Who could not want to at least try a place that claims to be the oldest restaurant in the world? And it actually turns out to be a good restaurant which is a bonus as far as I'm concerned. My wife and I have the cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) and cordero asado (roast lamb), which are the house specialties. We also tried the Quarter of an Hour soup, which is a seafood soup (see photographs) that is very good and a meal onto itself! Think American steakhouse prices to prepare yourself for the costs. The menu is a la carte so you are even charged for bread. We had the white asparagus, which was well cooked and very tasty but cold which surprised us. It came with a side of mayonnaise which didn't appeal to us at first, but actually wasn't bad as a condiment for the asparagus. The restaurant gets very busy. We had good service. To those who complained about the service I suggest going during the traditional dining hours of 10 PM to 11:30 PM. The staff will not be as overwhelmed and you won't feel rushed to make way for the next wave of diners. 8 PM is when the tourists come in to eat in droves. If you are visiting go at least once just to say you've been and to take in the ambiance. If you keep in mind that service is not like in the US, make an effort to speak Spanish, and come late at night when they are less busy, you're experience will be fine. read more

For Asian, I believe one meal of roasted pig is a bit too much. We are a group of 3 (one man and two women) and we ordered 2 sets along with ham/melon plus soup. 3 of us visited Botin twice in 3 days since it is that good!! read more

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

As a tourist destination, my expectations weren't very high. I was surprised by both the service,the quality of the food and even more surprised by the cost. The waiters were polite, pleasant, and very helpful. They tool the time to ask about where we we're from and share a story about their experience in our country. They asked about our time in Spain and suggested some places to see in Madrid. The menu selections were varied, from poultry to seafood to selections of beef, pork and lamb. There was nothing too exotic but every dish was distinctively Spanish. The food was excellently prepared and beautifully presented. We were encouraged to take our time and enjoy the evening, never being pestered by the wait staff, all the while being attentive. Botin is a must visit for anyone seeking an excellent meal in a historical site! read more

Such a historic and beautiful restaurant. Excellent paella. Service was top notch! Highly recommend

Another place in Madrid that I can't rave enough about! Major food critics have analyzed it's quality, but very few highlight how kind this place is. They really treat you with white glove service and try to make your experience as special as possible even if that's changing their tried and true recipes and dishes. Definitely lives up to the hype! read more

The place is shit. Gazpacho is nice though. But the salad is nothing close to good and the chicken is like a shoe. I liked the sangria but it was expensive and there was also a dead bug. Fly I think. In conclusion I recommend the place but I won't go back in my life. read more

Had suckling pig, callos (tripe stew), roasted vegetables all are pretty solid! Callos was my favorite. Cool spot! Definitely should go if in Madrid read more

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What trip to Madrid is complete without stopping by the oldest restaurant in the world. Of course, this place is a tourist trap...but how could it not after being open for more than 200 years. But on the other hand, a restaurant wouldn't be open for more than 200 years if it wasn't any good. I did what you are supposed to do here and ordered the Suckling pig. When this dish shows up on your plate, it is somehow exactly what you expect it to be but (at least if you like most Americans) at the same time like nothing else you've ever had. The flavors present in this pig are pretty straight forward and simple. It's probably been prepared with the same recipe all this time. Add a little salt, and you are all set. Toss some bread on the side and order a sangria and you've got a great meal in front of you. Before leaving the restaurant, be sure to check out the multiple floors. We ate downstairs near the wine cellar (which is definitely worth a peek) and I also took a peak upstairs on the way to the bathroom. It was 11PM when we ate dinner, so the place was a little less crowded and made navigating the restaurant a little easier than it otherwise may have been. read more

Warning: this is a "just OK" review... Based on my neighbor's recommendation, my husband went here on our recent trip to Madrid. We both thought it was OK. But, just OK. It was rather pricey for just-ok food. My husband had filet mignon and was happy with it, but again, based on recommendations, we were rather underwhelmed. Since I don't eat meat (which hello, it's pretty hard traveling through Spain as a non-meat eater!), I had a shrimp dish. It was more or less cooked in butter - which arrived at the table sizzling. It was ok (I know, could I think of another way to say "OK"?). Dessert was pretty good. It was a light cheesecake. This is a popular place! We had to have reservations (made 2 days in advance). When we showed up we were directed downstairs. The decor was rustic - exposed brick - all very cozy and expected. But from the first, hubby and I discovered we were surrounded by Americans! That's not an exaggeration. If there were any locals, they were only there with other Americans. It was bizarre (although, given how popular the place is, it really shouldn't have been). That's not a knock against the restaurant, merely an observation. read more

