One of the most historically and culturally important cafés in Madrid, Café Gijón was established in the 1880s, after the national victory in the Spanish Civil War. The café began to function as a separate meeting place for artists, writers, and intellectuals who were stifled under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Café Gijón occupies a prime location opposite the National Library of Spain on the central Paseo de Recotillos, making it an ideal place for sightseeing. The place offers a variety of food and sandwiches, in addition to chocolate cake, refreshing juices, and many others.