Note: This article pertaining to I Dined at One of The Oldest Restaurants in the World For Lunch was originally published on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 4:17 in the afternoon and has been updated.
I never even would have given a thought as to what is the oldest restaurant in the world — but when I found out that I was in the same city as what I initially thought was the oldest restaurant in the world, I just had to dine in it.
I Dined at One of The Oldest Restaurants in the World For Lunch.
Restaurante Sobrino de Botín — or Restaurante Botín for short — has been in business since 1725; is celebrating 300 years in business in 2025; and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest restaurant in the world. The restaurant has also been featured in literature over the years.
To get to my seat in one of the dining rooms, the maître d directed me through part of the kitchen. That was a first for me.
Restaurante Sobrino de Botín has several dining areas on three floors.
This is the view of the dining room in which I was seated — as viewed from my seat.
This photograph shows the wall on the left side of the table where I was seated.
My seat is the one with the place setting in front of it — by the wall, second from the right.
As I am not fond of eating most kinds of pork — and because I did not want to pay 44,45 euro for the privilege even though the price included Andalusian gazpacho, ice cream, bread, and a choice of beverage — I did not opt for the suckling pig. Instead, I decided on the langostinos al ajillo — or prawns with garlic.
The dish was so hot that it was sizzling and instantly steamed the lens of my camera — but this photograph shows a closer detail of the dishes with the logos on them.
The plate finally cooled down to the point where my camera lens did not steam any more — but do not be fooled, as the dish was still piping hot.
The garlic prawns — six of them for 21,70 euros; or approximately $4.54 per prawn without including the gratuity — came to my table literally sizzling hot where the liquid in the dish was bubbling furiously for several minutes. They were delicious. I especially liked the crunchy pieces of garlic with the prawns. I just wished that there were more of them on which to dine.
Today in 2025, this same dish sells for 26,50 euros or $31.06 in United States dollars; or approximately $5.18 per prawn without including the gratuity — if the dish still includes six prawns.
Wooden beams are attached to the ceiling.
“…but in the meantime, I preferred to have suckling pig at Botín rather than sit and think about the accidents that might befall my friends” is what Ernest Hemingway — who dined on suckling pig in the restaurant — wrote in the book The Sun Also Rises.
Other authors who mentioned the restaurant in their works include Benito Pérez Galdós, Alfonso Reyes, Graham Greene, and James A. Michener.
One of the other dining rooms is featured in this photograph at Restaurante Sobrino de Botín.
This photograph is of the menu which was displayed in the window in 2014 — along with its prices at that time. The current menu in 2025 can be viewed here.
Final Boarding Call
When this article was first published exactly eleven years ago today — which was when I dined at this restaurant — its title was originally I Just Dined at the Oldest Restaurant in the World. As readers of The Gate With Brian Cohen correctly pointed out, the information in that title was incorrect: not only do older restaurants exist; but Restaurante Sobrino de Botin did not even place in the top ten oldest restaurants in the world. The title has since been changed…
…and even worse is that as the restaurant supposedly opened in 1865 under the name Pastelería de Cándido Remis, sobrino de Botín, according to an article in Diario Oficial de Avisos de Madrid from Friday, June 15, 1866.
I did however dine at the oldest pub in Dublin in Ireland last year, which is at least 527 years older than Restaurante Sobrino de Botín.
I would not exactly avoid a visit to the restaurant to satisfy the curiosity factor, as it does have some historical value and can be a good experience — but the offerings there are very expensive with inflated prices based on the misconception that this restaurant is the oldest in the world. If good food is what you are looking for, Restaurante Sobrino de Botin will suffice — but better dining options are available in Madrid at less expensive prices.
In other words, do not dine at Restaurante Sobrino de Botín solely because it claims to be the oldest restaurant in the world.
If you want to see the restaurant but not dine there, you can take what is known as the Botín Secrets Route, which is experiencing a magnificent route of what they continue to call the oldest restaurant in the world. It is not for having lunch or dinner at the restaurant. The cost is ten euros and the experience lasts for 15 minutes. I did not experience the Botín Secrets Route.
Restaurante Sobrino de Botín is located just south of the famous Plaza Major in Madrid.
Restaurante Sobrino de Botín
Calle de los Cuchilleros 17
Madrid, 28005
Spain
+34 91 366 4217
botin@restaurantebotin.com
Operating Hours
Open seven days per week:
- Lunch: From 1:00 in the afternoon to 4:00 in the afternoon
- Dinner: From 8:00 in the evening to midnight
Reservations are not necessary — at least for lunch — but they are recommended.
All photographs ©2014 by Brian Cohen.