We went to this restaurant on our first night in Madrid. It was really interesting to be at the oldest restaurant in the world. Unfortunately, that's about the only thing that excited me. I had their suckling piglin, it was ok... Cruchy skin and tender meat. But I was left wanting A1 Steak sauce to go with it. There are far better roasted pigs in the world. Not to say the food was bad, but just...bla. You figured, they had 300 years to get it right. It was a novelty to go for the photo op, their signature dish is not enough to keep me going back. read more

I came here with no expectations. I was taken here for my birthday dinner by my friends where reservations were made a month before. They didn't tell me until we sat down that this was actually the oldest restaurant in the WORLD. I was impressed. And in disbelief so I ended up Googling it later that night and learned that there are other restaurants in the world that advertises themselves as so, one being established in the 1300s! Nevertheless, I was hungry so we ate. We ordered quite a bit of food and honestly can't remember everything we ate but the suckling pig and lamb were memorable. The skin on the pig was crispy and the meat flavorful. I only managed to take a few bites of the lamb after relishing most of the appetizers and the pork but it was good as well. Another highlight was the sangria--best sangria I've ever had. WE have ever had. We drank the first pitcher so fast that we had to get another. We were very happy. Very, very happy. After insisting that I didn't want a birthday song and dance, I got a mini song and a cheesecake, compliments of Botin. It was delicious. We also had flan and the Tarta Botin. One of the best meals we've had in Madrid. read more

Food (4.5 Stars) - Suckling pig, suckling lamb, sangria, and Botín salad were all excellent. I did not give it a 5 stars, since I think I've had better but it is still very delicious :) Service (5 Stars) - the owner/manager (I'm assuming) was really friendly and welcoming. We came in 10mins earlier than their open hours. They allowed us to come in and have a tour around the restaurant! After we were seated, I had no problem ordering or getting what I wanted. When I was leaving, I was also greeted nicely throughout. While I was walking out of the street, my waiter ran towards me to catch me what I had left under the table--my gift for family from Spain. Muchas gracias :) Ambiance (5 Stars) - Most importantly, it is the oldest operating restaurant in the WORLD. How cool is that!? It was open since 1725 and the interior of the restaurant was taken care of to retain its originality without costing cleanliness or safety. Clean and professional setting with hint of history inside the restaurant. Lovely! It has 3 floors and underground dining area. Historical value is just so much with this restaurant. If you do not want to be too adventurous with their list of food, just go along with suckling pig/lamb. Hard to go wrong with that as a meat lover. read more

My family and I spent a week in Madrid and we did a lot of the tourist tours available. We did a walking tour of the city and we went by this restaurant, which is famous for being the oldest in the world and even has a Guinness world record. I had also seen it on the travel channel when it was highlighted by Andrew Zimmermn. My husband and I are foodies so of course we would not miss the chance to have dinner here. We decided to go after a night of enjoying flamenco. We were not disappointed, great food and service. The prices are reasonable. My husband had the famous cochinillo and I had the Botín clams. Washed it all down with tinto de verano. Great historical place with a lot of character. Definitely recommend! read more

Botín - Cochinillo with potatoes - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

I want to go back, sitting here dreaming of the crispy suckling pig, gazpacho and green beans with ham we had!!! All of it was amazing! Incredible experience to eat at the oldest restaurant in the world! Excellent service as well! The sangria was strong and delicious servied in a 100 yr old pitcher! read more

The oldest restaurant in the world can serve up some good food! I was a little skeptical and thought this place might be a tourist trap but there was a line of non-Americans outside the door just before dinner service started. I made reservations online about a month in advance because I am very insistent on planning. We got there a bit earlier than our reservation time but it wasn't a big deal. Once the doors opened, everyone started going in and were being checked off by the maitre d'. There were some people who apparently didn't have reservations and were turned away very politely. My party of 3 was led down the stairs into a cellar of some sorts. We ordered a bottle of wine and then the roast suckling pig, clams botin, and green beans with iberian ham. I thought the food was just the right amount. We saw some other parties ordering what seemed like boatloads of the pig and I think it would have been too much/heavy. The pork was very delicious. The skin crispy and the meat juicy. My favorite surprisingly was the green beans with ham! The veggies were cooked perfectly, tender but with a slight crunch and the ham added the right amount of saltiness to the dish. I loved it!! The potatoes that came with the pig were also very yummy. It was a very satisfying meal! I would definitely return again if I am back in Madrid! read more

