Sobrino de Botín: The World’s Oldest Restaurant Where Goya Once Worked

By Dmitri Yusov | ANNO Media

In the heart of old Madrid, nestled on a narrow cobblestone street near Plaza Mayor, stands a restaurant that has been serving food since 1725. Sobrino de Botín — commonly known as El Botín — holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest restaurant in continuous operation. But its history goes far beyond roast suckling pig and Castilian stews. It’s a place where art, literature, and legend meet — and even a young Francisco Goya once worked here.

By Esetena – Own work, Public Domain

A Taste of History Since 1725

Founded by a French cook named Jean Botín and his Spanish wife, El Botín opened its doors in 1725. The building itself dates back to 1590 and still retains many of its original architectural elements. The restaurant was inherited by Botín’s nephew — hence the name Sobrino de Botín, or “Nephew of Botín.”

What makes El Botín extraordinary is not only its age, but its fidelity to tradition. The wood-fired oven has been burning non-stop for nearly 300 years, and it’s still used to roast the restaurant’s most famous dish — cochinillo asado, or roast suckling pig, a delicacy of Castile.

Where Goya Was Once a Waiter

One of the most captivating anecdotes surrounding El Botín involves Francisco de Goya, the future master painter of the Spanish Enlightenment. According to local lore and some historical accounts, Goya worked at El Botín in the mid-18th century as a dishwasher or waiter while waiting to be admitted into the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando.

Though archival records are scant, the story has been passed down through generations and adds a romantic brushstroke to the restaurant’s legend: a young artist scrubbing pots or serving food, not knowing he would one day transform the world of art.

By Vicente López Portaña – Museo Nacional del Prado, Galería online, Public Domain

Hemingway, Art, and Legacy

El Botín also captured the imagination of Ernest Hemingway, who featured it in his novel The Sun Also Rises. He wrote:

“We lunched upstairs at Botín’s. It is one of the best restaurants in the world. We had roast young suckling pig and drank rioja alta.”

Today, a table near the window is unofficially dubbed Hemingway’s corner — a favorite photo stop for literary pilgrims.

By Associated Press; Anonymous photographer – Public Domain

Throughout its long history, El Botín has become a symbol of Madrid’s soul — a place where food, art, and storytelling coexist. It is part of the Spanish capital’s cultural DNA, and a living monument to the layers of history that have shaped it.

What to Expect Today

Visitors to El Botín can expect more than a meal — they’re stepping into a time capsule. The restaurant is spread over four floors, including the original bodega (cellar) with vaulted brick ceilings. Classic Spanish dishes dominate the menu: cordero lechal (roast lamb), sopa de ajo (garlic soup with egg), and tarta de Santiago for dessert.

Despite its fame, the atmosphere remains warm and unpretentious — a blend of elegance and rustic charm, where old wood beams creak and waiters in crisp vests move through the narrow staircases like they’ve done for centuries.

A Place Where Time Stands Still

Sobrino de Botín is more than a restaurant. It is a cultural institution. It’s where young artists once dreamed, where world-class writers dined, and where culinary tradition has never faltered.

In a rapidly changing world, Botín remains an anchor — a reminder that history can still be savored, one plate at a time.

Book in advance

Usually everything there is practically fully booked a month in advance. But there’s a service that allows you to buy out already reserved spots at top restaurants around the world (Appointment Trader). Your author checked availability for today’s lunch – through this website you can buy a table for today’s lunch for 80 euros.