Viuda de Vacas
Viuda de Vacas
Viuda de Vacas is a family casa de comidas on Calle del Águila in La Latina, on the city's register of centenary businesses. It began as the tavern of the old Posada de San Antonio on Cava Alta and took its name from the widow of the grandfather who bought it; since 2006 brothers Juan Carlos and Javier Cánovas Vacas have run it here, cooking callos, gallina en pepitoria, rabo de toro and judiones de La Granja.
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Background
About Viuda de Vacas
The Story
Viuda de Vacas was the tavern of the old Posada de San Antonio at Cava Alta 23, an inn of 24 rooms around a dining room, with long-term lodgers (many of them honey sellers from La Alcarria) and storerooms of cheese, nuts and potatoes on the ground floor of the corrala. At the start of the 20th century it was bought by Segundo Vacas and his wife Victoria Sastre, and when he died it became 'Viuda de Vacas', the widow of Vacas. Open all day, it was a place for meals and for dominoes and cards in between. The family ran it across generations, apart from decades when the De Francisco-Gómez family, former staff and relatives, kept grandmother Victoria's cooking going. It cooked only on coal, on a cast-iron range, until 2006, when the original building was restored and brothers Juan Carlos and Javier Cánovas Vacas moved the restaurant to Calle del Águila 2, close by.
The Cuisine
'Traditional market cooking' from fresh seasonal produce and popular recipes, many born of hard times: garlic soup, potajes and cocidos, croquetas, rices and meatballs. The base is Madrid and Segovian (callos a la madrileña, gallina en pepitoria, cocido, picadillo segoviano, judiones de La Granja, lamb caldereta and roasts), widened over the years with dishes from across the peninsula, from Andalusian salmorejo and Asturian fabes with clams to pulpo á feira, Catalan red cabbage, Murcian rice and Portuguese bacalao à Brás.
The Carta
Starters run from fried artichokes and Soria torreznos to a house soup made with cocido stock, chickpea and spinach potaje, judiones, roasted pepper salad, squid-ink and roast-ham croquetas and boletus (€8.50 to €17.50). Mains (€16.50 to €18.50) include quails stuffed with foie and mushrooms, roast ham with mash, gallina en pepitoria, callos, braised beef shin, rabo de toro, bacalao à Brás and squid in its ink with rice. Some dishes rotate with the season and can be ordered ahead.
Practicalities
Lunch from 13:00 and dinner from 20:00, closed Tuesdays. Book on 913 66 58 47. The room is smaller than the old Cava Alta tavern but the family keeps it personal; most diners are regulars and locals.
The Chefs
Juan Carlos Cánovas Vacas, Javier Cánovas Vacas
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Viuda de Vacas Ratings & Reviews
Diner Ratings
4.5
974
TripAdvisor
4.4
239 reviews
Viuda de Vacas ranks #451 of 1001 rated restaurants in Madrid. Diners rate it 4.4/5 on TripAdvisor (239 reviews).
Reservations
How to Book Viuda de Vacas
Booking
Reservations are made by phone at 91 366 58 47.
Reserve
Experience
Viuda de Vacas Dining Experience
Classic, cosy and rustic, with warm, family service and a crowd of regulars more than tourists. It feels like a neighbourhood dining room that happens to have more than a century behind it.
Navigate
Viuda de Vacas Location & Neighbourhood
Address
Calle del Águila 2, 28005 Madrid (La Latina, Centro), Spain
Get directions→Getting There
Viuda de Vacas is on Calle del Águila in La Latina, the slope of narrow streets that fills up on El Rastro market days, near Plaza Mayor.
Nearby
La Latina is where the city goes to graze, a slope of narrow streets built for moving between bars rather than sitting still. The eating is social and unhurried, and El Rastro brings the crowds on market days. Mercado de San Miguel and Plaza Mayor are the polished edge; the good stuff is further in.
Nearby landmarks
Landmarks within walking distance of Viuda de Vacas.
Nearby Restaurants
Where to stay nearby
Hotels we rank within walking distance of Viuda de Vacas.
Details
Viuda de Vacas Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–00:00 |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–00:00 |
| Thursday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–00:00 |
| Friday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–00:00 |
| Saturday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–00:00 |
| Sunday | 13:00–16:30, 20:00–00:00 |
Viuda de Vacas hours verified 2026-08-11. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Good to Know
Questions
Viuda de Vacas FAQ
How old is Viuda de Vacas?
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It traces back to the tavern of the Posada de San Antonio on Cava Alta, bought by Segundo Vacas and Victoria Sastre at the start of the 20th century, and is on the city's register of centenary businesses. It moved to Calle del Águila 2 in 2006.
Why is it called Viuda de Vacas?
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It means 'widow of Vacas': when grandfather Segundo Vacas died, the tavern took his widow's name.
What kind of food does Viuda de Vacas serve?
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Traditional market cooking from Madrid and Segovia (callos, gallina en pepitoria, rabo de toro, judiones de La Granja) plus dishes from across Spain and Portugal, such as bacalao à Brás.
Is Viuda de Vacas open on Tuesdays?
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No, Tuesday is its closed day. The rest of the week it serves lunch from 13:00 and dinner from 20:00.
Who runs Viuda de Vacas?
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Brothers Juan Carlos and Javier Cánovas Vacas, grandsons of the original owners.
How much does it cost?
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Around €26 to €50 per person; mains are €16.50 to €18.50.