The oldest restaurant in the world, you say? Goya worked here as an artist? They use the original wood fired oven and allow you to see the piglet roasting process? Oh man, we can't leave town without experiencing this restaurant. I was enchanted by the charm of this restaurant before we stepped in the door. It was the miniature home version of the restaurant in the window display that got me. All three levels filled with old wooden beams, tilework and cozy dining rooms. Note: you'll need reservations if you plan to visit on the weekend. I can't speak for weekdays. Note: they have a three hour lunch window and open again for dinner service at 8pm. Possibly a sign of the many tourists who visit this eatery---they have great customer service. The wine and water will flow. Your cup will never runneth empty. They will however play pricing games with the bread. Be warned- we were charged per person on the bread and not all of us even had any. They took the half full bread basket back to the kitchen and charged us 1,75 euro per head. The menu makes it seem as if it's one price for the bread. (This seems like a cheap move given that you're spending around 40 euro person on dinner- I'm turned off by sneaky nickel and dime-ing tactics. As for the rest of the food and experience- it was both lovely and delicious- and worth the hype, in my humble opinion. We ordered the top two recommended dishes and I would do the same on my next visit: suckling pig (house specialty- holy jamoly that crispy skin was addictive) and the egg garlic soup. The suckling pig is served with three small roasted potatoes. We consumed all of our food and left feeling full. Upon entering or leaving, do NOT miss the window where diners can see the suckling pig process firsthand. Piggies galore on the shelves! read more

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We booked the Botin Experience. Very interesting tour and plenty of food. We were reluctant to eat all the appetizers, but the meat portions were smaller than expected- so we felt everything was well proportioned. Recommend getting both pig and lamb, and house dessert ( baked Alaska)Tour was very informative. read more

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Amazing food, ambience and service. A little piece of history. Be sure to get grandmas cheese cake

Like most famous tourist attractions, Botin is super crowded, cramped, overrated. This is the tightest and most uncomfortable restaurant I've been to anywhere in the world. While charming and authentic, the food was just so-so. The harried staff did the best they could. The suckling pig specialty was ok - skin crispy in a hardish way, and the meat was almost too dry. The lamb was tender but a bit gamy and salty. Salads were good, as were the coffee and desserts. If you're looking for comfortable ambiance and exceptional food, this isn't the place. read more

The place looks nice and has a very home fell to it. Good service, and is on the pricey side but not too bad. Now the food. I had the manitas , the pig feet. They are super tender and just have a light batter. I loved them, but I will say if they had some hot sauce they would be amazing. But for Spain even a little chorizo broth drizzle would have been enough. The morcilla with eggs, very home made taste, solid. The sucking pig... Very crispy , like VERY. Great flavor , high quality meat. The broth is where it's at though. That juice is great. Had the mushrooms as a side. They were not bad but a bit too mushy in my opinion. And last but not least the cheesecake. By far the best I've had. That tarta de queso is amazing. Overall I recommend this place. Very touristic but the food does live up to the hype read more

We had a party of six and a had a reservation at 3:30 on Friday. The service was great and the ambiance was nice. We ordered, solomillo (filet mignon), croquettes, garlic soup, lamb (cordero), cochinillo (roasted pig), and scrambled egg with blood sausage (morcilla). The portions with lamb and roasted pig were very small and came with one potato the size of fifty cent piece. They tasted ok but nothing to brag about. The solomillo was fantastic and cooked to perfection. The deserts were also very good. read more

I've been here a few times from my trips to Madrid. They bill themselves of being the oldest restaurant in the world with the original coal ovens still functioning and have never been turned off, ever. The trick to getting a reservation or getting a seat in this place is not to call and be discouraged by the long wait times but to actually show up to the restaurant. You can place your name in person and take in a few of their signature cocktails and the wait usually never last longer then 30 min. I don't really have any particular fondness for their food but their signature dish is a suckling pig. You can walk towards the ovens on the first floor and see them preparing/cooking them. It brings a lot of people taking pictures. No wifi in this place, cell phone coverage sucks so if you plan to post pictures do it outside. read more

