Lhardy

The story

Founded by Emilio Huguenin Lhardy in 1839, Lhardy introduced Madrid to the model of the formal European restaurant. Above its celebrated shop lie the Isabelino dining room and five private salons, layered with mirrors, red velvet, chandeliers, dark wood and political and literary history.

Why Lhardy is iconic

A rare nineteenth-century restaurant interior that remains both luxurious and culturally specific: Madrid’s public life, haute cuisine and salon culture are embedded in its rooms.

Selected by Ernst Aben · Information reviewed July 2026