MADRID, Spain — Located in Spain’s capital, Madrid, are two of the oldest restaurants in the world, Casa Pedro and Restaurante Botín. Restaurante Botín holds the Guinness World Record title for the oldest restaurant in the world, opening in 1725 and running consistently for 300 years. Casa Pedro claims its establishment dates back to 1702, and evidence of this would prove that they are older than Botín by 23 years.
Restaurante Botín is located in the heart of the city, next to Plaza Mayor, and due to its location, it is a very popular tourist attraction. Casa Pedro is located on the outskirts of the city in the Fuencarral neighborhood, a spot known only by locals in the area. Though the two are assumed to have a rivalry over the record, the truth is far from it.
“I feel like they’re trying to pit us against another restaurant—Botín—which is in the Guinness Book of Records. And it is in a very touristy area,” said Irene Guiñales, the manager and soon-to-be 10th-generation owner of Casa Pedro. “We don’t want that. We don’t want confrontation. We’re not looking for that—we don’t want it at all. All we want is to know the history of our own house. That’s all.”
Both operating since the 1700s, these family businesses serve classic dishes from the Castilian region, working to preserve their families’ traditions through food and give customers a taste of their history.
“I think it’s the feeling of being at home, of being part of a family business, of seeing us all here. I think that’s what sets us apart. Because nowadays, most restaurants are big chains or powerful groups. We’re just one single restaurant, all family. And that lets us focus closely on each customer, so they feel at home,” said Guiñales.
