This may be one of the oldest restaurants in Madrid, but it is one of the biggest tourists trap we've encounter during our stay in Madrid. We've made reservation ahead of time (group of 8 girls) and were promptly shown to a corner table down at the cellar. While the cellar is very nice, but the air circulation is poor. We've ordered the roast suckling pig, roast baby lamb and other seafood dishes. The pig is crispy, but the taste is very bland; and the baby lamb is too salty. The worst is the service. The waiters seem to be annoyed when we try to discuss among the girls which dishes to order. When the bills come, the restaurant charged us for bread (per person) when no bread was ever delivered to the table. Also, for the wine we ordered, the price on the bills is different from the price listed on the menu. With limited Spanish we do not want to argue and make a scene. We've swallowed our pride and pay the extra cost; but there will not be a second visit to Botin! read more

I'm disappointed in myself for getting suckered into an overpriced mediocre meal. Unluckily for them, you pass by Mercado San Miguel on the way to the little street the restaurant is on, which had much more appealing offerings for half the price. We shared the just-okay roasted vegetables plate and saffron chicken with rice, a pitcher of sangria, said, "well, at least we can say we ate here?" and went over to the mercado for our real dinner. I had made reservations to be safe, but at prime time on a Monday night it looked like they had plenty of space. There's nothing extraordinary for ambiance. read more

This is the oldest restaurant as all the reviews say!! We came for dinner at 11pm-which was 5pm nyc time for me! Haha. There were guys singing around our table, which was fun. I had their filet mignon and potatoes. The steak was ok (I asked them to cook it more since it was so pink and they took it back, but it was still pink). The potatoes were really tasty, though!! This place is pretty spacious and nice lookin', and they had pretty solid food. read more

I think a four star rating is fair for El Botin, primarily for the unique atmosphere, amusing service and history. My party of three had an 8:00pm reservation in the basement, we were promptly seated and drink order taken. Now for the food and I'll start with what was good. The cheesecake was fluffy and delicious. Chocolate cake was primarily chocolate mousse cake and was rich. Strawberries and cream was served cold. So, the deserts were very good. We ordered lamb, chicken and steak with mushroom sauce. Two of us ordered garlic soup, and an order of mixed vegetables to share. One of the soups made it to our table. We believe the other order was lost in translation. However, the garlic soup that was served was delicious. The lamb was moist and very tender. The steak was cooked to order and tasty. Now for what didn't go so well was the chicken which was quite dry, primarily the breast meat. The dark meat (leg/thigh) was ok. Mixed veggies consisted of mushrooms, artichokes, green beans and carrots. Unfortunately, it was served barely warm and flavorless. One other key item was bread service. We received three small rustic loaves of bread, but no butter or olive oil. Needless to say, 1/2 of the bread went untouched, yet we were charged for all three loaves. The 300 year old restaurant was charming and fun place. Wait staff was polished and quick. Overall, this place seems to be a tourist destination and good for nothing more than a one time visit by most. read more

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An incredible restaurant for several reasons: it's historical, the food is delicious, and it's right by Plaza Mayor (ie centrally located)! Reservations are a must! I reserved a table a month in advance and was offered only two time slots to choose from - 1pm and 11:45pm! The service was prompt and waiters were attentive (as I'd imagine a busy place like this would have to be to get people in and out). I really enjoyed my grilled veal and the sangria! Yes, the place is a novelty and is packed with tourists, but reservations keep things orderly and the food is worth it! A can't miss in Madrid! read more

Botín - Grilled fillet of veal with potatoes - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