Being passionate about food and restaurants, I had to eat at the world's oldest restaurant. The service was first class: attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. The servers seemed genuinely warm and privileged to work there. Though we ate at 11:15 pm, the food was fresh and the service was still excellent. We were full from a day of tapas, so we shared the suckling pig entree which was served in very generous portions and perfect for sharing with a side or the complimentary potatoes. The gravy from the pig was delicious when eaten with the bread or potatoes. I've heard the lamb is excellent too, but I was happy with the choice of the pork. The skin was the best part and added the crunchy texture and flavor that characterizes the dish. The pitcher of sangria was excellent and worth the 12 euros for a generous serving for two. While the food is likely better at other top shelf restaurants, there is a lot positive here, and worth the experience. read more

Definitely an overrated spot to eat. With all of the other nearby options, I would not eat here again. The atmosphere is cool, being all Hemingway -esque, but the food is definitely second rate, especially for the price. The croquettes were tasty, but it's hard to find badly made croquettes. The vegetables were fine. The suckling pig lacked flavor, especially for 24€. If you want atmosphere, this is your place, but hit any of the tapas bars on the area and you will find better for cheaper. read more

I couldn't go to Madrid without eating at the world's oldest restaurant! At least I can put that on my belt. The restaurant itself was pretty nice - the wooden beams on the ceiling and the old chandeliers were charming. I googled the restaurant and saw photos of the cave-like basement - I wish I saw this while I was there! This meal was one of the most expensive ones during my trip and it was the most disappointing. Everything on the menu was so overpriced for what it was. We had the house specialties - the roasted suckling pig and the lamb. The pig was meh. It was quite dry and not what I expected at all (moist, bursting with flavor!?). Glad I visited this historically famous restaurant, but I'm pretty sure I enjoyed the potatoes more than anything else. read more

I was in Madrid for a couple of days and decided to try this place out. One of the best decisions I made. Sooo good!!! I had the suckling pig and it was just right. I actually don't even like pork but this was amazing. A little Sangria on the side to help it wash down and you have the perfect meal. read more

Botín - Suckling Pig w/ Sangria - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Only reason to eat here was to check off the box for eating at the oldest restaurant in the world. Although, the place has provenance of authentic Spanish food it left us disappointed. The service was okay, food was mediocre, portion sizes are ridiculous for the quality and price. They charge for table side bread--EACH loaf for 1.80 euros. The sangria was the single redeeming quality in the meal. A 10 euro charged was automatically added for tip fare to the bill. Come for the history NOT for the food. read more

What a unique place! Oldest restaurant in the world, has an amazing history, and the foods not bad either.

Fantastic restaurant. Had a Salad Botin and a veal fillet. Both were great. We also had a really good sangria and white chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Much recommended. Great location, service and fair price. read more

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This was one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a long time . The food was absolutely amazing . The jamon with melon was superb. The clams were unreal with the best sauce I've ever tasted (great for dipping as well). The cheesecake was light and airy but full of flavor - haven't had another like it since . We showed up without a reservation and were seated graciously 5 minutes later on a Friday night . This restaurant is a must try for every foodie. read more

Nice old building. Great food... Could be the oldest still existing restaurant on earth! read more

Heard about this place from the tv show No Reservation, and decided to try it when in Madrid. The restaurant is just outside of Plaza Mayor. Like most places around this area, you can easily miss it if you really aren't looking for it. We walked by it the other day and didn't even notice it. Anyway, we went around 3pm without reservation and got seated down stairs without having to wait. We ordered the roasted suckling pig and salad Botin to share. I think the portion is about a quater of a pig. The skin is crispy to perfection, the meat is very juicy and tender, not very much fat just enough to give it the taste. The service was also very good. read more

Came here with my wife because it had been recommended by a few folks. Also the title "oldest restaurant*" in the world definitely helped hook me. We ordered the suckling pig and were severely disappointed. The meat was crispy on the outside, but the amount of meat on the bone was pathetic. The side dishes were average at best however the service was prompt. Definitely a place that is surviving on its old legacy. Stay away... Much better alternatives for less. read more

Just as good as our first visits over 40 years ago when we had seven of our nine meals there. If you are expecting mediocre food because of its location and fame you will be surprised. It has an enormous and highly trained staff for great service. The prices were surprisingly reasonable, about 10% higher than other full service restaurants in the area. We highly recommend. (Retired Delta Air Lines Pilot and wife of 46 years.) read more

