An Illustrated Map of Century-old Restaurants and Tabernas
The Madrid Association of Century-Old Restaurants and Tabernas (RCM) comprises twelve establishments whose history has been shaped not only by our gastronomy, but also by our politics, literature, painting and bullfighting tradition.
Botín, the restaurant most often visited by tourists, opened in 1725 next to the Arco de Cuchilleros archway; the spectacular Posada de la Villa in Cava Baja, which was founded in 1642, pays homage to traditional cuisine; Casa Pedro in the district of Fuencarral began its life in 1702 as a staging post for travelers heading north out of Madrid; Casa Alberto in Calle de las Huertas dates back to 1827 and is found in the same building where Miguel de Cervantes lived when he wrote Journey to Parnassus; Taberna de Antonio Sánchez, located in Calle del Mesón de Paredes, was established in 1839 by the bullfighter Colita; Lhardy, in Carrera de San Jerónimo, was opened that same year and is Madrid’s most literary restaurant; Casa Labra, just off Puerta del Sol in Calle de Tetuán, was established in 1860; Casa Ciriaco started out as a wine shop in 1887 in Calle Mayor; Café Gijón was founded in 1888 in Paseo de Recoletos; La Bodega de la Ardosa opened in 1892 in Calle de Colón, near Gran Vía avenue; Malacatín was inaugurated in 1895 in Calle de la Ruda, near El Rastro flea market; and Casa del Abuelo, the youngest of them all, was established in 1906 in Calle de la Victoria, a street closely linked to bullfighting.
Juan Manuel Bonet. Historian and art critic