As a tourist this was a must do. I didn't come here for the food, ambiance or location but for the rich history of being the oldest restaurant in the world. As a foodie it would be a crime to come here to such a gorgeous city and not do something historic in the food department. When you come in do give yourself a good few minutes to soak in the historical physical charm of the place. The dishes are nothing to write home about and the plating is sub par, however, the meat is awesome. Coming from North America where we are all of a sudden our food has been injected or mixed with hormones and GMO's, eating real meat tasted like heaven even if the menu itself was considered basic. They do speak English, however, I felt as though being a visitor in Spain that it was important for me to speak as much Spanish as possible even if it was butchered. They appreciated the effort. The wait staff was very warm and attentive. It was cool seeing white suited waiters. The service was quick and was exactly as ordered. My best friend and I shared the steak and soup plate which was plenty. We split the mango dessert as well. Total with tip was 60 euros (with us splitting the meal). I wanted to give the restaurant 5 stars, however, I had to knock a star or two 'cause while we were dinning and sharing some best friend time together there was a documentary crew shinning their camera light to do an interview. The very bright and large invasive camera light was shining directly at our table and the camera was filming us the whole time without our permission. I found this rude and invasive that we come here for a dining experience and without permission while eating and sharing moments with loved ones we're all being filmed. I politely complained to the waiter about the lights who thankfully spoke to the film crew, however, the film crew told us that they would turn off the light but they were going to film us anyway in spite of us saying repeatedly in English and Spanish "no." I partially blame the eatery for allowing a camera crew to film while patrons are eating their meals invading our privacy. Maybe they wanted it to look "full" for their story, however, they could've asked us or staged "extras" during off hours. read more

Botín - There may be a dozen photos of meals, however, there are no photos posted of the wine glasses and a plain white napkin....you're - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Contrary to popular belief, you can just show up here and get a table. We were shown to a comfy perch for 2 next to the from door where we could observe the hoards of panting foreigners streaming in to go upstairs. We ordered the artichokes with ham and 2 portions of the suckling pig. The pig was pretty bland, nothing like the delicions dish we had in Vallidolid the night before. The artichokes were inedible - boiled instead of roasted and covered with little scraps of old grey ham. I watched the Spanish lady across from us give the waiter hell for the same dish. Sadly my Spanish wasn't up to the task. I did enjoy the half bottle of rose which was quite delicious. The line at the bottom of the menu says it all. "We have a complaint book". Perhaps they should take the time to read it. For an establishment that celeb food writers always crow about it was pretty disappointing. It's a nice restaurant and deserves to exist but the really should pay more attention to the food. read more

Touristy, but still authentic. I was worried about going to this place due to the tourist aspects of it being called oldest restaurant in the world. But putting that stuff aside, it still comes down to food, ambiance, and price. The price wasn't cheap, but not unreasonable. The food was tasty across the board. And the ambiance was worthy of this great looking and great located place. I would definitely go there again and recommend this place to travelers to Madrid. Unless you were a backpacking student on a budget. read more

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El Sobrino de Botín is a typical Madrid restaurant that holds the Guiness World Record for the oldest restaurant still standing! This place is very touristy, but still offers top quality food, best service and an ample wine selection. I personally am a great fan of Botín and I would suggest the following. Starters: -Jamón Ibérico platter -Aged cheese platter -Artichoke sautéed with Iberian ham -Morcilla from Burgos Main: -Cochinillo: signature dish, an oven-cooked suckling pig -Solomillio: steak Place is quite traditional and full of history. Visiting is both historic and delicious! Try getting a "cava" table (underground), much nicer and cooler there! A local music group plays around 22:30-23:00 daily, be sure to hear the "Tuna" play! read more

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Great atmosphere and food. Had a traditional music band play and sing. Had the lamb which was great and unique. read more

Botín - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

We were lucky to be seated without reservation. We had roasted suckling pig. The meat was very tender and moist but there are very dry part. I find it very expensive but had to give it a try, the oldest restaurant in the world. read more

Botín - Sulking pig - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

We visited Botin for my boyfriends 30th birthday. I love history and it was a nice experience to dine in the hotel, continuously running Resturant. There was live music and the food was good, although not the best food we ate in Madrid. read more

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I can here because of its title as "the world's oldest restaurant." I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't amazed either by the food. The reputation definitely helps with the popularity with this institution. I had the roast suckling pig (their signature), and would have to say I've had better roasted meat before (i.e Hoftbrauhaus in Munich), and I do not think that the food here is much better than most places in Madrid. The food was so very enjoyable though, but I wouldn't feel too bad about missing out about this place. The servers were also a little rushed with the number of customers. The music was a great touch though! read more

Botín - Roast suckling pig - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

