*Illustrated map by Mario Jodra with texts by Juan Manuel Bonet. Download it here.
Did you know that the oldest restaurant in the world is in Madrid? Beyond its world-class museums, theatres, iconic landmarks, rich heritage, and warm hospitality, the Spanish capital is also home to a remarkable culinary legacy.
According to the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid, there are 16 historic restaurants in the city that have been serving guests for over a hundred years. These establishments are more than dining venues — they are living witnesses to Madrid’s evolution, from the 19th century to the present day.
At Madrid Unique Destination, we invite you to discover the 16 centenary restaurants you should visit at least once in your lifetime. Dining in them means tasting not only the flavours of Madrid, but also its history.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Founded in 1892 by Rafael Fernández, originally from the wine-producing region of La Ardosa in Toledo, this network of taverns took its name from his homeland. At its peak, there were over 30 locations—today, only four remain, with the Calle Colón branch being the most iconic. Since 1979, under the management of Gregorio Monje, the business shifted its focus to beer, following legislation that banned bulk wine sales.
Step inside and you'll find a tin bar, an atmosphere frozen in time since the late 19th century, and the unmistakable sense that history lives here. This Madrid institution is famed for its Spanish omelette—considered one of the city’s best—and for its perfectly poured beers, especially a Czech Pilsner that earned it the title of Best Pilsner Bar in Spain. It also boasts the oldest Guinness tap in Madrid.
Founded in 1725 by Jean Botín and later run by his nephew Cándido Remis, this legendary establishment holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest operating restaurant in the world. Its original wood-fired oven—still in use—continues to roast suckling pigs and lambs just as it did three centuries ago.
Located next to the Arco de Cuchilleros, Botín has welcomed iconic figures such as Goya, Galdós, Hemingway, and Ramón Gómez de la Serna. Hemingway referenced it in several of his novels, while Arturo Barea immortalised it in The Forging of a Rebel. A 1956 painting of 16th-century Madrid by Pedro Schild hangs inside, adding yet another layer to its enduring charm.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
More than a café, this is a cultural landmark. Founded in 1888 by Gumersindo Gómez, a native of Gijón, it quickly became a centre for literary gatherings, political discussion, and artistic exchange. It was here that Fernando Fernán Gómez initiated the prestigious “Café Gijón” literary award.
Esteemed figures such as Cela, Umbral, Gerardo Diego, García Nieto, Cristino Mallo, and Ángel Ferrant frequented its bohemian interior, which today remains as welcoming and storied as ever. The terrace on Paseo de Recoletos is still one of the best spots to watch Madrid go by.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Located in the Literary Quarter, Casa Alberto was founded in 1827 in the same place where Cervantes lived between 1613 and 1614 and finished Journey to Parnassus. This historic restaurant is a tribute to Madrid’s literary and culinary traditions.
The interior features an onyx bar, cast iron columns, wooden panels, antique vermouth taps, and other original details. Its signature dishes include stewed oxtail, Madrid-style tripe, battered cod, veal meatballs, lamb trotters, and hearty stews—all paired with house-made artisanal vermouth and homemade desserts.
Its walls are adorned with photos of actors, athletes, and bullfighters—reflecting its location near the Spanish Theatre, the Victoria Hotel, and the old bullfighting ticket booths.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Founded in 1887 as a wine shop, Casa Ciriaco became a full-fledged restaurant in 1929. Located in the same building from which anarchist Mateo Morral threw a bomb at the royal wedding procession of Alfonso XIII in 1906, this is a place marked by history.
Notable diners include Ignacio Zuloaga, Valle-Inclán, Mingote, Camba, and bullfighters like Juan Belmonte. The cocido madrileño, hen in almond sauce (pepitoria), and Madrid-style tripe are the house specialties. A commemorative tile on the façade honours its storied past.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Founded by an Asturian in 1860, Casa Labra is famous for its fried cod, empanadillas, tripe, and oxtail stew. It was here that Pablo Iglesias clandestinely founded the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) on May 2, 1879—a bronze plaque commemorates the event.
Its fried delicacies follow the original recipes, and since 1947 it has been run by the Molina family. Its proximity to Puerta del Sol and its loyal local clientele make it one of Madrid’s most historically significant taverns.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Located in the Fuencarral district, Casa Pedro began as a coaching inn and tavern for merchants and travellers heading north from Madrid. It was founded by Pedro Guiñales and originally named “Casa de la Pascuala,” after his wife.
