Trixie Navarre

Table for one at one of the oldest restaurants in the world.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Botin in Madrid is the oldest restaurant in the world. What is funny is that I thought that I ate at the oldest restaurant in the world back in 2015; Historische Wurstkuchl in Regensburg, Germany The old sausage house in Regensburg was founded in 1146, while Sobrino de Botín was established in 1725. That is a pretty wide gap!

Then I found out that there is an even older restaurant, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium in Salzburg, Austria. St. Peter’s was founded in 803 CE (Common Era), which makes it both Europe’s and the world’s oldest restaurant. With that said, I need to go to St. Peter’s. Either way, I can proudly say that I have been to two of the oldest restaurants in the world- the Historic Sausage House, Sobrino de Botin.

Despite the debate on which restaurant is the oldest, Sobrino de Botín can boast several remarkable facts. For one, Botin’s oven fire has been continuously burning for over 240 years. That means their oven fire never went out during wars, changes of power, and political restructure. Also one of my favorite artists, Francisco de Goya, worked in Café Botin as a server prior to his acceptance into the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

If you follow my blog or know me personally, you know that one of my interests is dining in historic establishments. For obvious reasons, Sobrino de Botín was on my places to eat while in Madrid. In fact, as soon as I checked into my hotel after my flight from London, I walked to Botin. It was a very warm day, and I was exhausted but I was given a table to dine solo in one of the world’s oldest restaurant.

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On the Table

Sobrino de Botín’s specialty is their suckling pig, but I did not order that. I was dining solo and thought that little piglet might have been too much food for me. Plus, I do not eat anything baby or cute- I do not eat lamb, veal, rabbit, alpaca, or horse. What I did decide on was a couple of smaller dishes that ended up being a lot of food.

Gran Feudo Rosada

Navarra – 2018

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Jamon and Melon

I ordered the Jamon with Melon which was excellent, especially on that warm summer Madrid day. I was served a plateful of freshly carved salty jamon, and a cuts of of sweet fresh melon. This dish was a divine elevated version from the prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe that we are typically served in America.

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Garlic Sizzling Prawns

I also decided on the garlic prawns which were delectable, and came out sizzling. They were very nice, but thought it was a bit pricey at 22 Euro. Then again I did not know the market price, and I was fine with it.

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Fresh Bread

Like most restaurants in Europe servers will put down bread, and if you look around the restaurant you will notice that most people are not eating it. Unlike restaurants in the States, they will charge you for the bread. I learned this fact while in other countries in Europe several years back. I did skip on the bread, but I was still billed for it when I looked at the check. It was an easy fix as I told the server “No Pan”. He quickly took it off the check, so no problem. Just make sure to look at your check if you did not eat bread.

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Espresso

It was quite a day and quite the meal! The best way to finish off a good meal is with a shot of espresso. It is one of my favorite ways to wake up my system before it falls into a food coma. Plus, I had to burn a little room because I was heading to another café that I wanted to try.

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Dining at Botin was one for the books while traveling solo, and a check off my food bucket list. As you know, I do frequent the oldest or historical places to eat, and I am not new to the idea of the “oldest”. Whether or not Botin officially holds the title for the oldest restaurant in the world, it is a special place. I would not mind coming back, and trying one of their main courses made in that always burning oven, just not the baby piggy!

For my Yelp Review, Read Trixie N.‘s review of Botín on Yelp

For restaurant information and reservations – Sobrino de Botin

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well; if one has not dined well…

– Virginia Woolf

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📸 All photos are taken by me and are my intellectual property- Trixie Navarre