The story
In the heart of Valdemorillo, La Casa de Manolo Franco occupies a house that has been part of the village for decades. What was once Casa Manolo, a family bar-restaurant run by Manolo Franco, was reopened in 2019 by his son, Manu Franco, after a twenty-year career as a journalist and training at Le Cordon Bleu. The result is a restaurant that feels both intimate and deeply rooted in its surroundings.
Manu Franco describes his cooking as “cocina de sentimiento” — a cuisine of feeling, tied to the aromas of wild herbs from the Sierra de Madrid. The seasonal tasting menus are structured as a narrative: “A Day in the Madrid Sierra,” moving from breakfast through a countryside stroll to lunch and dinner. Dishes such as spring vegetable cappuccino with parmesan and almonds, venison torrija with cocoa and caviar, and creamy bull rice with holm oak and hazelnut air reflect a kitchen that respects local ingredients while layering in creativity and emotion.
The restaurant’s atmosphere is deliberately warm and personal. Every detail is meant to “touch the heart through the palate,” as the team puts it. Private dining and outdoor seating are available, and the space lends itself to romantic dinners or special celebrations.
This personal, place-driven approach earned La Casa de Manolo Franco a Michelin star in 2024, a recognition that the team wears lightly. As Manu Franco says, the goal is for guests to leave the house better than when they arrived. The contemporary cuisine here is not about spectacle but about honest, beautifully crafted food that tells the story of the Sierra.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location
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