Mercado San Miguel

(Published in June 2019, Travel Post Monthly)

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We just happened to book our Air BnB right beside this wonderful Mercado. We had no idea what was in store and that in our three days in Madrid we would eat there at least once a day.

Checking into the air bnb we asked for a Mercado to pick up some food to cook. After all that's why we get an air bnb. Our young host said 'there's one right close but it's expensive. You can go to blah, blah at...' We were tired so didn't want to go far. And so our love affair began with Mercado San Miguel. 

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The lovely iron building was originally built in 1916, then in 2003 investors bought it, renovated it and opened it again in 2009. In 2000 it was designated a world heritage site.

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The building takes up a city block. It is iron and glass and light and feels old world. Inside it's a delightful array of food booths, really tapas booths, numerous places to get a drink and mostly stand up counters for eating. This is not just a tourist place. It's where everyone seems to go for a bite, a drink, and a chat.

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Prices start around 1.50 euro.  The food is stunning.  Olives stacked up, stuffed, on a stick; a cornet of chorizo;  salmon toasts and salmon rolled on a toothpick; chocolates to die for; jambon or ham from the cheap to the expensive from acorn eating pigs. Drinks that we got hooked on. 

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One evening after 9pm, after a food tour, we were still hungry so stopped at the Mercado, got a tapas and a drink and sat on the curb outside and watched the crowd go by and the gypsies beg for money. To us this was the reason we travel. To experience what life is like in another place. Totally enjoyable.

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Mercado San Miguel

Plaza de San Miguel, s/n 28005 Madrid, Spain

Open 10am to 12am Sun to Thu, Fri & Sat 10am to 1am

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