The World's Oldest Restaurant is in Madrid and Celebrates 300 Years

El madrileño Botín, the world's oldest restaurant according to the Guinness Book of Records, celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2025. Opened in 1725 by Cándido Remis, nephew of the French chef Jean Botin and his Asturian wife, its dining rooms and its 300-year-old oven have been part of Spain's history. Distinguished guests have included royalty such as King Felipe and Queen Letizia, and King Juan Carlos, as well as global political figures like Sarkozy, and illustrious personalities like Quevedo, Indalecio Prieto, Mariano de Cavia, Pérez Galdos, Alberti, Ernest Hemingway, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, and Woody Allen.

Its oak wood-fired oven, which remained lit even during the COVID pandemic, is famous for cooking some of the most iconic roasts of traditional cuisine. Suckling pig and lamb, Madrid-style tripe, and Castilian soup are some of its classic dishes, now served alongside more contemporary offerings. Historically, Botín also prided itself on being a pastry shop, as evidenced by its dessert menu featuring cheesecake, tiramisu, rice pudding, and Catalan cream.

This Tuesday morning, an event was held to present the agenda for the 300th-anniversary celebrations. The proposals aim to commemorate the milestone by inviting Casa Botín's customers to be part of the event throughout 2025. There is a '300th-anniversary menu', and all diners who sit at the table this year in the restaurant's three dining rooms will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation in the historic tricentennial. A guest book will also be available for visitors to leave their impressions. Botín will also unveil a new brand image, a new website, and other social media initiatives to connect with new generations.

Currently, the business is run by the third generation of the González family, who have owned it since the early 20th century. At that time, only the entrance and the first floor were dedicated to the restaurant, the cellar was used as storage, and the second and third floors were family residences. When Amparo Martín and her husband, Emilio González, took over, Botín was a small family business with only seven employees, including the couple and their three children. Today, it has nearly 90 employees.

At Tuesday's event, the restaurant's owning family was represented by Antonio and José González, along with other members of the management team. "This anniversary not only celebrates the restaurant's legacy but also the enthusiasm with which we wish to continue serving diners from around the world," they explained.

Located in the heart of Madrid, on the illustrious Cuchilleros Street 17, just steps from Plaza Mayor, Botín has witnessed countless historical moments. Its dining rooms have hosted writers who found the perfect setting for their characters and plots, mentioning it in their literary works. Ernest Hemingway, a regular, included it in some of his works like 'The Sun Also Rises' and 'Death in the Afternoon'. His fondness for its suckling pig is well-known. Anecdotes tell of how, in the 1960s, he entered the restaurant's kitchen to learn how to make paella, only to be told he should stick to writing. The venue has appeared in other literary works such as 'Fortunata and Jacinta' by Benito Perez Galdós and in Ramón Gómez de la Serna's 'Greguerías'. Frederick Forsyth also mentions Botín in his novel 'The Black Manifesto'.

And like any restaurant with 300 years of history, there is a legend surrounding its stoves. It is said that a young Francisco de Goya worked there as a dishwasher around 1765. "It's a legend that might be true, or not," José González once said. "I imagine that when Goya arrived in Madrid, he was short on money and had to take some job, so it makes sense, but we cannot confirm it."