Casa Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records
In the heart of Madrid, beneath the arcades of the Plaza Mayor, beats the living history of Casa Botín, declared the oldest restaurant in the world by Guinness in 1987. Since 1725, its wooden and wrought-iron doors have welcomed generations of diners to flavors forged in a wood-fired oven that has never gone cold.
History and family tradition
It all began with Jean Botín, a French cook who, with his Asturian wife, opened the Hostería Botín in the late 17th century. In 1725, a nephew took over, enclosed the arcades and founded the “Sobrino de Botín”, a name that endures today. The original dated stone and the 1725 oven still bear witness to its uninterrupted culinary vocation.
Architecture and atmosphere
Spread over four floors connected by a spiral staircase and vaulted corridors, the interior retains oak beams, murals depicting local scenes, and a cozy dining room with marble tables and bronze lamps. Every corner breathes the ambience of an 18th-century eatery, where time seems to slow to the crackle of the oven.
Specialties and cuisine
- Roast suckling pig: crispy skin, succulent meat, shredded with a single gesture.
- Castilian-style lamb: tender and fragranced with rosemary and thyme.
- Castilian soups and Madrid-style tripe: classic winter warmers.
- Traditional desserts: custards, fritters and piononos to complete the feast.
Awards and literary mentions
Forbes ranked it among the world’s top ten classic restaurants, and its tables have inspired Galdós in Fortunata y Jacinta and Gómez de la Serna in his greguerías. Under its centennial roof, art and gastronomy unite in a banquet of history.
Visiting tips
To savor every bite, book in advance—especially on key dates (San Isidro, Christmas). Choose a table near the oven to enjoy the scent of holm oak wood, and always order the dish of the day: the oven never rests, and the flavor shows it.
Reservations and practical info
Check the menu and hours on their website and secure your table with online booking. Open daily, offering tasting menus and service at lunch and dinner.
Step into Casa Botín, let the oven smoke and the crackling pig tell you centuries of stories, and let each bite be a tribute to the art of fine dining—a legacy four centuries in the making.
How to get there
Decimal: 40.414167°, -3.708056°
DMS: 40°24'51" N, 3°42'29" O
