If you don’t mind squeezing in with hordes of eager tourists, check out Botin, which is Madrid’s most famous restaurant for its listing in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest. Botin dates back to 1725 and is a four-storey rambling den with narrow staircases, exposed beams and partly tiled walls, located just around the back of the Plaza Mayor.
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rnEach floor has its own atmosphere, but the basement is the most popular. The specialities include roast suckling pig and lamb, and if it’s not too frantic (which it probably will be) you might be able to persuade one of the helpful and pleasant waiters to show you the place where they’re cooked. It’s not a sight for the squeamish, however. This restaurant is a landmark, which means that you’re likely to be surrounded by those in search of an ‘authentic’ experience, but it’s worth it nonetheless.