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The best markets in Spain. Mercado Central Market Mercado Market

The capital of Spain is famous for being ideal for a relaxed pastime. Here, even the most responsible tourist in the world, who a month before the trip made a list of museums and galleries that are required to visit, may have an irresistible temptation to completely forget about the cultural program, and instead go to taste Iberian jamon and local cheeses.

Let's not condemn our imaginary guest of Madrid, because the desire to replace cultural and educational leisure with gastronomic pleasures in the case of the capital of Spain can be called more than natural.

Those who want to taste all the best at once should go to the markets of Madrid. Fortunately, as elsewhere in Spain, here you can not only buy food for the house, but also taste local specialties, as they say, without leaving the cash register. There are five major markets in Madrid, today we will honestly tell you about each of them.

1. MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL

The most central market of the city is called Mercado de San Miguel. It is located on the Plaza de San Miguel of the same name, which is just halfway to the Royal Palace of Madrid from Plaza de Sol.

The market is curious not only in terms of gastronomic pleasures, its building also deserves attention. It is considered a model of Madrid Art Nouveau, it was built in the capital of Spain in 1916, and it took almost 80 years to build it. In addition to cheeses and jamon, you can taste the freshest oysters and farm fruits here, and in addition to good wine, visitors to the San Miguel market often taste vermouth or gin and tonic at the counter - these drinks are very popular in Spain today.

Can I recommend Mercado de San Miguel without reservation to everyone? I don't have a definite answer to this question. On the one hand, the market is large and extremely conveniently located; until the 80s of the 20th century, almost all residents of Madrid went shopping here. True, then the invisible hand of the market did something bad with the mercado - large supermarkets lured away most of its regular customers. In the 90s, the market was thought to be completely closed, but then private investors intervened. They bought the building, carried out a massive renovation, bet on tourists and reopened the Mercado de San Miguel in 2009.

In the photo: salads with crab at the market de San Miguel

As a result, the market is beautiful, but expensive - prices are much higher compared to other places, and there are practically no local people here - all guests of the city living near Plaza de Sol and Plaza Mayor. However, these facts do not affect the quality of jamon or cheeses in any way, plus there are many cafes with cuisine for every taste, there is even a sushi bar. In a word, if you have no desire to leave the city center, and you are not particularly chasing the authentic atmosphere of a traditional Madrid market, then feel free to go to Mercado de San Miguel, it is open from 10 am.

Mercado de San Miguel address: Plaza de San Miguel
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday: from 10.00 to 12.00. Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

2. MERCADO DE LA PAZ

A much more authentic market in Madrid is located in the most fashionable and fashionable area of Salamanca, where there are a lot of shops of various brands: from flagship luxury boutiques to small shops of Spanish designers.

Mercado de la Paz is a small but very cozy market. There is not only the best jamon, cheeses for every taste and even exotic fruits brought from Morocco, but also cafes and a wine cellar. There are few tourists, but there are a lot of well-groomed wives of wealthy Spaniards - they meticulously choose what to feed their family for dinner. Chefs of restaurants located in Salamanca are also bought in the same market.

The atmosphere on the mercado is completely relaxed, if you understand Spanish, you can listen to a whole lecture about one or another Spanish specialty, because local sellers are open people and always willing to chat with buyers.

Mercado de la Paz address: Calle de Ayala, 28
Opening hours: Monday - Friday: from 9.00 to 14.30 and from 17.00 to 20.00. Saturday from 9.00 to 14.30, Sunday is a day off.

3. MERCADO DE MARAVILLAS

Do you think size matters? Then head to the Mercado de Maravillas. This market is huge, under its roof there was a place for as many as 200 shops with Spanish specialties, and they also sell products from Mexico, Italy and even South Korea. The market was opened in Madrid in 1942, it makes sense to go here not only for jamon and cheese, but also for rarities, for example, here you can taste edible snails, lamb, crabs or boiled beef tongue.

Mercado de Maravillas is also a great place to try real paella, as the restaurants open in the market are consistently included in the lists of the best restaurants in the city serving this dish.