This was my first meal I ate in Madrid. Sobrino de Botin was truly a new eating experience for me. The ambiance of eating in a centuries old establishment, combined with excellent service and food left me wanting to come back. Sangria accompanied the dining experience...we ordered... Roast suckling pig (de leche) - crispy skin, juicy pork, and bedded with potatoes. Sorry for the vegetarians and animal lovers but: A roasted baby pig which is so young it still feeds on milk = delicious and tender meat. Baby Squid in their own ink with rice - tender pieces of whole squid on a circle of rice soaked in black squid ink. Sure it is a simple dish to make, but at least they did over cook the squid. Clams Botin - as with the squid, tender and in a flavorful, yet light sauce. Roast Baby Lamb - I love my lamb, and although it was a bit salty, I ate every last bit. It was served au jus and with more of the same potatoes served with the suckling pig. The postres/dessert was a creme brûlée and an ice cream type of dessert with a lengua de gato cookie Overall, although a bit on the pricey side. I would spend more time here. read more

If you're going to this restaurant for the first time, read this review. I'm going to give a rating for each of the following: food, service, and ambiance - my final rating is an average of the three. The food is without a doubt, 1 star. I'll start with the white asparagus with mayonnaise, which was about 5 pieces of asparagus that was served cold straight from the can - I'm not going to say it just taste like it was from a can, because there is no way it was prepared to taste that way.. it was 100% taken out of a can and put on a plate. As for the mayonnaise, it was literally a bowl of mayonnaise, that's it. So for about 14euro, you're getting canned asparagus and a bowl of mayonnaise. No exaggeration. Next, the famous suckling pig - I had read quite a few bad reviews about the suckling pig so I didn't go in with high expectations, but you really can't go there without having their most famous dish. I took one small bite and that was enough for me to put it aside. I actually almost spit it out - it was far too gamey for me. If you enjoy pork that is very gamey, you'll probably enjoy the pig. As for the potatoes on the side, I couldn't have more than one bite because the juice of the pig was soaked in it, which gave it a gamey flavor as well. My plate was pretty much untouched, and I put it to the side and decided oh well, it was worth a try, until the waiter came and randomly asked me if I wanted to try the lamb instead. I was completely turned off by the food at that moment but wasn't about to ask for my money back so I said sure, why not. I love lamb, I prefer it over beef so I figured it would be much better - I was wrong. It was very gamey as well, and had far too much salt. I don't know why, but I felt bad so I destroyed it with my knife and fork to make it look like I ate what I could. So if you enjoy meat that is very gamey and salty, then you'll probably enjoy this restaurant. Service was 5 stars in my opinion. The reservation was booked through the hotel for 8:30, but once we got there, the host said there was no reservation. After a very small argument, he asked us to wait for about 10 minutes or so, until he could figure things out. They sat us in the kitchen and gave us cheese, and fresh slices of cured pig with crackers. A few minutes later we were sat and everything was fine. Our server was very polite and attentive. Offering to replace the pig with the lamb without having to complain was something I've never experienced in Spain before. (and not only have I traveled here many times, I lived in this country for 6 months years ago). In my opinion for European standards the service was amazing. Ambiance is also 5 stars for what it is. You're eating at the oldest restaurant in the world and it feels like it too. It's an experience. It's not fancy, it's not trendy, it's the oldest restaurant in the world. It's 5 stars for what it is. I think 3 stars is a fair average for the 3 categories. If you're going for the food, and you enjoy gamey salty lamb and pig, then you'll love it - if not, stay away. If you're going just to say you went, then it's worth it. That's the only reason I went. read more

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Touristy location that boasts being the oldest known restaurant according to Guinness World Records. Pricing was fair and the food was great. My only issue was a receiving an incorrectly cooked steak on the first go. Other than that, the staff is overly attentive so you'll never bother with bad service. This is a place you must try in Madrid. It's all about the experience. I'm not a fan of eating a suckling pig when the damn thing is staring up at me, but hey, that's just me. read more

Great all the way around! Enjoyed the food, service, ambiance - everything! Would definitely return next time we visit.

