Discover Mercado San Miguel, Madrid

Along the backside of Plaza Mayor, you will find the Mercado San Miguel. Originally built in 1916 as a wholesale market that sold supplies to local restaurants and cafes, it played an essential role in the neighborhood. Today, it brings people together through food and drinks. In 2009, the market was reopened, featuring an updated interior and exterior, while maintaining the original open-air feel and its iron structure, with modern touches. In its new iteration, the stalls feature tapas, snacks, and drinks, again bringing the neighborhood together. Today, the market is a fun tourist destination. The traffic ebbs and flows throughout the day, but by early evening, it can be quite packed. Typical of most cafes, it features stand-up bars where, after picking out a few options, you can gather with friends to share.

We make a point to enjoy tapas and drinks every time we visit Madrid. It’s a fun way to try different foods and enjoy Spain’s social atmosphere. The market does get crowded, and seating can be hard to come by, but the friendly people will share their space. What could be better than meeting locals, eating great food, and enjoying the Madrid evening?

To avoid the crowds, we suggest stopping in before mid-day, picking up a few snacks and a bottle of wine, and heading off to the Plaza Mayor to enjoy the sun or wandering the surrounding neighborhood. Late in the afternoon, it begins to get busy, but the busiest time is after 8 pm.