Meet the oldest restaurant in the world

Did you know that the oldest restaurant in the world is in Madrid? Yes, join us on this historic journey and learn all about this landmark of our gastronomy.

Let’s start by finding out where we are. The oldest restaurant in the world is located in Cuchilleros Street in Madrid. Its name is Casa Botín and it was founded in 1725 by Cándido Remis.

This renowned restaurant was built over a wine cellar and during its beginnings it served as an inn for both locals and visitors.

At Casa Botín, they conquer diners with signature recipes marked by traditional wood-fired food.

If you want to know more about the history of the oldest restaurant in the world and the recognition it has earned, stay with us and don’t miss a single detail.

Casa Botín de Madrid: oldest restaurant in the world

Casa Botín is an establishment located in the centre of the city of Madrid. It has more than 200 places and has been providing its services, in the same place, for 295 years.

One of the main characteristics of Casa Botín is its wood-burning oven, which -since it opened its doors- is used to prepare the famous roast suckling pig.

In 1987, Casa Botín received the recognition of Guinness World Records as the oldest restaurant in the world , for keeping its doors open uninterruptedly since its opening.

In addition to this distinction, Casa Botín has received important recognition from different publications, organizations and institutions, such as

• Forbes.
• Repsol Guide.
• Michelin Guide.
• Metropoli Guide.
• Tourist Merit Badge.
• Trip Advisor.
• Trip Advisor Traveller Choice.

Author’s Kitchen with Spanish stamp

Maintaining the tradition of Spanish cuisine is one of the premises of Casa Botín.

In each of its recipes, the originality of the flavours is preserved. They mix white wine, lard, laurel, garlic, onion, salt and pepper in the different preparations, present in their menu since 1725.

Providing quality attention, taking care of every detail in the service and valuing history -as well as the customs of Madrid- makes Casa Botín an inspiring place for its visitors.

Look no further, you will find the best signature cuisine with a Spanish stamp in the oldest restaurant in the world, where you can enjoy a wide variety of delicious dishes with first class ingredients and unbeatable taste.

Famous menu of the oldest restaurant in the world

A famous reference of Casa Botín is its menu, this list of gastronomic options -considered by many as the best in the world- offers pieces of suckling pig and lamb cooked in wood

Apart from these classics, when you visit the oldest restaurant in the world you can also enjoy dishes like

• Hake and baked chicken.
• Madrid-style tripe.
• Black pudding.
• Ham croquettes.
• Gazpacho.

But that’s not all, at Casa Botín they have a varied menu of desserts that will delight your palate, such as tarta botín, the house speciality made with several layers of cream.

You can also try an incredible cheese and white chocolate cake, the chocolate cake, or go for the more traditional with its incomparable Catalan cream

A fame without borders

Casa Botín’s fame is one of Madrid’s most renowned attractions . It is estimated that 60% of its customers are foreign visitors.

And although many people think that they need several months in advance to make a reservation, thanks to its capacity, only two or three days are enough to be able to taste its delicacies.

During the beginning of the confinement by the Covid-19, for the first time – after 295 years of uninterrupted work – Casa Botín was forced to close its doors.

However, Casa Botín reinvented itself to offer its diners an extraordinary experience as always, complying with biosecurity regulations in the restaurant.

Who has eaten at Casa Botín?

Many have been the characters received at this establishment , who not only had the pleasure of tasting the menu at Casa Botín, but also of creating and capturing stories on paper to share with their readers.

Benito Pérez Galdós, Ernest Hemingway, María Dueñas and Graham Greene are some of the literary characters

In addition to them, Jimmy Carter, Vladimir Putin, Woody Allen, Ava Gardner, King Emeritus Charles and the current King Don Felipe, have eaten at Casa Botín.

Today, the reins of Casa Botín are held by the third generation of the family, and it is a project for the future that a descendant of the fourth generation will continue the tradition.