Mercado de Maravillas address: Calle Bravo Murillo, 122
Opening hours: Monday - Friday: from 09.00 to 14.00h and from 17.30 to 20.30. Saturday from 09.00 to 15.00, Sunday is a day off.

4. MERCADO DE ANTON MARTIN

Anton Martin is my favorite area of Madrid, with traditional bars with walls lined with colored tiles, and the historic Cina Dore cinema built back in 1912, the streets here are narrow and steep, and the houses are buried in the arms of wild grapes.

Mercado de Anton Martin is a two-story market, you can find it simply by carcasses of lambs and hefty pieces of beef, which are sold in shops on the way to the market, so if you are a vegetarian and such a spectacle disgusts you no less than the idea of bullfighting, save your nerves and don't come here. To the rest: "Welcome!"

In the photo: oysters at the Anton Martin market

Anton Martin market is a bohemian place. Here you can taste the same jamon, washing down the delicacy with wine that is sold in the bars of the market. Cooking master classes are also held here, and there are also shops selling beer. home production. By the way, today in Spain, as in Italy, small breweries are very common. Their owners don't try to brew beer in industrial scale, but rely on an exclusive product of incredibly high quality. In a word, I advise lovers of good beer to visit Mercado de Anton Martin - you will be pleasantly surprised. And a bonus for those who like late night gatherings - restaurants in the market are open until 23.30, however, this is logical, because in Spain they dine very late.

Address Mercado de Anton Martin: Calle de Santa Isabel, 5
Shop opening hours: Monday-Friday from 9.00 to 21.00, Saturday from 9.00 to 15.00, restaurants are open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 23.00. Sunday is a day off.

5. MERCADO DE SAN ANTON

Near the gay and colorful gay quarter of Chueca is the Market de San Anton. It is part of a large grocery store, and the peculiarity of the mercado is that here you can try those types of tapas that are traditional not only for Madrid, but also for other regions of Spain.

If it happens that you overeat jamon and you are drawn to the usual and simple, then keep in mind that excellent burgers are made at the de San Anton market, and they are served on the terrace, which offers a great view of the Spanish capital.

Address Mercado de San Anton: Calle de Augusto Figueroa, 24
Opening hours: daily from 10.00 to 00.00

Well, if you want to stroll through the markets of Madrid with a trusted expert, then

Food markets in Madrid have long moved from the status of just markets to real centers of gastronomic culture, where you can not only buy fresh and high-quality products, try traditional cuisine, relax in a cozy cafe or restaurant, but also visit a food festival, culinary seminars, admire the unique architecture building.

Mercado San Miguel is one of the most famous markets in Madrid.

The San Miguel market in Madrid is a real center of culinary culture, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The market first opened its doors to visitors on May 13, 1916.

Mercado San Miguel boasts not only good cuisine and fresh products, which we will discuss below, but also a good location. The market is located in the heart of Madrid, not far from the Plaza Mayor and the main square Puerta del Sol. Separately, it is worth mentioning the Mercado San Miguel building, which is the only architectural monument in the city made of iron. So, in addition to the gastronomic market, it is also of cultural interest.

In the market you can find many delicious products, there are ready-made traditional snacks, fresh vegetables, fruits and sweets, meat products. Separately, it is worth mentioning a large selection of fish and seafood - the counters are simply bursting with such an abundance.

On the territory of the market there are many bars and small restaurants that offer visitors to enjoy traditional dishes: paella, all kinds of tapas, croquettes and traditional patatas bravas. The menu is updated every day.

Be prepared for the fact that the market is always full of visitors, it is popular with tourists and locals alike.

Address: Plaza de San Miguel, s/n, 28005 Madrid.

Mercado San Antón - a market where you can cook a product you just bought

Mercado San Anton - a place with rich history, originally it was a street market, which later grew and became so famous that it was mentioned in the book "Fortunata and Jacinta" by the Spanish writer, a representative of critical realism Benito Pérez Galdos.

The San Anton Market in Madrid has retained its original concept: the first floor of the building is a classic market with many trading floors where you can choose and buy fresh vegetables, fruits, greens, as well as meat products, fish, cheeses and smoked meats, delicious desserts and traditional sweets, spices and much more.