So my husband and I have fine dined all over the world and we are so confused at how this place has 4 stars?! Worlds oldest restaurant, we were in! But, The best thing we ate here was bread and butter. Sangria was so watery, but the jug was pretty. Hubby got the famous suckling pig. It had a smell like unclean pig and tasted funky. The potatoes were good. I had the squid ink and rice. It was ok. We ate a little, paid $58euros and left Togo eat dinner at another place because this had been so disappointing. Do yourself a favor and skip the tourist trap! It was truly not good at all. read more

This is not just history behind this amazing restaurant but the menu and flavors still within theirs plates so congratulations hopefully they keep and still everything great from kitchen and not like some modern kitchen that everything is pre-cooked. Once again this restaurant should be on the list. read more

Excellent experience at Botin (visited Aug 1, 2021). The Sangria was really good and served in an elegant pitcher. We found a really nice table outdoors. It was an amazing experience at the world's oldest restaurant. Will certainly go back. read more

Botín - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Heard a lot about the restaurant and it's history. My husband and I were very disappointed. For tourist that do not know the food it will be great. For anyone else that know about The Spaniard cuisine it may be a great disappointment. Also it's is not a relaxing experience. As soon as we were seated the menus were given to us. From then on, it was rush, rush, rush. They wanted to turn the table as soon as possible. The suckling pig had no taste. Vegetables that came with my dinner looked that they were frozen vegetables. We come from a Cuban family, have roasted many pigs in which I can say they are very tasty. I can go on and on but I think that is enough information to form your own opinion. You may want to try instead a restaurant called POSADA DIAVILLA...... great tradicional Madrileño food,great wine and great service! read more

Due to its history of being the oldest restaurant in the world, it is absolutely necessary to have a meal here. The food is definitely great, but I what makes it special is it location and ambience. read more

All the food is good, solid 3.5/5. The Grandma's Recipe Cheesecake is 5/5 one of the best cheesecakes you'll eat in your life. Who's grandma is it? Adopt me read more

My family had to visit the oldest restaurant in Madrid but we were very disappointed. The suckling pig was bland, the squid was not great, steak was bland too. They charged us for dry/hard bread too which tasted old. Aside from having bland food, service was terrible. Waiters were rude. When we asked for a spoon for a toddler, waiter told us to wait (with a smirk) but never came back with the spoon. The place is too crowded. We were 9, they put us in a corner. It was so tight and uncomfortable. I highly DON'T recommend this place. read more

People might say this restaurant is overrated but seriously I LOVE THIS RESTAURANT!!! The service is good with a steady pace. We ordered the roasted suckling pig, chicken, lamb, vegetable, soup and the squid. I must say the baby squid is by far the best that i've ever had. I really enjoyed the food their. However the roasted chicken is a bit dry and the desserts are just ok. But seriously go for the baby squid!!!! After all it's the oldest restaurant of the world so just go give it a try. Reservation beforehand is recommended or else you will have to avoid the dining hours. 如果到馬德里這真的是一間可以去體驗的餐廳，我覺得不便宜但不是地雷，一起旅行的朋友都讚不絕口，半年老店真的不是瞎說。烤乳豬真的很不錯，但烤雞不推薦，如果喜歡吃海鮮，一定要點墨魚汁小墨魚，超好吃，新鮮也軟嫩，非常推薦。 read more

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World's oldest restaurant, history, but not foods!!! We reserved our table 30 days in advance and arrived at Botin early to check out the neighborhood, beautiful areas, this restaurant is very popular and attracted lot of tourists. If ones come here to view the oldest restaurant, feel how people dine hundred years ago, and this is "the place." Food was so terrible bad, they did not able to provide fresh ingredients, sucking pig was no taste & gamy, the vegetables are from cans or must be cooked few days before serving, really sad for its name, Botin. The service was awful, the server was rushing us out, so they can have the table for next parties. We came, we learned & experience, please think before you come to Botin and define your purposes, foods or history. To us, when talking about Madrid's food, we think of Botin, but after this trip, we knew it's a historical place. read more

Botín - Gamy Sucking Pig & Canned Veg - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

The food was absolutely delicious. Maybe the best steak I've ever had! The strawberries and custard was also good but the cream layer cake looked yummy! It seems like a popular spot, a lot of people were outside taking pictures with it. read more

