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LA MADREÑA
Asturias served at La Madreña
Words: Jose A. Muñoz Photography: Restaurante La Madreña
There are stories that aren’t born in an office or a bu-
siness plan, but rather from the deep conviction that
cooking can be a way of life. La Madreña is one of
them. In the year 2000, after eight years working in the
hospitality industry in Madrid, José Luis Rodríguez and
Margarita Rodríguez, a couple from Cangas del Narcea
(Asturias), opened their first restaurant on Calle Áncora.
They wanted to bring the flavours of their homeland to
the capital, but above all, they wanted to do it authen-
tically: excellent products, honest cooking, and service
that made every customer feel at home.
Success wasn’t immediate, but it was steady. In 2003,
they opened a second location on Calle Santa Lucrecia
and, in 2011, made the difficult but consistent decision
to close the original restaurant and begin a new chapter
on Calle del Bronce, in the Arganzuela district. A move
aligned with their philosophy: to move forward, to adapt,
to grow—without betraying the principles that had brou-
ght them that far.
In 2018, they made a bold leap by opening a new res-
taurant at Paseo de la Castellana 78. In the very heart
of Madrid’s business district, La Madreña presented a
contemporary Asturian offering while staying true to its
identity. The location was strategic, but the message
was clear: the family project had matured and was re-
ady to stand among the greats.
A proposal rooted in product
and tradition
La Madreña’s cuisine is rooted in Asturian tradition, but
it’s not anchored in the past. Over the past 25 years, it
has evolved by incorporating techniques, formats, and
combinations while maintaining its essence. The pro-
duct is at the heart of everything. They work with trusted
suppliers, many of whom prepare exclusive items for
the house: from anchovies selected by a small Canta-
brian company under José Luis’s criteria, to cheeses
specially aged in an Asturian creamery for their acclai-
med cheesecake.
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