On the second floor of the building there is a food court, where everyone can order traditional cuisine, accompanying lunch with a glass of fine wine or a traditional wine drink - sangria.

The third floor of the market is a terrace, where an open-air restaurant is located, offering its visitors to treat themselves to delicious dishes from the chef. The concept of the restaurant is very interesting, in addition to dishes from the menu, visitors can choose any product they like on the counter, and the chefs of the establishment will prepare it to your taste with the addition of top quality garnish and sauces. This service is called “Cooking de la cocina de San Antón”.

When visiting Madrid's San Anton food market, take a look at a special place called Murua Oleoteca, where the best varieties olive oils, which can only be found in the city, at good prices.

Address: Calle de Augusto Figueroa, 24, 28004 Madrid.

Mercado de la Cebada - one of the oldest markets in Madrid

At the end of the 18th century fast growth population in Madrid contributed to the creation of a market that could provide the townspeople with fresh products. So, on June 11, 1875, by order of King Alfonso II, the Mercado de la Cebada food market was created, which until the 20th century was one of the most important shopping areas in Madrid.

On the vast territory of the market there are fish and butcher shops, shops with fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as cafeterias and bars for every taste. In total, there are about 200 outlets here.

The Mercado de la Cebada hosts many exciting gastronomic events. On certain dates there are special offers and discounts in restaurants and bars of the market.

Address: Plaza de la Cebada, s/n, 28005 Madrid.

Mercado San Ildefonso - for connoisseurs of simple and tasty dishes and snacks

Mercado San Ildefonso in Madrid has a unique and colorful street market atmosphere with small food stalls selling freshly prepared delicacies.

On each of the three floors of the market there is a bar where you can relax in a pleasant atmosphere, there are also two terraces on the territory with a magnificent view of the city.

The San Ildefonso market is a real paradise for lovers of delicious and varied food! It is pleasantly surprising that the menu is often updated, so every time you can discover more and more new dishes.

A place called Mi Taco is very popular, where everyone can taste traditional Mexican cuisine. Delicious tacos are served here! For a light snack, you can go to Strip Papas and try potatoes cooked according to the original recipe with various sauces to your taste.

Enjoy a traditional Spanish breakfast at Granja Malasaña, which serves excellent egg dishes. We advise you to try the tortilla or soft-boiled eggs with potato garnish and tartar sauce.

The concept of Boqueat croqueteria is interesting (croquettes are deep-fried round or oval crispy balls of thick bechamel sauce with various fillings), where everyone can buy a box of croquettes with different fillings and individual sauces.

Every year, the Mercado San Ildefonso market in Madrid hosts the Street Food Fest, where you can try dishes from different cities around the world. Between the end of May and June, the festival hosts weeks dedicated to the cuisine of one of the cities.

Address: Calle de Fuencarral, 57, 28004 Madrid.

Mercado San Fernando - organic products

In addition to events of a gastronomic nature, various seminars are held in the market premises, recreational activities, concerts and shows .

On the territory of the market you can take coffee in one of the coffee houses. And in the evening - drink a glass of wine or taste local beers in bars located on the territory of the gastronomic market of Madrid. Local restaurants serve dishes from various cuisines of the world: traditional Mediterranean, Greek, Japanese and many others.

Address: Calle de Embajadores, 41, 28012 Madrid.

Mercado de la Paz - a market with a unique atmosphere

One of the oldest markets in Madrid, which was founded back in 1882, has been offering its visitors a wide range of products of the highest quality for many centuries.

A true paradise for croquet lovers! On the territory of the Mercado de la Paz market, there is a famous and beloved by all tourists and locals croqueteria Le Croquette, where you can try real homemade croquettes cooked according to a traditional recipe.

Satisfy your hunger by tasting a delicious and juicy hamburger at Hamburguesa Nostra. The restaurant offers a choice of 30 variations of burger patties made from natural products High Quality.

Address: Centro Comercial La Paz, Calle de Ayala, 28, 28001 Madrid.

Mercado de Platea - a place for real gourmets

The Mercado de Platea market is a real gastronomic shopping mall, where on 6000 sq. m there are many gourmet shops and fresh products, as well as bars and restaurants. This is a real paradise for gourmets and gourmets.