Famous for its garnacha and muscat wines, the restaurant is known today for its game dishes and offal, such as partridge escabeche, pig trotters, and stews. Over the years, it has hosted King Alfonso XIII, King Juan Carlos I, artists, bullfighters, and politicians. The original cellar still stands as a testament to its rustic heritage.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Located in Madrid’s vibrant Plaza de Santa Ana, this beer hall was founded in 1904 by a group of German entrepreneurs. It quickly became a popular spot for enjoying cold beer and tapas in a distinctly Central European setting. Over the years, it has preserved much of its original furniture and interior decor.
Its timeless atmosphere continues to attract locals and visitors alike who come to enjoy a classic caña and a small bite while soaking in the energy of the square.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Though the youngest on the list, this tavern—opened in 1906—has become a true symbol of traditional Madrid. Located on Calle Victoria, a street with strong bullfighting ties, it has remained in the hands of the same family for four generations.
The menu centres around one product: shrimp, served in all its forms—garlic shrimp (al ajillo), grilled, or battered. It is also famous for its sweet wine “El Abuelo,” still served as the perfect companion. The venue retains its original layout and décor, and its always-busy bar offers a taste of true Madrid tapas culture.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
La Tasca Suprema is the kind of place where generations have pulled up a chair, passed plates around and stayed longer than planned. Opened in 1890 near the Supreme Court, it became a neighbourhood institution for locals, journalists and the city’s old political guard.
Its rustic dining rooms—with stone walls, old brick and wooden tables—set the scene for traditional Madrid cooking, proudly unchanged over the years. Even the signage, inspired by the early metro, adds to the charm. It’s a place where history, flavour and conversation always go hand in hand.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Named after the legendary 19th-century bandit Luis Candelas, this restaurant is built inside the caves beneath the Arco de Cuchilleros, close to Plaza Mayor. Guests are welcomed by staff in period costumes and can dine in themed salons that evoke the atmosphere of old Madrid.
Specialties include roast suckling pig and lamb, cooked in a traditional oak wood-fired oven, along with Madrid-style tripe, puchero stew, and classic local desserts. The extensive wine list has been carefully curated to match the rich, traditional flavours.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Founded in 1839 by the French chef Émile Huguenin, Lhardy is Madrid’s most elegant and storied restaurant. It introduced haute cuisine to the city and pioneered the idea of the restaurant as a sophisticated dining destination.
Its famous consommé served in silver samovars, its oxtail stew, kidneys in sherry, and its elegant pastries have earned it a place among Spain’s culinary landmarks. Notable diners have included Galdós, Azorín, Rubén Darío, and Ramón Gómez de la Serna. The dining rooms—Isabelino, Japonés, Blanco—are as much a museum as they are a restaurant.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Opened in 1895 by a man from Cuenca, this humble tavern near El Rastro is now a shrine to Madrid’s cocido madrileño, a three-course stew with over 10 ingredients. The tavern’s name supposedly comes from a beggar’s chant: “Tin tin tin, Malacatín.”
Its interior is decorated with colourful tiles and vintage bullfighting posters, and the kitchen continues to serve other traditional dishes such as tripe, cod in tomato sauce, and bonito with pisto manchego. Now in the hands of the fourth generation, Malacatín retains the warmth and familiarity of a home kitchen.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Founded in 1642 in what was once the only flour mill within the city walls, Posada de la Villa is Madrid’s first recorded inn. It offered lodging and meals to travellers arriving from across Spain. In 1980, it was lovingly restored and transformed into a restaurant by Félix Colomo.
Its clay pots, oak-burning oven, and dishes like cocido madrileño, roast lamb, tripe, and hen in pepitoria preserve the most authentic flavours of old Madrid. The chairs are engraved with the names of notable guests from politics, the arts, and sports.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
Founded in 1787 by bullfighter Colita, this is Madrid’s oldest tavern still in its original condition. The gas lamps, bottle hoist, and murals of 19th-century matadors like Frascuelo, Lagartijo, and Cara Ancha are all still intact.
Later owned by Antonio Sánchez—also a bullfighter and amateur painter under the tutelage of Zuloaga—the tavern became a meeting place for writers like Baroja, Sorolla, and Marañón. It still serves traditional Spanish home cooking, including tripe, stews, and torrijas (sweet soaked bread), with pride.
Photograph provided by the Association of Centenary Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid.
While not technically a restaurant, this historic pastry shop—founded in 1894 by three Mallorcans—deserves honourable mention. Located in Puerta del Sol, it’s an institution in Madrid’s sweet culinary tradition.
Their napolitanas, roscones, and bartolillos are essential tasting items. For over a century, it has been a meeting point for writers, families, and sweet lovers from across Spain. Today, it remains in the hands of the third generation and continues to innovate without forgetting its roots.