The excitement here was the fact that it was the oldest operating restaurant in the world. That made it fun. The owner or manager encourages you to walk around and take pictures of the oven and kitchen. That was cool and welcoming. The food was good. Not great. As previous posts mention it is a bit basic. I ordered the suckling pig because it was their specialty and while good it was just plain. Not overwhelmingly flavorful. The skin was delicious though. It was hard to eat and found myself pulling it with my hands as utensils proved useless on most of it. My wife got the roasted chicken and the same description applies. Good not great. Plain. I will say the Sangria was my favorite in Madrid and it came served in a very cool pitcher. It's a must go in terms of historical significance and a Madrid staple but get excited for the atmosphere over the food and you won't be disappointed. read more

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Good tourist experience. Suckling pig was very good and unique. Prices are pretty high and chairs are not comfortable (I was sitting against a literal cave wall). Probably a once a lifetime deal but no regrets. read more

The environment was unique & neat to see the chef cooking over the fire, but the service was ok- rushed when ordering, food was ok- over priced for what it is. Good to say we have been there but not a culinary place I would go back to. read more

Botín - Chef and the roast pig - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Authentic and historic place. Food is good and it is a true can't miss experience. Don't miss.

Omogosh! What can we say? Such a delight and privilege to go to. Located on the cutest street in downtown Madrid unlike any street looks in America you will find their signature dish. Along with the s suckling pig (which is their signature dish and absolutely amazing) tried the clams (Amazing! Had a French onion/gravy like sauce that made dipping the rustic bread in so extra delicious - so good that we asked to keep it throughout the entire time we were there to continue dipping our bread into it!). We also had the mixed veggies (with Iberian ham, well everything has ham and it was amazing!). We topped off our meal with the signature crème cake with a burnt meringue on top and it was fabulous. Make sure to walk all floors of the restaurant to take in the ancient charm (including the basement which is very easy to miss) and remember to make a reservation! This restaurant has the benefit of being the oldest restaurant still going in in the world according to Guinness Book, so there is a lot of pressure to the meal in having it taste good, and it exceeded our expectations on quality of food, ambience, the service, the charm, and everything else. We would highly recommend this place to anyone! Another great thing about this restaurant is that it is located so well in Madrid, on Calle San Miguel which has some terrific places to drink and listen to music afterwards along with a charming street to take in Madrid for what it is. read more

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This place is an expensive tourist trap so the three stars is for the amazing history behind the restaurant. It's the oldest recorded restaurant according to Guinness and a place Hemingway frequented. We were seated upstairs which was definitely not leveled. We felt like we had vertigo and felt so stifled. There was poor air circulation and very busy. We ordered the popular suckling pig which was truly a disappointment. It just tasted like it was soaked in a salt brine. Yes it was juicy but it lacked flavor. We also ordered the garlic prawns which were absolutely abhorrent. Seriously the grossest thing I've ever tasted. The "prawns" were like baby cocktail shrimps and were so soft, borderline soggy and like the pig, lacked flavor. Those two dishes and two glasses of wine ran us 70ish euros. Btw they charge for everything (bread, butter, water) so be weary of what they drop on your table. After the meal, we were allowed to view the "pig kitchen" which housed and gave us some insight on how the piggies were cooked ( the type of scene that would turn a weak stomach vegan), and downstairs to the old wine cellar which was pretty cool. It looked haunted AF but probably the best part of being here. I guess it's cool to say you've done at the oldest restaurant in the world but if I could go back, I definitely would've skipped it. It was our most expensive meal in Spain and the worst tasting. read more

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Love the place and make sure to make a reservation few days before coming. A popular place since it's located in the Plaza Mayor and known for its rich history. Authentic Spanish food and would recommend it to try and explore the food. I would've given it a 5 star but our server that night was not friendly and seems abrupt in serving us. But please don't let that stop you from visiting the place. You're there for the ambiance and the food and I'm sure he will be fine next time he gets to serve other people. read more