On the territory of the market there are many restaurants that offer their visitors high quality service, dishes of various cuisines of the world, from traditional Mediterranean cuisine to Japanese, Chinese and Peruvian.

For those with a sweet tooth, we advise you to visit Mama Framboise, an exquisite pastry shop with a large selection of pastries, cakes, sweets and other gourmet products from maestro Alejandro Montes, who prepares author's sweets from high-quality products with the addition of a secret ingredient - love.

In the Mercado de Platea, you can try dishes from famous chefs. For example, the Arriba restaurant serves dishes from Ramon Freich, who received two stars from the Michelin, as well as three suns from the Spanish guide Repsol.

Ribeira Market is the largest and most famous food market in Lisbon. It is located near the Cais do Sodré station, so if you are suddenly going to visit the Lisbon Riviera - Cascais and Estoril, it will be convenient for you to go to the market on the way and get acquainted with the assortment. If your hotel is located in the Bairro Alto area, then you can easily walk to the market, buy food there, or just eat there at the huge food court - Time out market.

Now there are two markets in the building, working in antiphase. An ordinary, familiar to us, market, they sell vegetables, fish, greens there in the first half of the day from 6 am to 2 pm, Time out market is open from 10 am to 12 am from Sunday to Wednesday, and from Thursday to Saturday He does work from 10 am to 2 am. The most fun and excitement begins there after 7-8 pm.

The Ribeira Market, also known as the 24th of July Market, became the main food market in Lisbon as early as 1892. At this time, the market was opened in a modern building with a large dome. In 2014, the market experienced a rebirth — international company"Time out market", originally from London, opened a huge food court in the old market and thus attracted many tourists.

Exterior view of the Ribeira market

Traditional part of the Ribeira market

First of all, we were interested in fish stalls, because Lisbon stands almost on the very shore of the ocean and everything should be in order with fish there - fresh, tasty and in quantity. Of all this variety, we settled on a sword fish (in the upper right corner in the photo), since we don’t sell such fish at all, we bought ourselves a piece and fried it in a pan in our apartment. The fish was super, tender, melts in your mouth. Prices for fish in the Ribeira market are from 10 to 25 € per kilogram. Unfortunately, sellers put price tags in such a way that it is not possible to photograph them so that they can be clearly seen.

Counters with fish

I was also surprised by the huge octopuses sold in Lisbon, I somehow got used to small octopuses for one bite, but here they are just healthy specimens, more than half the size of a human being, if you stretch out your head and tentacles. We did not dare to cook the octopus ourselves, we need to cook it for 1 hour, we thought that we would not have the patience to wait so long after a whole day of walking around Lisbon. We ordered once an octopus in a restaurant, we also liked it very much. The octopus was served with potatoes in uniforms.

Counters with fish

But we did not dare to try sea ducks or, more correctly, percebes crustaceans. We looked at them in the market and decided that they were very ugly. Clams cost from 8 to 15€ per net.

Clam stand

Another photo of Pasha with tuna. Then we watched how two saleswomen deftly and quickly butchered this fish in just a couple of minutes.

Pasha with tuna carcass

Fruit counters will not say that surprised. The assortment is quite common, the only thing I have not tried is green cones, everything else can be bought in St. Petersburg.

Fruit stalls

vegetable counter

It is curious that the Portuguese are also engaged in gardening. While traveling by bus from Cascais to Sintra, we saw the gardens of local residents. They grow mainly potatoes and cabbage. Seedlings are sold in abundance in the market. But the usual pots with houseplants in Portugal are put on the other side of the window, they are warm.

