
La Casa del Abuelo
A century-old tavern famous for its sizzling garlic shrimp and sweet wine, offering a true taste of Madrid's culinary history.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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La Casa del Abuelo

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A century-old tavern famous for its sizzling garlic shrimp and sweet wine, offering a true taste of Madrid's culinary history.
"The gambas al ajillo here are a must-try, packed with garlic and flavor!"
Visit During Off-Peak Hours
Avoid long lines and standing room only by visiting during non-peak times.
Consider Smaller Portions
Ask for smaller portions if you prefer not to be automatically served large plates.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Spanish Tapas
Price
$$$
Phone
+34 910 00 01 33
Address
C. de la Victoria, 12, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Website
lacasadelabuelo.es/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Gambas al Ajillo
Sizzling garlic shrimp, a signature dish cooked to perfection with plump prawns and a generous amount of garlic.

Historic Spanish Tavern
Experience authentic Spanish tapas at a family-run tavern established in 1906, filled with history and local charm.

Sweet Wine Pairing
Enjoy the house sweet red wine, a tempranillo perfectly complementing the garlic-infused dishes.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Visit During Off-Peak Hours
Avoid long lines and standing room only by visiting during non-peak times.
Consider Smaller Portions
Ask for smaller portions if you prefer not to be automatically served large plates.
Pair with House Red Wine
Try the house red wine for an optimal flavor experience, especially with garlic dishes.
Be Aware of Prices
Prices may be higher due to the central, tourist-frequented location.
Tips
from all over the internet
Visit During Off-Peak Hours
Avoid long lines and standing room only by visiting during non-peak times.
Consider Smaller Portions
Ask for smaller portions if you prefer not to be automatically served large plates.
Pair with House Red Wine
Try the house red wine for an optimal flavor experience, especially with garlic dishes.
Be Aware of Prices
Prices may be higher due to the central, tourist-frequented location.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
La Casa del Abuelo is a historic Madrid tavern praised for its signature gambas al ajillo and authentic atmosphere. Many diners rave about the fresh, flavorful shrimp and the traditional vibe. However, some reviews mention issues with food quality, including sandy shrimp and overcooked dishes, alongside concerns about high prices for the area.
"Service was excellent! We tried their garlic shrimp, and the shrimps were incredibly sweet and fresh. The bread was perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft inside, amazing when dipped into the olive oil from the shrimp. We also tried their homemade wine along with the regular wine; the homemade one was sweeter and paired nicely with the food. Highly recommended!"
Lili Chin
"Had quite a disappointing experience here in spite of all the accolades and recommendations.
The famous gambas al ajillo was not very fragrant from garlic or olive oil, there were lots of shells still on the shrimp, and also a lot of sand in the shrimp and oil/sauce.
The huevos rotos also had unevenly cooked and greasy potatoes, overcooked eggs, and very salty. The mushrooms were overcooked too.
Very expensive for very poorly executed food. Not worth even a one time visit for a traveller in Madrid."
T.
"Came for the garlic shrimp! Didn’t disappoint! I don’t know why all the bad reviews! These people are crazy. The shrimp was fresh and delicious. Freshly made! Lots of garlic (bit too much even)only complaint is about the bread: it was a bit dry but at 8pm it was probably not just baked so it’s fine. The waiter is a vibe! He is whistling, shouting at people in Spanish! 😆 Loved it! He made sure I got a table as soon as I got to the restaurant. I came at 8pm so just before the dinner crowd but still only 2 tables were left outside. Inside full of locals! Very nice experience! 18€ for shrimp with bread and 3€ for a glass of wine!"
Mea Gold
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
La Casa del Abuelo is most famous for its gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), a signature dish cooked with fresh prawns and plenty of garlic.
Reservations are not explicitly mentioned as required, but visiting during off-peak hours is recommended to avoid long waits.
To avoid crowds, it's best to visit during off-peak hours, outside of typical meal times.
The restaurant is known for its sweet red house wine, 'Vino el Abuelo', which pairs perfectly with their garlic dishes.
While gambas are the star, other popular tapas include patatas bravas, Iberian ham, and various seafood options.
Some diners find the prices higher than in other areas due to its central location and popularity with tourists.
Yes, it's a historic tavern founded in 1906, run by the same family, featuring walls adorned with photos of past patrons.
