Paco Roncero

A two-Michelin-star creative restaurant on a Casino rooftop in central Madrid — here is what you are paying for

At the €€€€ price point, Paco Roncero is one of Madrid's most serious commitments. You are booking a two-Michelin-star tasting menu experience at the top of the 19th-century Casino de Madrid building on Calle Alcalá, steps from La Puerta del Sol, the price reflects that address, that pedigree, that level of technical ambition. Three menus are available: the Esencia (the most accessible, available Thursday and Friday lunch only), Madrid, and the flagship Gran Madrid, all with optional wine pairing. If you are deciding between the three, Esencia is the entry point for price-conscious visitors; Gran Madrid is for those who want to see everything the kitchen can do.

The space: rooftop dining inside a 19th-century institution

The physical setting is a genuine factor in the booking decision, not just atmosphere dressing. The restaurant occupies the leading floor of the Casino de Madrid, a majestic neoclassical building on one of the city's most storied streets. The interior carries an avant-garde aesthetic laid over that 19th-century structure — a deliberate contrast that gives the room a distinctive character you will not find at ground-level fine dining peers in the city. There is also a terrace, which makes timing your reservation around warmer months worth considering if outdoor dining matters to you. For a food-focused traveller comparing venues in Madrid's upper tier, the combination of historic architecture and contemporary design makes this a more spatially compelling choice than most competitors at the same price level.

What this kitchen does technically

The editorial angle here is cuisine mastery within the creative Spanish tradition, the evidence supports the claim. Paco Roncero holds two Michelin stars (2024 and 2025), scored 95 points on La Liste's Leading Restaurants list in both 2025 and 2026, and ranked #447 in Opinionated About Dining's Europe list (2025), up from #513 in 2024. That upward movement is worth noting: the kitchen is not static.

Culinary approach centres on traditional Madrid cuisine reinterpreted with technical precision. The chef's long-documented enthusiasm for olive oil runs through the menu as a recurring technical and flavour reference, rather than a garnish. Dishes draw on the bars and traditional eating culture of the Spanish capital, a calamari sandwich reframed for a fine dining tasting menu, for example, which gives the progression a local coherence you do not always get from creative kitchens chasing international abstraction. The foie gras preparation with white chocolate has been cited as a standout across multiple trusted sources. Desserts, particularly preparations involving violet and a beetroot-and-black-garlic combination, are flagged as among the more surprising moments of the meal.

Vegetables are present in the menus and given serious treatment, though a fully plant-based menu is not currently available. If that matters to your group, it is worth flagging at the time of reservation.

For context among Spain's two- and three-star creative kitchens, Paco Roncero occupies a specific position: it is technically rigorous and Madrid-rooted rather than globally abstract. Visitors who have eaten at Arzak in San Sebastián, Azurmendi in Larrabetzu, or El Celler de Can Roca in Girona will find a different register here, more urban, more grounded in a single city's culinary identity. If you are building a broader Spain itinerary, this is a meaningful stop alongside Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria, Aponiente in El Puerto de Santa María, or Cocina Hermanos Torres in Barcelona.

Booking and practical details

This is a near-impossible reservation. Two Michelin stars, a high-profile location, consistent La Liste recognition mean demand runs well ahead of availability. Book as far in advance as the reservation system allows, at minimum several weeks out, realistically two to three months for a Friday or Saturday dinner. The restaurant is closed Monday and Sunday. Dinner service runs Tuesday through Saturday from 8 pm to 1 am. Lunch is available Thursday through Saturday from 1:30 pm to 6 pm. The Esencia menu is only available at Thursday and Friday lunch, so if budget is a factor, those slots are the target.

Reservations: Book well in advance, this is one of the harder tables to secure in Madrid at this tier. Address: C. Alcalá, 15, Centro, 28014 Madrid, central location, walkable from La Puerta del Sol. Budget: €€€€; wine pairing is available on all three menus and will add significantly to the total. Hours: Tuesday–Wednesday dinner only (8 pm–1 am); Thursday–Saturday lunch (1:30–6 pm) and dinner (8 pm–1 am); closed Sunday and Monday.

How it compares

See the full comparison section below for Madrid peers.

Worth booking?

Yes, with specificity. Paco Roncero is the right booking if you want a technically grounded two-star creative menu in a space with genuine architectural character, rooted in Madrid's own food culture rather than international abstraction. The improving OAD ranking and consistent La Liste scoring suggest the kitchen is performing at or above its historical level. It is not the right booking if you want a more globally boundary-pushing experience, for that, DiverXO is the Madrid answer. If you are travelling through Spain for fine dining, this belongs on the itinerary alongside Spain's other two- and three-star kitchens. For Madrid specifically, explore our full Madrid restaurants guide, our full Madrid hotels guide, our full Madrid bars guide, our full Madrid wineries guide, and our full Madrid experiences guide.