Alegrias en la Nacional

Founded in 1868, La Nacional – Spanish Benevolent Society is the oldest Spanish cultural institution in the United States. The Society has helped tens of thousands of Spanish immigrants find a home away from home. To this day, it remains committed to its mission, “to promote, encourage and spread the spirit of fraternity and solidarity among Spanish and Hispanic-American residents of this country”. Together with the society, La Nacional Restaurant, officially the cantina of the Spanish Benevolent Society, was created to be inclusive and to appeal to the wide array of people who call La Nacional their second home. This classic haunt has been feeding Spaniards and Latin Americans in New York since the 19th century from a historical brownstone in the heart of what was Little Spain. In celebration of our 150th anniversary, La Nacional for the first time in decades, took control of the space, to create a community restaurant and gathering place open to everyone. Our non-profit has teamed up with some of the top culinary institutes in Spain – sponsoring the visas of the country’s best chefs to manage and create in our kitchen. In their dishes, they draw inspiration from La Nacional’s past and combine it with their own contemporary style and techniques, making La Nacional Restaurant a culinary epicenter for Spanish food. Our restaurant offers diners quality food, reasonable prices, and a neighborhood atmosphere for all to enjoy.