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The tangy smack of freshly fried garlic draws you through the door of this striking dark wood and marble tavern, still run by the family that founded it in 1906. The must-try gambas al ajillo (€9.90) is a palate-searing blend of plump Mediterranean prawns, fresh parsley, dried chillies and indecent wads of garlic, whipped-up before your eyes by gabby, old-boy waiters who’ve been doing this dish for decades. Pair it with the house red (a sweet tempranillo that plays perfectly off the garlic) while scanning the photo wall of famous former diners, infamous matadors and the sepia-stained faces of long-gone Abuelo bartenders.Calle de la Victoria 12, +34 910 000 133, lacasadelabuelo.es.
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Another of Madrid’s oldest restaurants, La Casa Del Abuelo is a staple for those who love gambas (prawns). You can order this dish many different ways: doused in garlic, steamed on a platter or in special sauces. Whatever your choice, pair it will a strong glass of Rioja red wine just like the locals do.
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Open since 1906, it has a marble-topped stand-up bar and also serves gambas a la plancha (grilled) or made into crispy croquettes. Locals wash it all down with chatos (small glasses) of the sweet red vino Generoso that is by now referred to as Vino el Abuelo (Calle Victoria 12).
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The smell of delicious grilled gambas and langostinos wafting through the air leads you to Casa del Abuelo. This traditional tavern is still in business after more than 100 years, and still run by the original family.
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This historic tavern opened at Calle Victoria 12 in 1906, and has remained a Madrid institution thanks to its offering of succulent gambas (prawns) and the best sweet wine. "Grandpa's House" has passed through four generations of the same family in the last 100 years, finding their niche following the food shortages caused by the 1936-39 Civil War, deciding to sell only shrimps, served together with the sweet Alicante wine; which for a long time earned the bar the name "La Alicantina", a title which still stands proudly above the door today. Tradition dictates that you throw the shells of the prawns on to the floor.
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Owned and operated by the same family since opening in 1906, La Casa del Abuelo is the birthplace of one of Spain’s most legendary tapas: gambas al ajillo. This now-legendary garlic shrimp tapa was born out of necessity in the years following the Spanish Civil War, when Madrid was facing a massive bread shortage. (Not ideal for this spot, which originally opened as a sandwich bar.) The owner headed down to the market to buy whatever was fresh and plentiful, which happened to be shrimp—and the resulting dish is now a staple of bar menus throughout Spain.
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At this point it’s surely time to pop into La Casa del Abuelo for a cold beer and an earthenware dish of sizzling prawns, before continuing through the lanes of the atmospheric Barrio de Las Letras – Madrid’s literary quarter. Along here you’ll find bold elegance and modern takes on style for jewellery at Andrés Gallardo and clothes at Llop Madrid, but also the chance to soak up the culture – look out for Lope de Vega House Museum, dedicated to the Spanish playwright, as well as the airy modern art gallery La Causa and venues like Teatro Español.
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It can be hard to find a good place to eat near Puerta del Sol, Madrid's thriving central square that, unfortunately, is surrounded mainly by chain eateries and tourist traps. One exception is La Casa del Abuelo, which has been serving good, honest, homemade Spanish food since 1906. On any given night, you'll find this traditional spot packed to the rafters with madrileños who come from all corners of the city to enjoy the tapas they know and love in a bar that has withstood the test of time.
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This legendary restaurant become the first tavern to sell chorizo, anchovies, and sobrassada inside a bun, and it managed to sell 1,500 sandwiches in a single day. In the 1940s, the bar introduced prawns to their menu, and was able to sell 306 kg of grilled prawns in a single day!. Little by little, El Abuelo (as many people call it) began to be known outside of Spain, attracting politicians, actors, and great writers from all around the world thanks to its mouthwatering tapas.
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La Casa del Abuelo – A historic and beloved restaurant in Madrid that is famous for its gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), considered the most delicious in all of Spain. Located near Puerta del Sol it was established all the way back in 1906 and this family-run establishment is the real deal when it comes to an authentic rustic Spanish taberna experience. It might seem a little intimidating at first, but once you settle in you really feel like you're in the heart of Spain.
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La Casa del Abuelo, which has been going strong since 1906, exudes old-world charm with a well-groomed staff that will whip up succulent seafood and garlic dishes right in front of you. The house specialties usually involve shrimp or prawns; however, you can also try anchovies in vinegar, cuttlefish, and calamari. The restaurant’s concept has always been serving seafood tapas with sweet wine.
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Opened since 1906, La Casa del Abuelo (Grandfather’s House) is a traditional, family-run taberna serving authentic tapas to madrileños and tourists. Located in the center of Madrid, La Casa del Abuelo was the first taberna to sell chorizo and anchovies, and often broke records for how much they could sell in a day. The most popular dish here is gambas al ajillo, or shrimp cooked with garlic.
