Mercado de San Miguel: What to eat at Madrid's most famous food market

Mercado de San Miguel: What to eat at Madrid’s most famous food market

rachelzheng

08 Aug 2017

updated the 10 August 2017 à 06:46

1/8
Mozzarella
With its attractive display, customers are always crowding around Mozheart, an artisanal mozzarella tapas bar. They use authentic Italian cheese made by Italian masters with over 30 years of experience. With numerous sweet and salty variations of fresh burrata, ricotta and fior di latte mozzarella heaped generously atop tostas (toasted bread), you'll be spoilt for choice. The flavour of the fluffy, creamy quality of the cheese used is unforgettable and worth the slightly pricer cost.

Photo: Mercado de San Miguel Twitter
2/8
Olives
La Hora del Vermut specialises in vermouth, which it is often the choice of aperitif in Spain, but also sells a truly impressive assortment of olives to pair with your drink. Banderillas (toothpick skewers) of olives come sweet, salty, and spicy in all kinds of combinations and seasonings. Ham, cheese, tomatoes, peppers, chilies, anchovies, and quail eggs are just some of the colourful permutations you'll find.

Photo: Mercado de San Miguel Twitter
3/8
Bacalao
Starting from as little as just €1, El Casa del Bacalao is a stall not to be missed. Bacalao is Spanish for cod, which is usually salted or dried. At El Casa del Bacalo, literally House of Cod, the stall owners prepare their own cod and sell it in various cod tapas such as ajoarriero (cod stew with red peppers), brandade (whipped salt cod spread), and cod foie. Besides cod, they also sell other seafood tapas such as Galician-style octopus, tuna, Norwegian smoked salmon, and pickled herring, all served atop tostas. Load up a plate and enjoy!

Photo: @foodbabynyc
4/8
Fresh oysters
Dating back to 1930, George Sorlut founded the Sorlut oyster bar in a small fisherman’s cabin, digging by hand in the ponds, called claires, where oyster refining is completed. Ostras Daniel Sorlut is a product of the second generation, which combines traditional methods with modern production processes to offer a range of oysters in unique flavours. A favourite among chefs, rigorous standards are observed to ensure the high quality of their oysters. Don't miss the chance to indulge in a few fresh ones, which you can enjoy with caviar and champagne.

Photo: Mercado de San Miguel Twitter
5/8
Gulas
Alevín Creative Cuisine sells various tapas all made using gulas, or imitation baby eels made from surimi (fish paste). They might look slimy, but seasoned in olive oil, are actually extremely tasty and a must-try for any tourist. Instagrammers, take note, because these make for an interesting food photo. Choose from classic gulas served with garlic, or served with shrimp and salmon atop bread.

Photo: Mercado de San Miguel Twitter
6/8
Crab
Those who love fresh seafood, in particular crab, should make a stop at Crab Crab, whose name is practically self-explanatory. You can get all manner of the crustacean here – fresh king crab and fun, creative crab tapas such as mini crab burgers and minced crab with seaweed and caviar. Holy crab indeed.

Photo: Mercado de San Miguel Twitter
7/8
Fried seafood
El Señor Martín is a fresh fish and seafood stall, but also sells market-fresh fried seafood – squid rings, boquerones (anchovies), and shrimp – served up in paper cones. Don't know which one to get? There's a mixed option, so you can try all of them.

Photo: Mercado de San Miguel Twitter
8/8
Paella
Paella y Olé offers the option of tapas portions of paella so you won't be too stuffed to try the other food choices available in the market. You'll see large pans of tantalising, colourful paella spread out before you, with seafood, vegetable, and meat varieties to choose from. If you're really hungry, full portions are also available, but we recommend getting small portions of different paella so you can sample the best of all worlds.

Photo: Mercado de San Miguel Twitter

Make a beeline for these eight stalls with our handy guide – it’s muy bien.

Ah, Spain. Where do we begin? We could wax lyrical all day about the rich culture of this country, from art to architecture, and of course, food. Compared to gastronomic meccas such as San Sebastian, which boasts the highest concentration of Michelin stars in the world, the capital city of Madrid has never been Spain’s most illustrious destination for food, but it offers food markets, which are vibrant, lively, and full of delectable treats.

Located in the centre of Madrid within walking distance from the Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel or the San Miguel Market is the most famous market in Madrid. The iconic market, which has been declared a Property of Cultural Interest, was originally constructed in 1916. In 2003, it was purchased by private investors who commenced a major, expensive restoration process. It reopened in 2009, retaining its historic iron structures. Far from being a traditional market, the present-day Mercado de San Miguel is a modern gourmet venue, with more than 30 unique vendors selling a wide variety of premium local produce. Besides being able to do day-to-day grocery shopping, the fun part is really in the food stalls, which sell a smorgasbord of freshly prepared tapas, seafood, cheese, and pastries, just to name a few. Beverages such as mojitos, sangria, and wine are also available. Moreover, tourists can rub shoulders with locals, with whom the market is an equally popular spot.

If you’re headed to Mercado de San Miguel, grab a bite at this list of eight must-visit stalls and enjoy the buzzy Madrid atmosphere!

Mercado de San Miguel is located at Plaza de San Miguel, s/n 28005, Madrid.

It is open from 10am to 12am from Mondays to Wednesdays and on Sundays, and from 10am to 2am from Thursdays to Saturdays.

Rachel Zheng

Photo: Mercado de San Miguel Twitter

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