La Nacional Restaurant closes for a complete renovation.

In anticipation of our 150th anniversary, La Nacional – Spanish Benevolent Society will take over the space in an effort to create a community restaurant and gathering place open to everyone. Our non-profit will be teaming up with some of the top culinary institutes in Spain – sponsoring the visas of the country’s best young chefs to manage and create in our kitchen. The Society will provide each chef with a free apartment in our historic brownstone to draw inspiration from La Nacional’s past and make it a culinary epicenter for Spanish food. The renovation will transform the space – providing for a stylish and contemporary makeover with a nod to the history and tradition of the Society. When we open in May 2016, we will offer diners quality food, reasonable prices and a neighborhood atmosphere for all to enjoy. Since 1868 La Nacional has been the cultural, spiritual and charitable center for Spaniards in New York. Yet we take great pride in opening our doors to everyone: Spanish-speakers, hispanophiles and of course, our local Downtown community. There is no owner of this institution – it is a non-profit run by the community, for the community. Lastly, we like to extend a heartfelt thank you to former lease owner Lolo Manso. Lolo put La Nacional on the culinary map when he opened 14 years ago. His charm, warmth and generosity will be missed. But he won’t be far: be sure to stop in at any of his fantastic restaurants – including Socarrat Paella Bar at 259 West 19th Street. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Executive Director Robert Sanfiz at (212) 929-7873 or email hola@lanacional.org. See you in mid-May! ABOUT LA NACIONAL We are Spaniards, lovers of Spanish culture, New Yorkers. Inside a multi-functional brownstone at the crossroads of Greenwich Village, Chelsea, and the Meatpacking District, visitors discover the oldest cultural center in the city and a passion for Spain. With live events, classes, authentic cuisine, art, music, and more, our not-for-profit organization supports the expression and promotion of a culturally diverse Spain. The Society is a final remnant of the once-thriving enclave known as “Little Spain” and our members seek to reinvigorate “Pequeña España” for the eclectic audiences we serve today. Spaniards of all kinds, including tourists, artisans, professionals and many others have benefited from our corner of Spain. It has served as a meeting ground for political dissidents and revolutionaries, avant-garde poets and artists – among them the groundbreaking director Luis Buñuel and the modernist poet Federico García Lorca, who wrote sections of his famous anthology “Poet in New York” during his stay at the Society. Since our founding in 1868, the primary objective of the La Nacional is to “promote, encourage and spread the spirit of fraternity and solidarity among Spanish and Hispanic-American residents of this country.” In those early years, we provided Spaniards with food, shelter, healthcare and afterlife services, while functioning as a home away from home. While the needs of our members have changed greatly since that time, the Spanish Benevolent Society still remains committed to assisting those who come from Spain to navigate the urban landscape of New York City.