diff --git a/src/petab_gui/controllers/mother_controller.py b/src/petab_gui/controllers/mother_controller.py
index 9124e77..4cb6dd7 100644
--- a/src/petab_gui/controllers/mother_controller.py
+++ b/src/petab_gui/controllers/mother_controller.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     ConditionController, ParameterController
 from .logger_controller import LoggerController
 from ..views import TaskBar
-from .utils import prompt_overwrite_or_append
+from .utils import prompt_overwrite_or_append, RecentFilesManager
 from functools import partial
 
 
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ def __init__(self, view, model: PEtabModel):
             self.condition_controller,
             self.sbml_controller
         ]
+        # Recent Files
+        self.recent_files_manager = RecentFilesManager(max_files=10)
         # Checkbox states for Find + Replace
         self.petab_checkbox_states = {
             "measurement": False,
@@ -180,6 +182,10 @@ def setup_connections(self):
         self.view.plot_dock.visibilityChanged.connect(
             lambda visible: self.actions["show_plot"].setChecked(visible)
         )
+        # Recent Files
+        self.recent_files_manager.open_file.connect(
+            partial(self.open_file, mode="overwrite")
+        )
 
     def setup_actions(self):
         """Setup actions for the main controller."""
@@ -265,6 +271,8 @@ def setup_actions(self):
         actions["reset_model"].triggered.connect(
             self.sbml_controller.reset_to_original_model
         )
+        # Recent Files
+        actions["recent_files"] = self.recent_files_manager.tool_bar_menu
 
         # Filter widget
         filter_widget = QWidget()
@@ -470,6 +478,7 @@ def open_file(self, file_path=None, mode=None):
                 mode = prompt_overwrite_or_append(self)
         if mode is None:
             return
+        self.recent_files_manager.add_file(file_path)
         self._open_file(actionable, file_path, sep, mode)
 
     def _open_file(self, actionable, file_path, sep, mode):
diff --git a/src/petab_gui/controllers/utils.py b/src/petab_gui/controllers/utils.py
index 4745e15..a9f2500 100644
--- a/src/petab_gui/controllers/utils.py
+++ b/src/petab_gui/controllers/utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-from PySide6.QtWidgets import QMessageBox
+from PySide6.QtWidgets import QMessageBox, QMenu
+from PySide6.QtCore import QObject, Signal, QSettings
+from PySide6.QtGui import QAction
 
 
 def prompt_overwrite_or_append(controller):
@@ -17,4 +19,52 @@ def prompt_overwrite_or_append(controller):
     elif msg_box.clickedButton() == overwrite_button:
         return "overwrite"
     elif msg_box.clickedButton() == append_button:
-        return "append"
\ No newline at end of file
+        return "append"
+
+
+class RecentFilesManager(QObject):
+    """Manage a list of recent files."""
+    open_file = Signal(str)  # Signal to open a file
+
+    def __init__(self, max_files=10):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.max_files = max_files
+        # TODO: link together with other settings, i.e. move settings to mc
+        self.settings = QSettings("PEtab_GUI", "PEtab_GUI")
+        self.recent_files = self.load_recent_files()
+        self.tool_bar_menu = QMenu("Recent Files")
+        self.update_tool_bar_menu()
+
+    def add_file(self, file_path):
+        """Add a file to the recent files list."""
+        if file_path in self.recent_files:
+            self.recent_files.remove(file_path)
+        self.recent_files.insert(0, file_path)
+        self.recent_files = self.recent_files[:self.max_files]
+        self.save_recent_files()
+        self.update_tool_bar_menu()
+
+    def load_recent_files(self):
+        """Load recent files from settings."""
+        return self.settings.value("recent_files", [])
+
+    def save_recent_files(self):
+        """Save recent files to settings."""
+        self.settings.setValue("recent_files", self.recent_files)
+
+    def update_tool_bar_menu(self):
+        """Create a menu for the tool bar."""
+        self.tool_bar_menu.clear()
+        for idx, file_path in enumerate(self.recent_files):
+            action = QAction(file_path, self.tool_bar_menu)
+            action.triggered.connect(lambda: self.open_file.emit(file_path))
+            self.tool_bar_menu.addAction(action)
+        self.tool_bar_menu.addSeparator()
+        clear_action = QAction("Clear Recent Files", self.tool_bar_menu)
+        clear_action.triggered.connect(self.clear_recent_files)
+
+    def clear_recent_files(self):
+        """Clear the recent files list."""
+        self.recent_files = []
+        self.save_recent_files()
+        self.update_tool_bar_menu()
diff --git a/src/petab_gui/utils.py b/src/petab_gui/utils.py
index 0c9f031..5b1b344 100644
--- a/src/petab_gui/utils.py
+++ b/src/petab_gui/utils.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 from .C import ROW, COLUMN, INDEX
 import antimony
 import os
-import numpy as np
 import math
 
 
@@ -24,6 +23,7 @@ def _checkAntimonyReturnCode(code):
     if code < 0:
         raise Exception('Antimony: {}'.format(antimony.getLastError()))
 
+
 def sbmlToAntimony(sbml):
     """ Convert SBML to antimony string.
 
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ def sbmlToAntimony(sbml):
     _checkAntimonyReturnCode(code)
     return antimony.getAntimonyString(None)
 
+
 def antimonyToSBML(ant):
     """ Convert Antimony to SBML string.
 
diff --git a/src/petab_gui/views/task_bar.py b/src/petab_gui/views/task_bar.py
index adb0a87..fb96bcd 100644
--- a/src/petab_gui/views/task_bar.py
+++ b/src/petab_gui/views/task_bar.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ def __init__(self, parent, actions):
         self.menu.addAction(actions["open"])
         self.menu.addAction(actions["add"])
         self.menu.addAction(actions["save"])
+        self.menu.addMenu(actions["recent_files"])
         self.menu.addSeparator()
         self.menu.addAction(actions["close"])