itself is really nice - open and airy, while capturing the Spanish feel with the textured tile and mimicking the green from its Madrid location. The interior space itself is not that big - it has a few tables and the bar and cashier but it seamlessly flows outside to the more spacious patio. After ordering up front, seating is self-serve, with food and drinks being delivered to you by the number card and stand they give you. Sitting back in the patio, you really do feel transported and you don't notice the South Lamar hustle and bustle. This on a beautiful day that isn't scorching would be an optimal place to be. I was sad they didn't have a Tinto de Verano on the menu. Maybe when it's officially summer but I know they should have the ingredients to make it regardless. I opted to try El Tinto Sour this time, which does feel like a mix of a whisky sour and tinto de verano, just poor sour than sweet. I actually thought mine was too sour so would have preferred more balance. I was originally planning on getting the regular churros with the cup of hot chocolate but the filled churros were calling to me. I tried the dulce de leche and the raspberry vanilla cream. The raspberry one was nice, tart and not too sweet but the dulce de leche churro was the clear winner - indulgent and satisfying in the best way. I noticed upon leaving that they have Happy Hour, weekdays between 3-6pm. I appreciate an early happy hour giving flexibility for a late lunch / early dinner. The menu covers a good variety of $7 bites and beverages so I am definitely looking forward to coming back for it.

Jenny F.

Second time here. Similar experience as the first. Attacked by flies as we ate -even with two fly fans on our table. Extra dirty and sticky menus should have left when I saw this again. Got the Spanish martini on an extra dirty glass. Cool looking waiter but slow service. Asked for the burger plain no toppings only cheese got it with all the toppings. All waiters seem to encamp in the bar area-food & drinks take forever. Neighbor at next table to us had to get up to ask for bill. Asked for patatas they came with no garlic aioli just plain mayo and no brava sauce. Calamares fritos are ok but not amazing. The only thing I like from this place are the churros and hot chocolate. Bathrooms are disappointing too -very dirty! And soap bottle says BRANCH VINE MAINS tropical fruit and citrus scent but has been filled with a commercial inexpensive hand soap that smells like the one they have at a taco shop. One of those places with hype but wish I could have my time, appetite and money back. Definitely not coming back. Enjoy the photos!

Anisya N.

I love the vibe of this place! It's very European and classy. We went for their happy hour and ordered two drinks with patatas bravas. The patatas came out pretty quickly within ten minutes but our drinks took......45 minutes. We went up to the bar twice asking on an update and were told twice "they were working on it" which felt a little condescending. After the 2nd time, we were brought a small bowl of mixed nuts. Ended up getting some croquettes once the drinks were finally there. They were so crisp, flavorful and paired well with some creamy sauce on top. The same goes for the patatas bravas that were golden crisp and addicting. Drinks took too long, and were honestly not strong at all- felt like I was drinking a mocktail. While this place is very cute, and a good spot to hang out, lack of service and wait makes it a no for me to return to.

Maria Gabriela M.

This place is very cozy. It has such cute European vibes since it's a Spanish tapas spot. They serve tapas and drinks, but I specifically went to try their churros with thick hot chocolate... and wow. The churros were delicious perfectly crispy on the outside and soft inside. The hot chocolate was thick, rich and perfect for dipping. So good. I also tried the tortilla española and the calamaris and they were okay The service was also 10/10. Everyone was kind and welcoming and the overall atmosphere was so nice. I would definitely come back to try more things on the menu!

Eina D.

Yikes. I really wanted to like this place, but there is a lot lacking and I did give really candid feedback to the wait staff. Starting with the good, this place is pretty. As soon as you walk in, it's open and airy. Lots of windows letting in a lot of light. It is a bit loud and echoey, so you'll have to raise your volume a bit. There is a small parking lot available. The food, on the other hand, had its ups and downs. The beef empanada was delicious and packed with flavor. For $12, it is a tiny portion though. The calamari was nothing to brag about; it's your standard fried squid with a side of aioli. The Spanish omelette was a heftier portion and I appreciated the side of toast. It was fluffy and filling. It went downhill with the baguettes. All the baguettes were too toasted, meaning they were rock hard and difficult to bite into. The salmon and cream cheese just tasted like your run-of-the-mill lox bagel. The pork tenderloin was overcooked, thick, and really tough. Not biteable at all, and no seasoning! Brie itself is very mild on flavor so the combination did nothing. The manchego with guava paste was a joke because they only gave us the manchego part and didn't bother informing us that the guava paste was all out. There was nothing special about the manchego. Overall, a so-so experience. Not sure I'd bother making the trek again for mediocre food.

Sarena T.

Loveee the vibe of this restaurant/cafe! It's perfect for grabbing a sweet treat or dessert after dinner with friends. I got the cinnamon sugar churros + chocolate to dip it in. I found it to be kinda pricey at $15 total but it probably wouldn't be bad at all if I had shared it with friends - plus it comes with 6 churro pieces. The chocolate is really yummy - it's the same as the drink. Our servers seemed to understand English but only responded back in Spanish which was interesting - good thing I can understand some Spanish! I'm wondering if it was by design because it is a Spanish restaurant. I'd love to come again during happy hour and the outdoor patio in the back looks amazing.

Chris P.

Wow!! This was easily one of my favorite places I visited in Austin during the week. I'm honestly surprised this spot has a 3.7 star rating because it's a solid 5 stars in my book. If you're looking for a chill vibe with that true Austin feel, this place is a must. The outdoor seating, cool bar, and overall atmosphere are on point. The service was great, and the churros are everything. The cinnamon sugar on top with the hot dark chocolate for dipping is a must when you come. The plain churro was my favorite, but the stuffed one was really good too. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in town.

Karla D.

We died and went to churro heaven. No joke. We had an order of two filled churros to share. They were big and filling. We had one dulce de leche and one raspberry vanilla cream. Came with a huge mug of chocolate for dipping. I should have asked for a spoon to house the leftover chocolate sauce. Everything was really good and fresh. Sitting on the patio, eating churros, transformed me back to Spain. An authentically delicious experience with superior service. A perfect way to spend a Sunday Funday.