Botín - Filet mignon - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

I was worried this was going to be a tourist trap, but wanted to visit because of its rating in the Guinness world book as being the oldest restaurant I the world. We made our reservations about a month in advance. I have to say that everything was fabulous! Portions were huge. I ordered the gazpacho (it's a large bowl as a single order) , which the waiter kindly divided into 2 with my friend. My friend ordered the ham w melon as his starter, and it was amazing. The ripe sweet melon contrasted well with the salt-cured jamon. We both had the suckling pig, which is the house specialty. We also enjoyed a pitcher and a half of their house sangria. Everything from start to finish wAs perfect. No rush. Well presented and very tasty food. No loud obnoxious tourist sitting next to us. It was a very nice evening. The next time you come to Madrid, plan in advance and make reservations here. You won't be disappointed. read more

Botín - Had Sangria in this special carafe. Very nice. - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

The Clams Botiin were amazing! Great service here. Very worth a visit. Make a reservation. read more

Botín - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Only giving it two stars for the history/ambiance. Food was horrible compared to the other options in Madrid and the service was somehow worse. We got the suckling pig which was a huge mistake. Go here for the history but definitely not the food. read more

My mother *really* wanted to go here so on one of her visits, I finally indulged her. The food is fine, but really nothing that impressive. It is good standard heavy Spanish fare. I like the partridge (perdiz) myself. I am sure you will be happy with your food here and the experience. It is so expensive though. In a city with awesome affordable food everywhere, I just don't see the point of going here. I would rather have a 10 euro three course lunch on a plaza. They charge you for every little thing. The service is really good. The place is cute. The location is central. Everyone there when we went was a tourist who just came because it is the oldest restaurant. Frankly, we never recommend this place to people other than stopping at it to look in the window. read more

Botin is notable for two things - it's claim about its age, and the suckling pig. The first is actually difficult to get excited about; most of the major European cities can claim eateries with a very long heritage, and it's not as if it's the same chef as in 1725. The suckling pig is undeniably good - it used to be a party piece there that it was so tender it could be carved with the side of a plate, not a knife. Otherwise, it's an unremarkable tourist trap, and even Spanish staples such as gazpacho are not especially worthy of note. If you're after elegant dining in Madrid, go to Restaurante Horcher ( up and running since 1904), and your idea of traditional doesn't run to "tired" and "cramped". read more

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The food was ok and I admit I felt really guilty consuming baby pig :( I hadn't realized what a suckling pig was until it was too late :( Keep low expectations for the food. Overall, it's cool that this place has been open since 1725 and it's in the Guiness World records and people serenade you while you eat. Definitely an experience for the tourist and I'm told locals like it too. read more

Poor, poor, poor. Poor service, poor meal, poor me! Vanessa Y. got it right when she said that the food is bland, dry and tasteless! It is definitely a tourist trap that you should avoid. Our group ordered the cochinillo (baby roasted suckling pig) for the table so we could all try and each person had a separate entree. I opted for a salad because I wasn't super hungry and sadly I forked over 14 Euros for iceberg lettuce, beets and a little chicken. :( The Sangria lacked the bit of sweetness that you'll find in most Sangria's and tasted just like red wine, and the bread was cold and hard. Lastly, the cochinillo, though interesting-we were given the rump so it was kinda cool to see the little tail-it lacked substance and flavor. But, the food wasn't the worst part. The waiter was rude and seemed to want to only speak to us in English, though I tried hard to communicate in Spanish given I AM IN SPAIN. Moreover, each time we asked for something, i.e. oil for the bread, dessert, etc., he looked at us as if we were annoyances and he'd rather be doing something else. For as expensive as the dinner was, I expected much better service. Plus, given it is the OLDEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD I also expected it to be more magical....no magic, sad day! The only saving grace, the dining area in the basement is like an old winery cave and we were able to view the kitchen on the first floor and see full cochinillos lying in the the pans as they removed them from the wood-burning oven. Aww, baby piglets! My advice, go to the restaurant, take pictures inside of the oven and outside so you can say you have been to "the oldest restaurant" in the world, per Guinness Book of World Records, and save that money for the many great bars in the nearby La Latina area. read more

