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    El Ballenero

    4.0 (1 review)

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    Duque - Cochinillo

    Duque

    4.4(13 reviews)
    108.4 km
    €€€

    Since 1895 this restaurant has been serving delights of Spain to customers. We arrived a little…read morebefore 14:00 and the crowd, so we had choice seating. Staff were gracious and welcoming to two tourists. Cochinillo was sublime. Whole suckling pig is roasted so the skin is crisp on the surfaces, but moist and flavorful next to the meat. You are served an ample portion of the ribcage. At this age many of the small ribs have not calcified, so they are tender to chew. Succulent and delicious. Tripa are also cooked low and slow so they melt on your tongue. Sauce is majestic. Our waiter was very cordial and we took his advice to close with the ponche, and we were very glad we did. A soufflée with a wisp of orange zest in the ice cream was the perfect closer. Bravo.

    Duque is one of the oldest restaurants in the world, so we tried it on our trip to Segovia. There…read moreare dozens of places to eat as you walk between the Aqueduct and the Cathedral and Castle. Duque is unique in its heritage, its ambience (indoor, white linen table cloths, nicer dresses wait staff), and the offering of the traditional suckling pig. We made reservations and due to a goof on my part we had to delay it a day. They accommodated without a problem and communicated through email. That said, we ate at around 2 pm and I don't think we would have had a problem if we just walked in without a reservation, but this probably depends on the tourist volume and season. My wife and I ordered the large beans and the suckling pig and salad. It was A LOT of food. We really enjoyed the large beans and the traditional cooking approach using a pork extras broth. The suckling pig lives up to its reputation. The meat was super tender and the skin was very crispy. My wife and I couldn't eat all of our portions, but what we did eat was fantastic. We also had the beer and it was quite good. We ended the meal with coffee, which was very good. We did not eat dessert but it looks like they had some good ones. We probably stayed there for about 90 minutes, which was a nice way to take a break from the beautiful but dominant sunshine. This was probably the most expensive place in Segovia to eat, but we thought it was a great experience and value. As a final thought, we didn't do a very good job as English speakers trying to communicate in Spanish, but with context clues and their willingness to talk a bit in English we managed.

    Photos
    Duque - Stairs to somewhere cool, I'm sure.  I didn't take them but really was intrigued.

    Stairs to somewhere cool, I'm sure. I didn't take them but really was intrigued.

    Duque - Ponche de Segovia

    Ponche de Segovia

    Duque - Beer after foam died down.  I should have taken the picture when it first came out.

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    Beer after foam died down. I should have taken the picture when it first came out.

    Botín - suckling pig

    Botín

    4.0(881 reviews)
    112.2 kmSol
    €€€

    Sobrino de Botín is the oldest recorded restaurant in the world according the Guiness Book of World…read moreRecords at over 300 years old. What foodie would pass up the opportunity to dine here? When I found out I was coming to Madrid I had to book a table. First things first, my suggestion is book way in advance. This place fills up fast. My friend and I waited too long and the only seating we could get was at 11:15 PM. No big deal though there's plenty of places you can get a light snack in the surrounding area while exploring the city. Walking in, the architecture immediately hits you. Low ceilings, gorgeous old brick, tight dining rooms, it really feels like you stepped back in time. The whole atmosphere is elevated without being stiff. Staff was super friendly and made the experience feel smooth from start to finish. There's also apprently a really nice wine cellar at the bottom I overheard other patrons bragging about. Food wise, I will keep it real, it was good, just not my favorite meal in Madrid. The sangria was solid, definitely one of my highlights. The croquettes were fire. Crispy, creamy, exactly what you want. My friend's seafood casserole was actually really good too, I lowkey wish I went that route. Now the misses. The sautéed vegetables with Iberian ham didn't do it for me. The veggies needed seasoning bad, and the ham leaned a little too salty, so together it just felt off. The suckling pig, the signature dish, was good, but I was not blown away. If I find myself returning here, I would explore other options. After dinner, there was a little show and they let you keep a souvenir menu, which was a nice touch and made the night feel more memorable. Overall I had a solid 3.5 star experience rounded up to 4. Sobrino de Botín is history, it is iconic, and it is worth saying you have been. Just do not expect it to be the best meal of your trip. Hit Botín, soak it in, then go explore the rest of Madrid's food scene, because that is where things really start to shine.

    This was more about the experience of dining in the oldest restaurant (established 1725) according…read moreto the Guinness book of World Record. The restaurant itself has a lot of character, dark woods and brick. The place is known for its suckling roasted pig and lamb. We also ordered this soup that was being brought to other tables. History aside, the food was underwhelming. It's the type of place you try once when visiting Madrid.

    Photos
    Botín - We got to wait right in the meat prep area

    We got to wait right in the meat prep area

    Botín - Roasted Suckling Pig

    Roasted Suckling Pig

    Botín - Bottom level

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    Bottom level

    El Ballenero - steak - Updated May 2026

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