I love the restaurant and its history. I was here last year myself, and I was so enjoy their dishes especially the famous sucking pig. Therefore, i return to have dinner with my husband for this year's visit. Food as usual is great but the quality of services is declining. Services are fine at the time we place our orders and till we have our main courses. But, by the time we order desserts, the services become rush and rude, especially the cave manager. The waiter just hands us the desert menu and we don't even have a minute to open the menu to check out what we would like to have; the cave manager comes by and asks for our order. Then I reply that my husband and I would like to check out the menu first, this black suit man makes funny face to us because we are not ready to give him our orders! The worst part is the time we pay our check. We ask for our check, and the waiter hands it in. While I am still reviewing our bill, not even finish checking out the bill, the cave manager comes in and seizes the bill on my hand and takes the money on my husband's hand away then left! His sudden behavior makes my mouth wide open and speechless...so rude! Since we are on holidays and do not want to be disturbed our quality time by any mischievous matter, we leave the black suite guy alone! Over all, food and dishes are still good in this restaurant, and services may or may not as what you expected and would like to be treated! read more

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Historic restaurant, very good service, below-average food. Steak was mostly fat, chicken was moist but bland, and suckling pig was just ok. Sangria was good. Maybe a good spot for a drink but sorry to say won't eat here again. read more

The oldest restaurant in the world still in operation for a reason-- Botin exudes an old-world classy that is tinged with just enough of a modern feel to keep them relevant. Lechon (roast pork) is superb in the Spanish style, although if you're a fan of the Chinese version (as others in my party were) you may not find it to your ideal standard. We ordered only one order-- next time we'd ask how many orders is a whole roast pig(let) and order enough to get a whole roast pig instead... nom nom nom... Roast lamb was okay. Even if it was a specialty, quite a few other places are in the same league. Chicken was okay, salad was good, artichoke hearts were even better, the eggplant was AWESOME. Perfectly breaded and deep fried. Squid was almost as good-- they left it with the insides yet still managed to make it tasty and not disgusting-- must be some black magic or something... And desserts-- the meringue was good, the caramel flan was among the better ones I've had, and the white chocolate cheesecake was actually the star of the show. So light and delicious, quite unlike any other baked cheesecake I've had. Coming back solely for a meal of eggplant, lechon, and tarta de queso con chocolate blanco might be worth the trip... Sangria was a nice addition, as was the soup, although some of us liked the soup, some didn't. Is it amazing enough to draw you in? Maybe, maybe not. Is the food pretty damned good, though? The main courses-- some are, some aren't. But the sides and desserts are superb. So yes, yes it is. read more

I cried when I saw all them suckling pig in the oven room and cried again when they brought it out to my table. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFULLY ROASTED AND SO DE-RRRICOUUS! read more

While in Madrid, I thought it would be fun to check out the world's oldest restaurant. Reviews here and on other sites didn't get me very excited so I wasn't expecting a lot. It's in a great location down the street from Mercado San Miguel and we were seated promptly for our reservation. Our waiter was attentive and spoke enough English to help us through dinner. The suckling pig is delicious. The skin isn't thick and crunchy like you get with Chinese style roast pork, but it's thin like Peking duck. Sadly, they don't bring you the whole pig to feast on, only portions of it. But, the meat was moist, and actually quite flavorful. The mixed vegetables with jamon were equally tasty and the blood sausage was some of the best I've ever had. Desserts were good, but the rest of the meal more than made up for it. I'm not sure what the other food is like, but for what I've reviewed, and the novelty of it's age, worth checking out. read more

This is a quaint restaurant you need to go to! Food was very good and the atmosphere was amazing. Make sure you take time to stop in.

Who can resist Hemmingway's favorite eatery in Madrid? At first, I wasn't sure if I could make a reservation here but our GAP guide got one for our group. The food was a interesting experience. I had suckling lamb and it was pretty amazing. The flavor was excellent, the meat was tender, and the surface was crispy. The only downside was that I got supremely ill after eating here. As I was walking back to the hotel I had gotten light headed. After 10 more minutes, I started have numbness in my hands and feet. If I was at home I would have gone to the ER or Urgent Care but decided to wait it out. The discomfort subsided after 5 hours but it was very uncomfortable as I was also very dizzy. I got all this and I didn't even have any wine or drinks with my meal. According the guide nothing was cooked in alcohol and no one else got sick so it was a pretty isolated incident. I'd still go back and take my chances. Next time, I will take allergy medicine. read more

Oldest restaurant in the world. Charged 25 euro for roast duckling. Way overpriced and nothing special. Also charged me 6 euro for 3 pieces of rock they called bread. Meal plan was good but nothing special. Service was spectacular read more

Excellent sangria and roasted suckling pig! The skin was very crispy and very fatty. I felt guilty and did not eat all the skin and I could imagine that my arteries were soon going to harden. Also take note that the Bread is not free:-( Some reviewers mentioned poor wait staff, but our waiter was nice, and even offered to take a picture of us. read more