OK there's been some debate over if this is really the World's oldest restaurant and according to Guinness, it is. So of course I had to go to there...as my doppelganger Liz Lemon is known to say! Very cool restaurant once you enter. Very tight quarters navigating your way through rock tunnels and up spiral staircases worn smooth from heels of the hungry! Once in the dining area there are a couple small candlelit rooms and we were seated in a nice private corner. We ordered their specialty, roast suckling pig along with a few side dishes. The place ain't cheap but not too expensive either. Food was decent...nothing too terribly noteworthy. read more

To experience dining in the world's oldest restaurant is an experience of a lifetime. The crispy pork was good and meat was tender. The portions are good to share for a couple, but id you asked the waiters they will say that its only good for one. We found out the hard way. Everyrhing is pricey. If you are not willing to part with your euros then I suggest you find some other place to eat. This place is very touristy. read more

Botín - Pulpo with ink and cochinillos - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Ambience is good. I came here to compare their cuchinillo with the notable place in Segovia, Spain. The skin of the cuchinillo here is blistered and tastes more like it was cooked in the oven like I would. For some reason, I was disappointed with all the hype and expectation. I think the meat at the other place was also more juicy. Saving glory was the service, ambience and location. I also ordered the variety vegetable with ham. It was too salty and over cooked. I ate it for nutrition to get my vegetable craving satisfied. The Almehas or clams was very good which was ordered by our friend. The white asparagus was ok. It tasted like it was canned but I don't think so - served with good mayonnaise. But that is nothing to be awed by. Sometimes, one just have to try hyped-up touristy places. But I found others on my own that are better. I wish I had more time to test other places for cuchinillo. But if this is the only place where you have ever had roast suckling pig, you probably will rave about it. I just have had better. read more

I never imagined the oldest restaurant in the world to still be one of the best!!! From the moment you walk into the establishment you feel like you are visiting family. They have a very nice varietal of red wines to pair with your meal. To start, you are served one of the best gazpacho's I ever had. For your second dish I would recommend the sardines on a bed of red peppers draped with olive oil...delish!!! Finally you can close with the suckling pig and potatoes. It is roasted at a perfect temperature with the skin crispy and the meat very tender (which is tricky when roasting a pig). If you still have room for dessert the crema Catalan is a must with a burnt caramel crust...I am definitely coming back here on my next visit to Madrid. Salud!!!! read more

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Oldest continual restaurant since 1725. Considered to be an institution. Got the reservation online - it was smooth and useful. The food is good. I had the salad Botin and lamb; both were tasty. Central location. Fast service. Recommended. read more

Botín - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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OLDEST RESTAURANT IN MADRID IS WORTH CHECKING OFF THE FOODIE LIST. Holy Toledo, get the pig, get the pig, get the roasted pig ! By now you have had your fill of paella and ham, right ? ORDER THE WOOD CAST IRON COOKED SUCKING PIG ! In 1935, it was only 5 cents, so get it now. ***Read below for 7 Restauraunts older than Botin*** Did you know the most powerful woman in finance is Ana Botin, Executive Chairperson of Santander Bank, has the same last name as the restaurant ? No relation, since the Gonzalez family owns the restaurant now. I think it is SEXY that she is the most powerful woman in the world outside the US. Yet I digress, back to the top oldest restaurants in the world, per Guinness. Tucked in between north of La Latina & south of Plaza Mayor, is the former inn and restaurant founded in 1725 by Frenchman Jean Botin. Inherited by the nephew (sobrino), the name changed to Sobrino de Botin, this 4 story building used to house wine cellar and first floor as the restaurant and the 3rd & 4th story was for the family dwelling. The food is rustic Castilian cuisine. The roasted sucking pig and the lamb are prepared in a 300 year old cast iron wood oven. As you enter and pass the "ham cutting dude", you can peek at the base of the stairs and stare into the room of the sucking pigs. Ya gotta get the pig, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It is served table-side, depending on where your table is. I am a sucker for any table-side prep as it adds to the experience and I loved how the hot roasted pig was plated with the au jus and whole potatoes. It is quite enough for a couple from California. I asked for a side of vegetables and received a plate of carrots, artichoke, peas, beans, tossed with crispy ham. It really is enough for two. However, I had some table envy as I saw other dishes pass by. Tips: 1. Ask for the Botin oil and vinegar to accompany your bread. They make their own Cabernet vinegar which was light and fruity. 2. Order the pig, clams, sizzling garlic shrimp, Squid with ink rice, flan. If we had more people with us. We would have hit all the best to get. However for the party of two, it was enough getting the pig and veggies. 3. Jug of Sangria is refreshing and the citrus compliments the roasted suckling pig. 4. Get your song ready to request for the guitar players to serenade you during dinner. They had me at "I'm in medical school, but I'm singing here to support my education....." 5. I think you can get jamon all over Spain, skip it here and go for the rustic roasted preparation of the dishes you can't repeat in a local tapas bar. 6. Walk here from Plaza del Sol or from the Prado. We did and enjoyed the 25 minute jaunt through the city from the Prado. It was slightly uphill, but worth walking through the La Latina area which is filled with cafes and restaurants. ***Side note: There are 7 older restaurants, Say whaaaaat, older than Botin: 1. 803 St Peter Stiftskeller - Austria 2. 1416 - Bianyifang - Beijing 3. 1421 Zum Franziskaner- Stockholm 4. 1465 Once Owariya- Japan 5. 1582 -Tour d'Argent - Paris 6. 1621 - Zur Letzten - Berlin 7. 1673 - White Horse Tavern - Rhode Island 8. 1725 - BOTIN - MADRID read more

