Mercado de San Miguel is one of the busiest places to visit in Madrid and one that’s on everyone’s bucket list for when they visit. It is the place to have your lunch and try some Spanish tapas. We visited the market on our final day so we could try some food for a late lunch/early dinner before our flight.

The market was first opened around 1916. It is one of Madrid’s oldest and most beautiful markets, within early-20th-century glass walls and an inviting space strewn with tables. You can order tapas and sometimes more substantial plates at most of the counter bars, and everything here (from caviar to chocolate) is as tempting as the market is alive. 

It does get incredibly busy with locals having lunch or dinner whilst at work and with the added tourists, it can get very hard finding a table to have some food.

READ MORE: 10 Spain Travel Tips You Need To Know

BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL

• • The address for the market is: Plaza de San Miguel, S/N, 28005 Madrid, Spain.
• • The market is open from 10am – 12am Monday to Friday and 10am – 1am Saturday and Sunday. Opening hours may differ on religious days.
• • You can visit the website for Mercado de San Miguel for more information.

NAVIGATE YOUR WAY TO MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL

Open this blog post / map on your phone and use it to navigate when you’re there to find your way to the market…

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STALLS AND FOOD TO TRY

There are so many amazing and yummy food stalls around the market for you to try. From a mixture of cuisines and types of food including this delicious gelato stall where you can make up your own combination of gelato flavours and toppings, a caviar and champagne bar and a fresh seafood stall with enormous swordfish decorating their stall.

I first stopped at Rocambolesc Gelato stall to try their ice cream. I chose both chocolate and vanilla ice cream and topped it with honeycomb pieces, fresh strawberries, crunchy chocolate pieces and popping candy. The gelato was so delicious, I didn’t want it to end. I would definitely go back and get some more next time I visit Madrid.

READ MORE: A Guide To Exploring Madrid In 5 Days

We then came back later in the day after some more exploring to get some late lunch/early dinner before our flight home. It was really busy with tourists and also locals getting their lunch whilst at work. It took quite a while for us to grab a table as we had to wait for others to leave before we snuck in their spot. We went up in twos to get food and drinks whilst the others stayed in their spot to keep the table otherwise it would have gone.

My first stall stop was a pizza stall that sell mini pizzas. I picked up their margarita pizza. It was yummy and definitely didn’t last long as I was so hungry. I then went off with my Dad to get some more food, he stopped at a the fresh seafood stall with the massive swordfish on their display. He picked up 3 shrimp cones but didn’t realise they were €15. I picked up some yummy nachos from a Mexican stand that sold tacos, nachos and Mexican beer.

Those nachos were delicious and a little bit spicy which I loved. I then stopped at my last stall which I picked up a bao bun sandwich which was flavoured as a caprese salad of mozzarella, tomato and pesto. There were so many flavours I didn’t know which one to pick.

TIPS FOR WHEN YOU ARE AT THE MARKET:

• • Reserve your spot on a table whilst you’re there, if you have more people with you get them to stay by the table whilst you get your food and take it in turns. If you are alone, grab your food before you sit down and that way you won’t lose your spot.
• • Look out for the prices. Most of the dishes will be priced around €3 each but look out for the €15 fish dishes.
• • There are beggars around the outside of the market begging for money, the police just say to ignore them and do not engage with them.

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