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Strolling through the streets of Madrid is a journey through history. It is to travel back in time to live a get-together with the generation of 27, have a coffee with Cervantes, or forge the founding of a political party. There are countless bars in Madrid with a lot of charm and wisdom. Some survive the passage of time century after century. We have compiled 11 bars, taverns and restaurants in Madrid that were historic meeting points and are still open today. Enjoy this emblematic route and give yourself a gastronomic tribute with a lot of tradition.
Los Galayos
It has the honor of having been the scene of the last meeting held by the Generation of ’27 before the Spanish Civil War. It was a tribute to Luis Cernuda that was held there on April 29, 1936, on the occasion of the publication of La realidad y el deseo.
Founded in 1894 very close to the Plaza Mayor, Tierno Galván used to eat at this emblematic restaurant, and Pérez-Reverte himself began to write his work Las aventuras del capitán Alatriste (The Adventures of Captain Alatriste). Roast suckling pig is their specialty. On its website, they have a section with photos of people who have passed through their restaurant. There are images of people as varied as Sabina, Pedro Duque, Julia Roberts or Alejandro Sanz, among many others.
Calle de Botoneras, 5, 28012 Madrid
Casa Alberto
Another jewel located in the heart of Madrid, specifically in the neighborhood of the Letters. Opened in 1827, it is not even close to being 200 years old, which is soon to be said. Its history goes hand in hand with the history of Madrid and Spain in general. It is said that Miguel de Cervantes lived in this same building in 1613 and wrote chapters of the second part of El Quijote.
Illustrious writers have passed through its lounge, bullfighting gatherings have taken place (some names such as José Tomás, the Ordóñez brothers, Palomo Linares and Curro Romero visited it). Many actors and playwrights frequent it when leaving different theaters nearby. You can read its complete history in a book they have published on their website. If you visit it, you will taste hearty dishes of traditional Madrilenian cuisine, but with a modern touch.
Calle de las Huertas, 18, 28012 Madrid
Café Gijón
It is one of the literary cafés par excellence in Madrid. Founded in 1888 by the entrepreneur from Gijón, Don Gumersindo García, it soon became a meeting place for great writers, painters, journalists, actors and sculptors of the time, including many of the literary generations of ’98 and ’27. Names like Benito Pérez Galdós, José Canalejas, Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Valle-Inclán, Jacinto Benavente, Julio Romero de Torres, Federico García Lorca, Dalí, Buñuel, Ignacio Sanchez Mejías, Sorolla, Benlliure, Severo Ochoa, Raul del Pozo, Manuel Vicent, Manuel Alexandre? The list could be endless. It is part of the history of Spain and is one of the few cafés that still survive today.
Paseo de Recoletos, 21, 28004 Madrid
Lhardy
The Lhardy restaurant is another of the gastronomic and historical emblems of the capital. With more than 175 years of existence, Emilio Huguenin founded it in 1839 and was one of the first to obtain the plaque of centenary establishment. It offers Spanish and international haute cuisine, but with typical dishes such as cocido (stew) or callos a la madrileña (tripe). Its interior is an authentic museum: with three original dining rooms (the Isabelino, the Japonés and the Blanco), and three more modern ones (the Sarasate, the Gayarre, and the Tamberlick).
As stated on its website, much of Spain’s history has been woven within the elegance of its walls. From Isabel II to Alfonso XII, the Duke of Sesto, Benalúa, Tamames and Bertrán de Lis; or the inclusion in works by Galdós, Mariano de Cavia, Azorín or Ramón Gómez de la Serna. When you enter the interior, get ready to live a luxurious evening with a lot of history.
Carrera de San Jerónimo, 8, 28014 Madrid
Café Comercial
The Café Comercial opened for the first time in 1887, becoming a place of reference for artists and writers of all decades. Inside, gatherings have taken place between illustrious characters such as Antonio Machado, Edgar Neville, Jardiel Poncela, Rafel Soler, Ignacio Aldecoa, Álvaro de la Iglesia, Antonio Mingote, Celia Gámez, Fernando Rey or Berlanga, among many others. It was closed in 2015, to reopen again in 2017 and today continues to maintain its great commitment to culture, offering concerts and other cultural meetings. In addition, contemporary characters such as Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Manuela Carmena or Máximo Huerta continue to pass through its tables.
