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Alcalá de Henares is a Spanish municipality of the Community of Madrid. Housing is primarily located on the north bank of the Henares. As of 2025, it has a population of 203,208, making it the region's third-most populated municipality.
Predated by earlier hilltop settlements (oppida) and the primitive Complutum on the left bank of the Henares, the new Roman settlement of Complutum was founded in the mid 1st century on the right bank (north) river meadow, becoming a bishopric seat in the 5th century. One of the several Muslim citadels in the Middle March of al-Andalus (hence the name Alcalá, a derivative of the Arabic term for citadel) was established on the left bank, while, after the Christian conquest culminated c. 1118, the bulk of the urban nucleus returned to the right bank. For much of the late middle-ages and the early modern period before becoming part of the province of Madrid, Alcalá de Henares was a seigneurial estate of the archbishops of Toledo. Under patronage of Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, Alcalá was transformed into a college town in the 16th century in the wake of the creation of the University of Alcalá.
Its historical centre is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
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Where to eat
We don't have verified restaurants here yet, but the larder of Madrid already says a lot.
See the restaurants on the mapWe haven't verified any table with its owner in Alcalá de Henares yet. In the meantime, these are the restaurants mapped in the surrounding area.
Up to 30 km around, according to OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps. No ratings or prices: call before you go.
120 restaurants
120 restaurants
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 918 770 157View on the mapWebsite
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 918 328 564View on the mapWebsite
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 91 8820987View on the mapWebsite
Accessible
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 638 734 159View on the map
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 918 898 952View on the mapWebsite
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 910 888 700View on the mapWebsite
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 912 65 69 29View on the mapWebsite
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 910 423 939View on the mapWebsite
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 910 05 47 71View on the mapWebsite
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 910 138 432View on the mapWebsite
Accessible
Alcalá de Henares · in the village+34 620 748 314View on the map
Data from OpenStreetMap (ODbL) and Overture Maps (CDLA-Permissive-2.0): what has been mapped with its name. If your restaurant is missing or you want to manage it, sign up as a professional.
The 30 closest to the centre, out of 222 in the municipality.
Data from Overture Maps (CDLA-Permissive-2.0). No opening hours: call before you go.
What almost never fails in a village like Alcalá de Henares.
From a wood-fired oven if you're lucky; ask what time the batch comes out.
There's almost always a cheesemaker nearby; the local shop will know which one.
From local beekeepers: wildflower or rosemary, depending on the hills.
Almost every village has its market day and its producers: the cheesemaker, the baker, the vegetable garden next door. Ask at the tourist office or the bar on the square; they'll tell you where to buy straight from the maker.
We haven't confirmed Alcalá de Henares's market day. Every village has its own: better to ask than to make it up.
The 12 closest to the centre, out of 32 in the municipality.
Data from Overture Maps (CDLA-Permissive-2.0). No opening hours: call before you go.
