A bridge between the past and the present:
Route of the centenary gastronomic establishments in Madrid
Did you know that in Madrid there are more than 120 establishments that have been awarded the plaque of centenary businesses? Would you like to know which of them are taverns or restaurants and the most recognized, making a journey from its foundation until today?
Surely, you will have passed by some of them more than once, without noticing their existence, even though they have lasted more than 100 years and have made an impact on the history of Madrid.....
CASA PEDRO, THE OLD MAN.
We open the list with Casa Pedro. In 1702, Pedro Guiñales founded this house with the name of his wife “CASA DE LA PASCUALA”. The establishment was then an inn and eating house for muleteers, ranchers and all those who entered or left Madrid on the road to France (today's A-1).
Its history is strongly linked to the town of Fuencarral, land located on the outskirts of Madrid dedicated entirely to agriculture and livestock. In 1940, Pedro Guiñales López, , takes over the management of the house. It takes the current name of “CASA PEDRO” and consolidates as a restaurant specialized in Castilian cuisine.
In those years, Fuencarral was still a village located in the outskirts of Madrid and “CASA PEDRO” then became a must on the weekends for thousands of Madrilenians. Its rabbits, roast lamb and suckling pig and its suckling lamb chops delighted families, couples in love, artists and celebrities of the moment who left their signatures on the walls of the restaurant.
NEPHEW OF BOOTY, THE OLDEST IN THE WORLD.
The oldest restaurant in the world is located in the city of Madrid! It is Sobrino de Botín and opened its doors in 1725. It is located on Calle de Cuchilleros, just fifty meters from the Plaza Mayor, in the heart of Madrid de los Austrias!
However, it is not only famous for its antiquity, but also for its history. Curiosities, such as the fact that Francisco de Goya worked in its kitchens before starting to paint or that it was the focus of Miguel de Cervantes, do not go unnoticed.
Its house specialty is roast suckling pig, for which it is internationally renowned, although it also has other outstanding dishes such as Castilian soups and quarter-hour soups, made with fish.
CASA ALBERTO, PRESERVING TRADITION.
It was founded in 1827, and being the second oldest on the list, it has been open for almost 200 years. It is a centenary tasca that is part of the list of centenary restaurants in the Community of Madrid, with a plaque on the floor at the entrance that confirms it.
We found the building as it was built, almost without any remodeling, on Calle de las Huertas in Madrid, one of the liveliest areas of the capital. In the past, it was the location of the Casa de Miguel de Cervantes, in the heart of the Barrio de las Letras.
The restaurant specializes in the most traditional dishes such as cod a la madrileña, oxtail, lamb's trotters, tripe and snails, but also acts as a tavern where anyone can come in and have a beer or a glass of wine while enjoying the traditional atmosphere of Madrid.
LABRA HOUSE, THE KING OF FISH.
This restaurant-bar was born in 1860 and is located very close to the Puerta del Sol and its facade is preserved as it was originally built in art nouveau style.
It works under the slogan “vermouths and beers”, and its star product is the Soldaditos de Pavia, battered and fried cod, although its specialties are based on cod and fish itself. Specifically, the Soldaditos de Pavia are a family secret and no one else knows how to do it like them, juicy, tender and perfectly fried!
Events that took place here are that Pío Baroja wrote some of his books, or that Pablo Iglesias founded the headquarters of the PSOE in this house.
OLD MAN THE KING OF WINES, A CLASSIC.
Its origin dates back to 1909 and has the style of the classic taverns of Madrid. Inside, it stands out for its colorful tiles, mirrors and lamps. On the outside, it is dyed a deep red.
It is located in Bailén Street, in front of the Almudena Cathedral, and has succulent specialties such as the Solomillo al Vino Dulce or the Regalito de Toro, which is stuffed with oxtail meat and piquillo peppers. This establishment focuses especially on tapas.
It is linked to a story in which a knight went to satisfy his hunger at the tavern and was so amazed that he recommended it to all the places he passed by, thus becoming popular among the most distant lands.
LA BOLA, TRADITION OF THE COCIDO MADRILEÑO.
This house was founded in 1870 by an Asturian family going through four generations. It cooks all the typical dishes of the Castilian cuisine but its star dish is the cocido madrileño using its traditional technique cooking as in the old days over a slow fire and with oak charcoal, in individual clay pots. It is said that it takes up to four hours to make each one of the cocidos, a real specialty!
It is located on Calle la Bola, hence its name. Its history is linked to that of the royal family, as legend has it that the family served its traditional dishes to the Bourbon family, who only dared to eat the stew of this noble house.
As a curious fact, it is worth mentioning that in the past three types of stews were served: one for workers and employees, which was simpler and served earlier in the day. Another was that of students, at mid-morning, which included hen meat, and finally, that of the two afternoons, which was served to the wealthiest people, served in a clay pot, which is still served today.
LHARDY, ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE.
Entering its third century of existence, this tavern-restaurant was built in 1839 and was one of the meeting points for aristocrats and nobles of Madrid at the time. It is said that Alfonso XII went to the restaurant to rest from his complicated life, being for him a sigh between his chores.
Inside you can breathe a purely romantic atmosphere, which is reflected in each of its furniture and decoration. Some of its rooms are decorated in the purest oriental and Japanese style, a theme that was so popular at the time to escape from the more everyday themes.
It is the most quoted restaurant in Spanish literature, being especially famous among poets and writers. Its dishes combine Spanish tradition with a European touch, being one of its star dishes the Callos a la madrileña. It is also a bakery.
We have already taken a brief tour of some of the most important centenary gastronomic establishments in Madrid, but there are many more! Here are the ones we have not mentioned before so that you can discover them little by little:
- Antonio Sánchez Tavern.
- Viva Madrid tavern and restaurant.
- Malacatín Restaurant.
- Posada de la Villa Restaurant.
- Casa Paco tavern and restaurant.
- Oliveros Restaurant.
- Tavern Casa del Abuelo.
- Bombonería La Pajarita.
- Los Galayos Restaurant.
- Bodegas Ricla Tavern.
- El Riojano Pastry Shop.
- Pastry shop La Mallorquina.
- Casa Ciriaco Restaurant.
- Chocolatería San Ginés.
- Liquors Mariano Madrueño.
- Pastelería Antigua Pastelería del Pozo.
- La Mexicana Coffee Sales.
- La Tasca Suprema Restaurant.
- Niza Pastry Shop.
- Coffee-talk Café Gijón.
- Wine Shop Restaurant.
- Taberna Bodega de la Ardosa.
- Cafeteria and pastry shop Viena Capellanes.
- Café Tertulia Café Comercial.
- Santa Barbara Brewery.
Discovering these establishments is a fascinating journey, which we recommend that you do on your own, or if you prefer, with one of our experts who will tell you the most curious anecdotes and stories, while they tell you the history of our beloved city, and of course, they will recommend their most exquisite specialties, so that you can taste them and pair them with the most appropriate wine to make the experience even more pleasant!
The Culinary Spain team
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