Very crowded. Food was OK. Had the Suckling Pig- speciality of the house, wasn't that great. The main draw is that is is supposed to be the oldest restaurant in continuous operation in the World (1725). The best reason to go there is to say you've been there. Ernest Hemingway's table is in the corner under a clock on the second floor. read more

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Make reservations, as this is an old and popular destination for travelers. We were either lucky or unlucky to sit in a cave under the main floor, which the kids loved. The food was great. I had the signature suckling pig which was near perfect and artichokes with ham, which should be mandatory. Avoid the garlic soup, but absolutely get the cheesecake desert. Good wine list as well. read more

The suckling pig is incredibly good! We had the "combo" that included soup, bread, wine and desert and all were absolutely outstanding! The service was top notch & the ambiance was unmatched. It's no wonder it's been in business since the 1700's! read more

Eating at the oldest restaurant​ in the world felt awesome. As you are in Spain you must order a jarra of sangria, after that anything on the menu is perfect. The best way to get a table is to make reservations​ online, make sure you get a confirmation email. End the night with any dessert, I personally tried the chocolate cake and it was beyond good! read more

Botín - Jarra de Sangría - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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When we heard the oldest restaurant in the world is located in Madrid, my husband and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to dine there. I booked a lunch reservation and we were seated upstairs upon arrival. We started with a bottle of rosé and ordered the croquettes and mushrooms and jamon dish. The croquettes were solid but the mushrooms and jamon weren't my favorite. Based on photos I had seen, I expected the mushrooms to be on the crispy side, but they were not prepared that way at all. The mushrooms were very lightly cooked and the texture didn't work for me. For the next course, my husband went with the roasted suckling pig while I opted for garlic shrimp. The shrimp arrived bubbling in a dish, but the taste was all oil and not much flavor. My husband's dish was extremely fatty and I could tell he was having a hard time finding bites that were lean enough. At the end of the day, I'm glad we can say we ate at the oldest restaurant in the world, but the experience felt more like a check off the tourist list than a meal to remember. Unless you really want to say you've been there, I'd suggest booking elsewhere and having a fantastic meal. read more

We were here in 2019, but I just wanted to let you all know what a great place this is. You should come here for the roast suckling pig. The skin on the pig is soooo good. It's a thin-layered, almost wafer-like skin, and it's crispy and crunchy. The meat itself is tender, juicy, and full of flavor. We got greedy and ordered the lamb, as well. Both were fantastic dishes washed down with some red wine. We were stuffed but not enough to refuse dessert. If you visit, bring a big appetite! read more

Botín - Roast Suckling Pig - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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Omg. This restaurant is my favorite place we tried in Madrid! While I was researching places to eat in Madrid, this place caught my eye since 1. How everyone says the food is amazing 2. It's the earliest know restaurant in the world. How fascinating! I decided to make a reservation last min and we weren't able to get on till 11:15pm (which is totally fine since we have a first/early dinner in the afternoon anyway) We arrive about 10 mins early and was greeting by the staff warmly. We are shown our table upstairs and given a menu to peruse. I was debating about the well known dishes here like suckling pig and garlic shrimp but was in a mood for some veal. I got the grilled veal which came with two potatoes + pepper. My friend got the breaded veal and potatoes. We also got a bottle of rose for the table. The decor inside had such a rustic European feel to it. I loved it! First bite of veal I was sold! Best veal I have ever had. Better than the one I had in Florence (which I thought was hard to beat at the time). It was a huge cut of meat too and the sides seemed simple but went really well with the veal. I gobbled mine up and savored every bite. We also ordered two desserts : creme brulee which was creamy and delicious and the cheesecake which my friend also liked. During out meal a group of musicians came to sing to us during our meal as well . Great dining experience + amazing food! Def. A must when you come to Madrid ! read more

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Everything was delicious. Love the food. Service was great and place was nice. You do not need a reservation.

