“A legendary Madrid haunt” whispers the plaque. The Cafu00e9 de Fornos plaque stands before you. It marks a spot brimming with history. This wasn’t just any cafu00e9. The Cafu00e9 de Fornos was a Madrid institution. It opened its doors in 1870. Its location at the corner of Alcalu00e1 and Virgen de los Peligros was strategic. It was opposite the Cafu00e9 Suizo another popular meeting place.
The Cafu00e9 de Fornos was opulent. Its luxurious Luis XVI style decor was remarkable. Gustavo Adolfo Bu00e9cquer even wrote about its grand opening. He described the stunning ceiling paintings by Manuel Vallejo. The paintings depicted scenes of tea coffee chocolate and liquors. The luxurious velvet sofas and silver tableware made it a truly special place.
More than just a cafu00e9 the Fornos was a cultural hub. It hosted famous literary gatherings. Artists and aristocrats frequented the place. Even royalty like Alfonso XII and Amadeo I of Spain were known visitors. The writer and Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway even mentioned the Cafu00e9 de Fornos in his famous novel Death in the Afternoon.
The restaurant on the upper floor was a culinary destination. It offered a wide variety of dishes. The lenguado al horno estofado de cordero and riu00f1ones al jerez were popular choices. But the star of the menu was the bistec a lo Fornos a beefsteak on toast topped with Serrano ham. It was so famous it even inspired the creation of the pepito de ternera sandwich. The Cafu00e9 de Fornos also had a lively nightlife. It became a gathering spot for flamenco singers. Some claimed people would stay for up to eight days straight celebrating in its private rooms.
Tragedy struck in 1904. Manuel Fornos Colu00edn one of the owners shot himself in a private room. This event signaled the beginning of the end for the cafu00e9. Stricter rules were enforced. The cafu00e9 eventually closed in 1908. It briefly reopened as the Gran Cafu00e9 but its glory days were over. By 1941 a bank building stood in its place.
Today only the Cafu00e9 de Fornos plaque remains. It serves as a reminder of a bygone era. It represents a time when the cafu00e9 was the heart of Madrid’s social and cultural life. The plaque stands as a silent testament. It silently speaks of the lively gatherings the delicious food and the fascinating people who once filled this space. Imagine the conversations the laughter the stories shared within those walls. The Cafu00e9 de Fornos may be gone but its legacy lives on in the memories it left behind and in this small humble plaque.