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Founded in 1906, this centenary tavern located close to the Puerta del Sol, at Calle de la Victoria, 12, is still run by the family that first opened its doors, maintaining its essence and tradition. Its menu features prawns, prepared in numerous different ways: grilled, in garlic and fried in batter. This season, its garlic prawns are recommended, undoubtedly one of the flavours of Madrid.
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El local por excelencia para pedir las gambas al ajillo es La Casa del Abuelo (calle de la Victoria, 12), y aunque tienen más sucursales, esta es la tasca original de 1906. Es un bar de tapas variadas, pero te recomendamos que pidas las gambas al ajillo y las acompañes con su vino dulce. Sus sabores al ajillo más populares son el de Pili Pili, el de cebolleta y el de azafrán.
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For a more traditional Tapas bar, maybe head to Calle De la Cruz, there are several places; Casa Toni, La Casa del Abuelo, others; where you can look at a menu, get Raciones (appetizer sized plates) and something to drink. For more of a meal, it may be further (a walk will do you good), but I like Los Gatos on Calle Jesus, there are many other places on this street as well.
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La Casa del Abuelo is probably one of the most popular tapas bars to visit. They’ve been around since 1906 and have expanded to seven restaurants in Madrid with Victoria Street 12 being the original and the one that I visited. Their specialty is sizzling, mouth-watering, garlic prawns, which are so delicious that you may want to swing back by for a second helping!
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Taberneros in Madrid from 1906, is one of those places that you can not miss when it comes to a good tapas accompanied by a beer or a wine. They say that Andy Warhol was betting at the bar of La Casa del Abuelo every time he came to Madrid accompanied by a flat wine. Its specialty is cooked prawns, practically in all its variety.
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La Casa del Abuelo: If you like seafood drenched in garlic and olive oil, La Casa del Abuelo is for you. I usually stop in for a snack, rather than a whole meal. Order gambas al ajillo or gambas a la plancha, with a glass of sherry; It will be served with a basket of bread for sopping up the garlicy mess.
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Another historic, family-run tapas bar, La Casa del Abuelo is very well known in Madrid, with a history dating back to 1906. When visiting, trying the gambas al ajillo, or garlic shrimp, is mandatory. This is the very spot where the dish was invented so you know they do it better than anywhere else.
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Gambas al ajillo, also known as garlic shrimp, are a must try when visiting Spain. In Madrid, La Casa del Abuelo is known to have some of the best gambas al ajillo in the city. The plates come out fresh and piping hot, so make sure the little ones let them cool down before taking a bite.
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Choose the original bar on Calle Victoria to savor the patina of age—it opened in 1906 and has been serving shrimp specialties ever since. You can have your gambas plainly grilled (gambas a la plancha) or with garlic (gambas al ajillo), or a tapa of breaded shrimp deep-fried in olive…
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At La Casa Del Abuelo, I sampled another quintessential Madrid delight: succulent shrimp infused with garlic and chilli, a dish that has graced its menu since 1906. Served piping hot, the shrimp arrived bubbling with heat, accompanied by bread to soak up the flavourful garlic butter.
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Our first stop was La Casa del Abuelo, which is famous for their signature dish of Garlic Shrimps, also known as Gambas al Ajillo. Each plate costs 10.90 euros ($17++ SGD), and comes with free-flow of red/white wine as well as white bread for you to dip into the garlic olive oil.
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La Casa del Abuelo: This is James’ top pick for ajillo (garlic prawns flash-fried in olive oil) in Madrid. Also, La Casa del Abuelo has been family-owned and operated since 1906 so you know they take pride in their work. They even make their own sweet wine.
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A Madrid institution since 1906, La Casa del Abuelo is all about one thing, gambas al ajillo. Their sizzling garlic shrimp, served in a clay dish still bubbling hot, is a must-try. Pair it with a glass of sweet red house wine for the full experience.
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If you are looking for traditional, historical yummy tapas, look no further!. La Casa del Abuelo is an institution. La Casa del Abuelo is not a place to eat large meals, rather is for having great appetisers.
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Bar La Campana - A must-visit spot famous for its delicious calamari sandwiches, a true Madrid classic. Don't forget to try their patatas bravas and wash it all down with a perfectly poured beer.
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The most famous place in town for gambas al ajillo, this traditional Madrid tapas bar is one of my favorites, and their restaurant menu is fantastic too. Calle de la Victoria, 12
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They prepare them in several different ways (fried, in croquettes, grilled and more) but our favorite is boiled in garlic oil.
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