The world's oldest restaurant is not too old! LOL! This place is very quaint and you can tell the history of this place by it's decor. White table cloth kind of place and superb table service. We ordered their famous suckling pig which was served with potatoes and their squid ink with rice. Of course, jamon and melon for starters. I've had my fair share of squid and let me tell you, Botin's squid ink with rice dish did NOT taste like squid at all. If you were blindfolded eating it, you would think you were eating beef. The sauce tasted more beefy in some sort of magical way. The suckling pig was served table side and the waiter plates it for you. The pork is so tender and moist that it didn't need anything else. If you are visiting Madrid, make this place a must-go because you will not be disappointed. Although it's white table cloth and may seem beyond casual, you can totally come in with jeans or shorts. read more

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Our first time in Madrid and we made it a "must" to eat at what is considered to be the oldest restaurant in the world. Make reservations! We had a very late reservation (11pm!) but we chanced it and showed up when they opened in hopes of getting a seat. They were able to seat us right away in a section that we think is specifically for that (we had to walk Through the kitchen). We were happy to be seated at an earlier time! Their menu is fairly simple and as everyone has mentioned, their speciality is the roast suckling pig. They offer a preset menu that is enough to feed 2 people and it includes soup, bread, wine (we got sangria), water, the pig, and ice cream. we thought it was a great deal and gave us a sample of their house specialities. The roast pig was very delicious. Very tender and not dry, packed with flavor. The garlic soup with egg was good for me, but for some, the runny egg may not work with the palette. the sangria was delicious and can be substituted instead of just wine with the preset menu (if you decide to do that). Being that we are from the Philippines, we were just missing jasmin rice to complete the meal haha! Check it out if you like pork and if it is within your budget! The people are super nice as well. read more

Botín - Half portion of roast pig - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

So comfortable. Six in our group. Spacious and very good service and food was awesome too! Grilled vegetables, ribs, shrimp and fondu great meal! read more

Ordered: 2x suckling pig, €25. 1x roasted lamb, €25. Baby squid in black ink, €20. Clams Botín, €25. Portions are small even for 1 person. Taste was ok. Just had brunch here just to be able to say, "Been there, Done that." Old, creaky stairs. Nothing special...quite of a hype. read more

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The juiciest little piggies I have ever had. We also got the solomillo de botin which comes in a fabulous mushroom sauce. Even someone who is not a fan of mushrooms were dipping their bread in the delicious sauce. read more

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We came in may of 2022 for our honeymoon. I made a reservation but they filled up so quickly they had to seat us outside. The service here was absolutely abysmal. we ordered the jamon iberico to start and it was really chewy and not good so we didn't finish it. We waited and waited for the main course, I ordered the suckling pig and my husband ordered the Steak. The waiter kept not coming to us and we kept trying to flag him down but they wouldn't even look at us. I was so hungry at this point that I got up and asked them to help us as we had been waiting like 45 mins for our main course. Finally he came and said "oh we were waiting on you to finish the jamon" and we said it's too chewy and not good. Finally they brought out our meals and the suckling pig has no taste. It honestly tasted like some chicken I could have made at home. My husbands steak was not well done like he asked. He said it was cold on the inside and they barely cooked it. Both of us didn't finish our meals and were left super disappointed. We told the waiter this was bullshit and he started arguing with us. I should have listened to the reviews because this was a tourist death trap. Never coming here again. read more

The atmosphere was good, the food was ok, the history bit was fantastic. However, the service level is going down hill, the arrogance of staff is shocking I do not recommend it read more

