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In the heart of Valdemorillo, La Casa de Manolo Franco is a refuge of emotions and authentic flavours. A gastronomic restaurant that has established itself not only as a place to dine in the Sierra of Madrid, but as a true reference point for those seeking moments filled with emotion.
Since its opening in 2019 — after 50 years as Casa Manolo — this house has kept alive the tradition of mountain cuisine, blending it with the creativity of Manu Franco and his team. This unique fusion has earned them one Sol from the Repsol Guide in 2023, and a Michelin Star from the MICHELIN Guide in 2024.
Manu Franco is the soul of a unique restaurant that bears the name of his father, Manolo Franco. Raised among the fires of the family’s former bar and restaurant, he spent 20 years travelling the world as a journalist before training at Le Cordon Bleu.
Today, he leads a talented team and has created a style of heartfelt cuisine, deeply connected to the aromas of the wild herbs from the Madrid Sierra.
Our tasting menu recreates A Day in the Madrid Sierra, unfolding through different chapters that take you on a journey — from breakfast in the countryside to dinner at nightfall.
Flavour, beauty, history and emotion are the pillars of our proposal, translated into every dish through dedication in the kitchen and the care in its presentation at the table. In Valdemorillo, La Casa de Manolo Franco is a restaurant where each plate tells a story, celebrating local ingredients and transporting diners through the flavours of the Sierra.
La Casa de Manolo Franco creates the perfect atmosphere for a romantic dinner or for those who wish to gift an unforgettable gastronomic experience in a warm and welcoming setting — where every detail is designed to touch the heart through the palate.
APICIUS #46
"There are decisions that are not thought through. They are felt. Like an ancient call, as if the blood itself whispered in your ear. Manu Franco had everything to keep circling the globe: he was one of Spain’s great sports journalists, with the roar of engines as his soundtrack and Formula 1 as his home. Until one day, he decided to slow down. To return. To look within. And then the inevitable happened: La Casa de Manolo Franco — that humble family restaurant, full of memory — became the new circuit. But here, there are no podiums or flags. Only depth, hard work, and emotion. From that corner of the Madrid sierra — hidden yet incandescent — Manu has built a place that shines without needing to make noise. A gastronomic beacon where excellence is served with simplicity, and where every dish tells more than any sports chronicle ever could. For all this, Manu Franco is in Apicius. Because his story is fuel for the soul. And because sometimes, slowing down is the best way to arrive."
El reportero de Fórmula 1 que dejó el periodismo para montar un restaurante y ganar una Estrella Michelin.
Una de las seis estrellas Michelin repartidas en la Comunidad de Madrid recayó en Valdemorillo donde se ubica La casa de Manolo Franco
El periodista de Fórmula 1 que cambió a Fernando Alonso para rescatar el bar de sus padres en Valdemorillo
Manu Franco dirige La Casa de Manolo Franco, en Valdemorillo, casa en la que nos invita a dar un maravilloso paseo por la Sierra sentados a la mesa con las hierbas, especias y productos del entorno como hilo conductor.
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Manuel Franco: «Como periodista aprendí a hacer lo que siento más allá de las modas»
Hablamos con el chef de La Casa de Manolo Franco (Valdemorillo) tras degustar el menú «Cerrar los ojos», cuyos elegantes y delicados platos cuentan una historia, que nos lleva a pasar un día en la Sierra