European fry-up: Two Spanish taverns battle for title of world’s oldest restaurant

Published on 11/06/2025 - 11:46 GMT+2

Two households, some alike successful dignity, successful adjacent Spain, wherever we laic our scene... 

A bastardised Shakespeare opening that suits nan ongoing ‘rivalry’ betwixt 2 family-owned taverns, who some declare to beryllium nan world’s oldest establishments. 

There’s Madrid’s Sobrino de Botín, which holds nan coveted Guinness World Record arsenic nan world’s oldest restaurant. 

Founded successful 1725 and located a stone’s propulsion from nan famed Plaza Mayor, it is famed for its wood-fire oven and has attracted patrons for illustration Truman Capote, F. Scott Fitzgerald and was immortalised by Ernest Hemingway successful his book “The Sun Also Rises” - successful which nan writer described Botín arsenic “one of nan champion restaurants successful nan world." 

It was awarded nan Guinness accolade successful 1987 and celebrated its 300 years of continuous work earlier this year.

Then there’s Casa Pedro, located connected nan outskirts of Madrid. The rustic tavern has boldly claimed that they person a changeable astatine nan title.  

The constitution has hosted Spanish King Juan Carlos I and existent Spanish monarch King Felipe VI, and nan owners asseverate their constitution endured nan War of Spanish Succession astatine nan commencement of nan 18th period - therefore making Casa Pedro older than Botín. 

“It’s really frustrating erstwhile you say, ‘Yes, we’ve been astir since 1702,’ but... you can’t beryllium it,” says head and eighth-generation proprietor Irene Guiñales. “If you look astatine nan restaurant’s logo, it says ‘Casa Pedro, since 1702,’ truthful we said, ‘Damn it, let’s effort to beryllium it.’” 

Guiñales’ family has hired a historiographer and has truthful acold turned up documents making love nan restaurant's operations to astatine slightest 1750. She continues to hunt for records proving that Casa Pedro dates backmost to 1702. 

The mobility remains: How tin either edifice declare nan title?  

Guinness provides its circumstantial guidelines only to applicants, according to spokesperson Kylie Galloway, who notes that it entails “substantial grounds and archiving of nan restaurant’s cognition complete nan years." 

Antonio González, a third-generation proprietor of Botín, states that Guinness required Botín show that it has continuously operated successful nan aforesaid location pinch nan aforesaid name. The only clip nan edifice closed was during nan pandemic – overmuch for illustration Casa Pedro.  

That criteria would mean that restaurants that are moreover older, for illustration Paris' Le Procope, which says it was founded successful 1686, aren't eligible for nan Guinness designation.

To make matters dicier, an Italian trattoria located successful Rome’s historical center, whitethorn pip some Sobrino de Botín and Casa Pedro to nan station and bargain nan cake.

Nestled connected Vicolo della Campana, La Campana claims “a sensation of authentic Roman cuisine pinch a broadside of history” and much than 500 years of operation, citing documents connected its paper and a self-published history. Its owners person said they person compiled nan requisite paperwork and scheme to taxable it to Guinness. 

The conflict of tasty households continues... Let’s dream that cook humor won’t make chef hands unclean.