My uncle recommended this place to me when I mentioned to him that I would be visiting Madrid. He still remembers going there about 40 years ago. It turns out that this is the oldest operating restaurant in the world. It's been open for almost 300 years. I was seated in the cellar which was a really cool experience. While I wasn't a fan of the Spanish ham entree (though it's not their fault - I just don't care for Spanish style ham period), the seafood soup and Spanish style creme brulee were absolutely spectacular! While finishing my meal, some Spanish musicians wandered through the room serenading us with traditional folk music. I even got to visit the bodega (wine cellar) replete with very old bottles of wine. I totally recommend checking them out if you find yourself in Madrid. read more

Who all can say they have eaten at the oldest continuous ruining restaurant in the world? I CAN! Yelpies and all foodies alike do not pass up this opportunity while in Madrid. I made my reservation weeks ahead however I have heard of people just walking in as well. It never hurts to just book a reservation. You can find the history of Botín on their website. It is quite compelling. Located steps away from Plaza Mayor, not hard to find what so over. Right in the city center. Botín's speciality is Castilian cuisine, with a special emphasis on roast lamb and suckling pig. Three or four times every week, the restaurant receives suckling pigs straight from Segovia and lambs from Spain's renowned magic triangle: Sepúlveda-Aranda-Riaza. On that note head to Segovia for a half day of full day tour, suckling pig is what they are known for. Botín is 4 stories from what I read. We were located on the second. One review I read was that if you make a reservation you will be seated in the he wine cellar. Not true, I think they seat you randomly, however if you would like to make a request please feel free. The second floor was cute enough. We had a fabulous waiter. Since I already had suckling pig in Segovia I went for the garlic shrimp. My brother had the lamb. Both dishes were heavenly!!! Take side trip to the restroom just to see all the stairs. ONE THING TO BEWARE OF: we noticed every single table was delivered bread. We thought it was complimentary until we received the bill. So if you aren't a bread eater make sure you tell them to take it away. Don't go to Madrid without dining at this historic restaurant. read more

Overall this was an amazing experience. The building itself looks as if nothing has changed for the past couple of hundred of years. You get an eerie feeling when you walk inside and can feel the history and age of the decor as you're looking around. We got seated in the cellar which was an awesome experience. Food wise, I thought that it was just okay. We had ordered the roasted pork and did not know that one order is just one small plate. In order to order the full pig you need at least 6 people per party. The pork itself was really juicy and roasted to perfection. In addition the squid with ink in rice was a very good dish. The taste was rich and slightly bitter because of the ink but was tasty. In addition this spot has one of the best service in all of Madrid. Definitely would recommend this spot to go to for any folks visiting from out of town. read more

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It's an experience... it's tasty! However, the service is rapid and they clear your table even if you are not finished-

My son and I landed in Madrid in the evening, called and made an 11:15 pm reservation. We got the prime rib and it was absolutely delicious! We were thrilled to be there. I am a huge Hemingway fan and was dleighted that we had the opportunity to go. The food was outstanding, the ambiance was amazing, the service was incredible and the history just added to it all. read more

Botin is known for being The Oldest Restaurant in the World. They proudly display their Guinness Book of World Records certificate in the window. We booked this restaurant since we were in Madrid so we could have bragging rights to say we were there. Then we promptly forgot to tell anyone*. The food was slightly above average but the service was exceptional. We had croquettes, artichoke hearts with Iberian ham, baby squids in their own ink, and lots of suckling pig with roasted potatoes. Dessert: vanilla ice cream, lemon sorbet and fresh strawberries and cream. The croquettes were crispy and cheesy. The suckling pig had a crackling beautiful skin (but I've had crispier from Chinatown). The artichoke hearts were tender and I loved the salted sparingly sprinkled Iberico ham. The most exceptional dish was the shiny white baby squids cooked in black ink with black ink rice. The fresh saline garlic taste of the tender squid in the al dente rice was amazing (so much so that I remember it 2 years later). The strawberries and cream was great too. The strawberries were naturally sweet and the cream was thick. The strawberries tasted great dipped in the vanilla ice cream. My friend liked the dessert more than most of our meal. Our waiter treated us like Kings. He laughed and joked with us. He wrapped our menus in twine as a souvenirs. He tolerated my horrible Spanish. He taught our table Spanish as he served us our wine. I had a great time! Would I recommend you go? Probably if you care about famous places and if you have the fear of missing out. Just know ahead that the food is pricy for simple Madrid food such as calamari, pig and veal dishes. *Making this review 2 years overdue. read more

