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'Sobrino de Botin' is the oldest restaurant in the world. Located in the heart of Madrid, this restaurant is certified as the world's oldest restaurant by the Guinness Book of Records. Botin is a typical Spanish four floors (including the cellar) restaurant, with a centuries old woodfire oven, dating back to 1725. The house specialties are cochinillo asado (succulent roast suckling pig with crispy skin) and cordero asado (roast lamb), cooked following old style Castilian recipes.
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Travel
The Oldest Restaurant In The World - Sobrino de Botin, Madrid
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| Dating back to 1725, 'Sobrino de Botin' is the oldest working restaurant in the world |
'Sobrino de Botin' is the oldest restaurant in the world. Located in the heart of Madrid, this restaurant is certified as the world's oldest restaurant by the Guinness Book of Records. Botin is a typical Spanish four floors (including the cellar) restaurant, with a centuries old woodfire oven, dating back to 1725. The house specialties are cochinillo asado (succulent roast suckling pig with crispy skin) and cordero asado (roast lamb), cooked following old style Castilian recipes.
A short history of the oldest restaurant in the world
The oldest restaurant in the world was founded by a Frenchman in Calle Cuchilleros (knife makers street) and was originally called Casa Botin. Later, when the nephew inherited the place, he changed the name to 'Botin's Nephew', which is exactly what the name in Spanish means.
Rumor has it that Goya himself worked as a dishwasher here for a while, before becoming a famous painter. The restaurant is mentioned in Hemingway’s 'The Sun Also Rises', as the famous American novelist was a regular here in his days in Madrid and even declared it to be his favorite. Also a local novelist, Benito Pérez Galdós, mentioned the restaurant in his book 'Fortunata y Jacinta'.
The place is very touristy, but it's also attended by locals (including the King himself!). However, since the experience of eating in the oldest restaurant in the world is one of a kind, nobody should miss it. 'Sobrino de Botin' is a restaurant-museum and one has to taste its charms with that in mind.
Is this really the oldest restaurant in the world?
Though the Guinness Book lists 'Sobrino de Botin' as the oldest restaurant in the world that never closed nor changed location, other restaurants are claiming this title too. One of them is Stiftskeller St. Peter in Salzburg, Austria. First mentioned in a document dating back to 803, the locals claim that Mephistopheles and Faust met here. However, none of these other restaurants have the necessary papers to prove they are the oldest in the world.
You can also read about our personal experience eating in the oldest restaurant in the world.
Hotel Meninas - Great location right in the city center and elegant rooms. We personally stayed here and loved it.
Spain Select Lope de Vega - Or stay in this gorgeous apartment just minutes from El Prado Museum. Great for families and groups of friends!
You can also read about our personal experience eating in the oldest restaurant in the world.
Where to stay in Madrid:
Hotel Meninas - Great location right in the city center and elegant rooms. We personally stayed here and loved it.
Spain Select Lope de Vega - Or stay in this gorgeous apartment just minutes from El Prado Museum. Great for families and groups of friends!
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| 'Sobrino de Botin' is the oldest restaurant in the world |
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| Suckling pigs at 'Sobrino de Botin' - the oldest restaurant in the world, Madrid by .duygu |
- Interrail Itinerary: 7 Countries, 21 Cities
So many places to chose from! Europe boasts an incredible wealth of cultural riches, stunning scenery and flavors joined in marvelous combinations. Planning an Interrail trip can be at times an intimidating process. We have just returned from such a trip....
- Dining At The Oldest Restaurant In The World - Sobrino De Botin, Madrid
Having dinner in the oldest running restaurant in the world had been on our bucket list for years. And though we visited Madrid in the past, it was before knowing an ‘oldest restaurant in the world’ even existed. So when we decided to go on a culinary...
- Walking The Streets Of The Spanish Capital In Search For The Best Photos
We started the second day of our Interrail trip with a photo tour of Madrid. We met Mario and his team of professional photographers in the lobby of Hotel Meninas. They are a small team of three people, two professional photographers and one English-Spanish...
- Hotel Meninas, Madrid. Masterpiece Inspired
We arrive in Madrid on a torrid end of July day. It’s our third time visiting the Spanish capital, and though we love all the extravagant palaces, majestic plazas and stately parks the city has to offer, this time we are bound to do it justice and experience...
- Spain To Have The Largest High-speed Rail Network In The World
The new high-speed train Madrid-ValenciaVisiting Madrid? Have you considered a day trip to Valencia too? Of course not; almost four hours by train one way barely leaves any time to visit the city. But that's about to change. On the 18th of December...