Seedlings and house flowers

Food court – Time out market

We visited the market in the morning, so the hall is empty. In the evening, there is a full house here, so lovers of small cozy establishments do not belong here. But a huge selection of dishes and cuisines is an absolute advantage of this place. Here you can try not only Portuguese cuisine, but also Italian, Japanese, Balkan and American, of course, where in our time without hamburgers. In general, everyone will find in this variety something to their exacting taste. Christmas decoration On the market
Standard view of one of the restaurants

In total, we went to the market in the morning and spent only 30 minutes exploring it. Of course, the main market of Lisbon is far from the Barcelona Boqueria in terms of color. Perhaps we got the impression that we were in December during the low season. Perhaps in the summer the range of fruits increases significantly. Another similar market is located at the last stop of tram number 28 - Campo de Ourique (Prazeres)) - Mercado de Campo de Ourique market. There prices are cheaper, but the market itself is smaller and less pretty. Mercado de Campo de Ourique also has a food court where you can have a good meal.

Would you like to travel to Lisbon on your own? Read in one short article. You will learn: about all types of airport transfers (price), about the cost of tickets for public transport, get a city tour plan for 6 days, find out which museums are worth visiting and which ones to skip.

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The capital city of Santo Domingo is also a shopping destination. You will discover the unique "Mercado Modelo" market, founded in 1942 by the dictator Trujillo. The model market is located in the center of Santo Domingo next to de El Conde, on the way to Avenida Mella. It is housed in an aging two-story building north of Zona Colonial Square, next to a neighborhood of Chinese restaurants and shops. This square is not only historical monuments, but also markets and shops within a short drive.

It is impossible to say that the bazaar has an exemplary system, but based on the considerations that it is possible to buy anything you want here, Mercado Modelo justifies its name.

Paradise for a shopaholic

This frenetic shopping location is largest market crafts in the capital. It is surrounded by food stalls that cater to local shoppers and was once a popular local market. Today, its goods and prices are geared towards tourists, although Dominicans also come here to buy some things. The Mercado Modelo in Santo Domingo consists of several dozen similar shops selling typical art, local paintings (many of them Haitian), CDs, Dominican and Cuban cigars, liquors, souvenirs and decorations, Mamajuana (a bottle filled with roots and spices that used for seasonal rum), faceless dolls that represent a mixture of Dominican cultural backgrounds. Along with souvenirs, you will find household items, fruits and vegetables, as well as typical culinary ingredients such as vanilla, spices. Meat and fish stalls are located on the ground floor. If you are looking for something special to hang on the walls of your home then this is the perfect place to find it. There is a wide variety of arts and crafts to choose from. Woodcarving is also a popular specialty in Dominican culture.

While many products may seem mass production, the market hosts artists such as Giovanni Infante, who created his original painting in the market's narrow corridor over 20 years ago.

It truly counts as the ultimate shopping stop for all your souvenir shopping and needs. Here you will find excellent amber jewelry and a zesty liquor that is supposed to have seductive qualities. It is also worth visiting the shops that sell impressive Carnival masks.
Since the market is built for tourists who will pay the most high price, sellers are known to seek to obtain more money what their product is worth. The listed prices are noticeably higher in the Mercado Modelo market than in other bazaars, but they are negotiable. Sellers can be pushy and should not be trusted to accept most offers for the sake of selling goods. The problem is that this market is a magnet for tourists and the vendors are constantly beckoning visitors. The best thing to do is to get through it quickly and get to the other end of the market where you will immerse yourself in the real Dominican lifestyle among the many stalls with tropical fruits and cabbage chopping machines, it's a real feast of flavors and colors.

What's around?

The area around the Mercado Modelo is not the best in Santo Domingo, so it's best to take a taxi to the market, although walking during daylight hours is considered safe.

Older Dominicans remember the market as a place to shop for groceries, cooked meals, and other essentials, and while no longer a true city market, the bazaar remains a good shopping stop on a Dominican vacation. Even if the market is large and a bit overwhelming, it is still considered a place to buy gifts for friends and family.

Outside the market are local vendors selling drinks and snacks for bazaar lovers and passers-by. Be careful as this place is one of the more vibrant areas of the city and is full of hustle and bustle and is also home to pickpockets.

While shopping at the Mercado Modelo market, you may want to visit nearby shops such as La Sirena, Munecas Elisa souvenir shop, Libreria Pichardo bookstore.

Working hours

The Mercado Modelo market is open Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 2.30 pm to 7 pm.

How to get there

The bazaar is located in close proximity to Independence Park, on the famous Malecón Avenue, which stretches along the coast for 15 kilometers.