Absolutely a must do when visiting Madrid. Friendly, fun and delicious!!! A learning experience along with a relaxed atmosphere

I planned my Spain trip a year ago and I wanted my first meal in Madrid very special and memorable and that's exactly what I got from Botin. It's about a 5-10minute walk from Plaza Mayor on a small street called Cuchilleros - I was 5 minutes late trying to find it. I made a reservation 3 months ahead to make sure I get a table at the oldest restaurant in the world. I ordered the cochinillo (roasted suckling pig) and a pitcher of sangria all for me. I was pretty loopy from jet lag and 5 glasses of sangria. The concept of cochinillo (24,50euros) is pretty much like lechon de leche...soooo gooood! Crunchy pork skin, and flavorful, tender and juicy meat with a side of potatoes. The host and the servers were very attentive and friendly. The best service I've had in a long time. They offered to take a photo of me and my cochinillo and gave me a copy of their menu as a souvenir. The restaurant has many floors and the stairs are quite steep. The tables are very close to each other. But that's pretty much to be expected in Europe. This is one restaurant I'll never forget because of their excellent food and service! read more

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Botin is without doubt the most internationally and historically famous restaurant in Madrid and well it should be since having been founded and still cooking its famous sucking pig in the same wood fired oven since 1725. Yes, it does hold the record for being the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the world. I was last here in 1971 and surprised to see that now in 2013 things, that is with exception of the prices, are pretty much the same. I might add that they Botin did try to open a satellite restaurant in Miami a few years back which I went to on several occasions and though I found the food to be exactly the same as in Madrid, the place turned out to be a financial flop, lasting less than year. To be around as long as it has been, it certainly must have something going for it but though the food was good, I really can't say superlative though it was a pleasure to dine within such a historical atmosphere. Naturally I went for their standout classical sucking pig which, unlike my 1971 experience of having a whole suckling pig, was served cut in slices. The skin was exceedingly crispy, the meat most but not greasy, and the flavor good. The service, as one might expect, was also exceptional. However, as far as restaurants go, I really do think that Botin is somewhat, as a culinary gem, over hyped but on the other hand I would also say that it is a must go to on any tourists list of restaurants not to be missed. read more

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So of course its the oldest restaurant in the world according to the Guiness Book of World Records. This alone is enough to draw in the crowds of tourists including myself to try out and say 'been there done that!' Make reservations if you plan to visit since the place is always pretty busy! Food is nothing to brag about in my opinion and the restaurant is a little pricey since they're playing up on their ancient status. Service is speedier than usual for spain yet quite friendly. They run this restaurant pretty efficient considering the amount of tourists...they pump you in and out. Restaurant itself is...well; old. It has its story, its history...and that in itself is what they glorify and you have to appreciate. Other than knowing its 1700 status I'd have to say I wouldn't be all that impressed. We sat on the second floor where they've managed to cram in as many tables as possible and it's a little warm. We were in a little corner practically the buttcrack of the restaurant...above me on the wall was a letter typed and personally signed by Nancy Reagan who ate here in the 80's on a visit to Spain. I thought that was pretty cool and would've liked to see more identifyable momentos like that on the walls. Overall it was a non regrettable experience but that's really all it is. I'll forget the food and the restaurant by the end of this week and will only remember I ate at the oldest restaurant in the world....boom! read more

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We did the 7 course menu and it was a lovely dining experience. Good service and cozy place with a very diverse tasting in the seven courses. I must admit that the pigeon wasn't my thing (I'm a classless American) but I don't think I would have ever thought about trying it so it was an interesting experience. read more

Botín - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M