Beneath the main floor of the largest palace in Western Europe lies a space that offers a glimpse into the daily life of the Spanish monarchy over the past three centuries. The Royal Kitchen of the Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the best-preserved palace kitchens in Europe, due to its size and the value of the items it houses. Since 2017, this complex of rooms, stoves, and all kinds of utensils has been open to the public.
17 August 2026 11:15 + more dates
A state-of-the-art kitchen… from over a century ago
Built at the same time as the rest of the Royal Palace and covering an area of 2,000 square meters, the kitchen evolved over the years to incorporate the technological advances of each era. The space is organized according to the tasks performed there by chefs and assistants, always under the supervision of the head chef. Fun fact: Since the palace was built in the 18th century, the position of head chef has been held exclusively by French professionals ( or those trained in France).
As you walk through the different rooms of the Royal Kitchen, elements such as the dish lift that connected to the Daily Dining Room catch your eye; its original pressurized water lift was replaced by an electric one in 1911; or the iceboxes in the Prep Kitchen—old cabinets that were filled with ice to preserve perishable foods and were later electrified, becoming some of the first refrigerators in Spain.
Also surprising is the Stove Room, which houses two historic stoves: one from the time of Isabel II and another installed in 1906 for the wedding of Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia. In addition to these are a rotisserie and a grill acquired in 1878, as well as an ingenious plate-warming cabinet that harnessed the heat from the stoves’ flues.
A courtly paradise for lovers of sweets
One of the most intriguing spaces in the Royal Kitchen is the Sala del Ramillete, a paradise for the palace’s sweet tooths, where sweets, cakes, compotes, and beverages were prepared… The shelves still hold cake pans, waffle irons, and chocolate pots (essential, given the Spanish Court’s well-known fondness for chocolate).
War-proof kitchenware
The Royal Kitchen also houses original utensils made of copper, tin, iron, and brass. Today, only the largest and most distinctive pieces remain, since, during periods of war, kitchenware was often supplied to the armies to recycle the metal and manufacture weapons and ammunition.
The tour of the Royal Kitchen ends in the Cava, the beverage storeroom that also illustrates the evolution of dining protocol: from the elaborate “French-style” service common in the 18th century (with all courses served at once) to the set menus of “Russian-style” service, a custom introduced in 1815 that has survived to this day.
Everything you need to know before visiting the Royal Kitchen
📅 When: Open daily. Winter hours (October through March) from 10:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and summer hours (April through September) from 10:15 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
📍 Where: Royal Palace of Madrid, on Plaza de Oriente. Entry to the Royal Kitchen is through the palace’s main entrance hall.
🔎 What to expect: a self-guided tour of the Royal Kitchen (45 min) and free access to the rest of the Royal Palace and the Royal Armory
♿ Accessibility: The site is accessible to people with disabilities and has manual wheelchairs available.