Glorieta de Bilbao, 7, 28004 Madrid
Taberna Antonio Sánchez
This tavern was founded in 1787 (the oldest in Madrid) and is located very close to Tirso de Molina. It preserves its decoration intact, which makes it a real relic where you can enjoy a tapas as if you were in the nineteenth century. On its walls hang different tributes to the bullfighting world, references to bullfighters such as Frascuelo, Lagartijo or Cara Ancha. It was also a meeting point for illustrious writers such as Pío Baroja, Sorolla, Marañón Camba and Antonio Díaz-Cañabate. It has also been a source of inspiration for writers such as Camilo José Cela, who included it in his book Torerías, or Gloria Fuertes, who used to sit on its marble tables to write her works.
Calle del Mesón de Paredes, 13, 28012
Casa Labra
This restaurant located very close to the Puerta del Sol, opened in 1860 first under the name of Los Peregrinos. Among the milestones of its history of more than 160 years, it is worth mentioning that this Madrid tavern was the place of the founding of the current Spanish Socialist Workers Party on May 2, 1879. It took place in a clandestine manner and today a bronze plaque commemorates this fact on the facade. If you want to continue enjoying its tasty gastronomy, you can not miss its fried cod and cod croquettes, its specialty since the nineteenth century.
Calle de Tetuán, 12, 28013 Madrid
Casa Ciriaco
It opened in 1929 in a building with history. Here was where the anarchist Mateo Morral threw a bomb hidden in a bouquet of flowers from the 4th floor during the passage of the wedding procession of Alfonso XIII in May 1906. In this emblematic restaurant, very close to the Plaza Mayor, you can still taste its traditional home cooking, such as its famous pepitoria de gallina or the typical cocido madrileño, reminiscent of the meals of the famous journalist and writer Julio Camba, a regular visitor. Another prominent figure linked to the restaurant was Valle-Inclán, who turned the tavern into the Cave of Zarathustra, as the marble plaque on the façade reads. In addition, the academic and cartoonist Antonio Mingote designed the seal of the house. Also legendary is its wine cellar, which dates back to 1887.
Calle Mayor, 84, 28013 Madrid
La Casa del Abuelo
The restaurant Casa del Abuelo was opened in 1906 in the heart of Madrid. First under the name of La Alicantina (the sign remained until the 90’s). Since then, four generations have passed through this traditional restaurant, which has been visited by celebrities of all kinds, such as Andy Warhol, who ordered a glass of wine every time he passed by (all of them are collected in a book along with dozens of anecdotes and jokes with history). Specializing in tapas, they currently have four other establishments throughout the capital.
C/ Victoria, 12. 28012 Madrid
Casa Pedro
Another of the most emblematic centenary restaurants in the capital. Opened in 1702, first as Casa de la Pascuala, in honor of the wife of Pedro Guiñales, founder. It was an inn and house for cattle ranchers located in the north of Madrid. Known mainly for the sale of Grenache and Muscatel wines and the roast lambs and suckling pigs, this restaurant has been visited by personalities such as Alfonso XIII or King Juan Carlos I. Also many other artists, politicians and businessmen have left their dedications on the walls of the restaurant.
Nuestra Señora de Valverde, 119. 28034 Madrid
Casa Botín
Founded in 1725, the Botín restaurant is about to turn three centuries old. And no wonder because it is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest restaurant in the world. An endless list of illustrious personalities have passed through its halls, leaving a bit of Madrid’s history through interesting gatherings and delicious suckling pig and lamb roasted in the Castilian style. From Ernest Hemingway to Goya, who is said to have washed the dishes here. Truman Capote, Valle-Inclán or Ramón Gómez de la Serna, among other personalities, also visited the restaurant. It has also been the setting for numerous literary works by the aforementioned Hemingway and de la Serna, but also by Pérez Galdós, Arturo Barea and María Dueñas.
Calle de Cuchilleros, 17, 28005 Madrid.