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I am glad we went...very cool to be sitting in the oldest restaurant in the world. I didn't have the suckling pig, which I probably should have. The chicken was OK and my kids shared a steak, which they enjoyed. The server was efficient but not friendly--it was a tourist trap but I know that locals go there later and enjoy the atmosphere, suckling pig and service. PS I went for my kids to see the oldest restaurant in the world, but at the end of the day, I would have enjoyed it more with my husband and i think it was too expensive for kids... read more

Overall really enjoyed my experience at El Botin in terms of the venue, the customer service and just being at the oldest restaurant in the world according the the Guinness Book World of Records. Now in terms of the food, it was mediocre at best and literally nothing was free, not even the bread or the butter for two euros. I guess you can get away with that when you have the Guinness Book World of Records stamp of approval. My girlfriends and I arrived in Madrid today and we had made reservations for El Botin about a month ago on The Fork app :) we got to El Botin and immediately loved the history and the location. It was a ten minute walk from our hotel and we felt welcome there by the staff and hosts as soon as we walked through the door. We started off with a pitcher of sangria as well as bread, butter and manchego. I'm not a pork eater* and unfortunately all of the starters had ham, even the stuffed artichokes (sad day) so we settled for the plate of manchego. I then ordered the filet mignon Botin, which was a slab of some really rare meat (even though I ordered it medium) slathered in mushroom sauce. My two girlfriends ordered the baby lamb Botin and let me tell you they could've shared one because it was so large. We ended by sharing the chocolate torte and white chocolate cheesecake, which both had a mousse consistency. Didn't love it and I've definitely had better dessert in Europe. Overall really liked El Botin as well as the staff and service. I wouldn't trade the experience or my first night in Madrid for anything in the world...except maybe the amount of our bill at the end :) read more

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This wasn't the best experience in the world; it wasn't the worst neither. Really average, that I suppose happens when the place doesn't have a soul and just operate based on the marketing slogan as an oldest operated restaurant in the world. Mine main course wasn't seasoned well and had a lot of oil - which I really was irritated about since I expect the food in a good place would have a balance, there weren't any balance here. The bread was really good. I liked desert a lot as well: their signature lemon cake and chocolate cake with berry jam. They were just great. The worst part of the evening was service: the waiter rushed us to make a choice in the beginning giving smirks towards our questions, disappeared after the main course like he forgot about the table, and after that he spilled a bottle of water all over the table. Like blah.... read more

What a travel back in time..!! Excellent and extraordinary place, piece of history in Madrid, delicious food and great service..!!! Both Sangrias are fantastic..!!! White and Red ...!! Thank you so much for such a great pleasure and amazing time in our vacation..!!! read more

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