Best Markets In Madrid You Should Visit

The Mercado de San Miguel is one of the necessary stops for foodies in Madrid. It used to be a normal food market, but a few years ago it transformed into the heavenly creation it is today. It is one of the best places to eat in the center of the capital, as the multitude of stalls provides endless options for hungry visitors. Oysters, caviar, pastries, sushi, yogurt and calamari rolls are just a few of the delicious dishes that visitors can find here. A mecca for food-lovers, this is without a doubt one of the best markets in Madrid.

Located in the Matadero de Madrid in the Legazpi area of the city, the Central Market of Design is dedicated to showing the talented work of emerging illustrators, artists and designers that have no other way of showcasing their art. The market takes place on the first weekend of every month from 11am to 10pm. From time to time there are also free concerts or workshops, and it has become a classic with Madrid residents who are interested in fashion, decoration or design.

Madrid’s oldest street market, El Rastro, is located in the trendy La Latina neighborhood. It opens every Sunday at 9 a.m. and sells almost anything you can think of, both new and second-hand. Comics, books, records, shoes, clothes, jewelry – all are available in abundance at El Rastro. It can get incredibly crowded around midday, so it is best to go early in the morning. After bargaining for a bit and exploring the many stalls, why not go for tapas in one of the neighborhood’s many bars?

For environmentally friendly visitors, this market is the ideal place to go to shop. Adelita market sells objects that people no longer want or use, promoting the recycling of goods and sustainability in our consumer-crazy society. Anyone can sign up in advance to sell their own things, but it has to be with the aim of reusing and recycling. It takes place on the third weekend of every month from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. during the winter months and 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. during the summer months. Perfect for picking up something unique with a clean conscience.

Inaugurated a few years after Mercado de San Miguel, Mercado San Antón is known as another of the best gourmet restaurants in the capital. The market is something of a food museum; it has some of the best dishes in the city, whether it be tapas or more sophisticated meals, and the drinks that can be found here are of excellent quality. Warning: often visitors can be found wandering around, unable to choose at which stall to eat because of the huge array of possibilities.

The Mercado del Juguete Antiguo is an antique toy market. It was first established in 2007 by a group of friends who decided it was time to fill the antique toy market gap in Madrid. It takes place on the first Saturday of each month from 10:30am to 14:30pm, except during August. The market was so successful that a second toy market has been set up in the Centro Comercial Plaza Aluche on the third Saturday of every month, although this is not dedicated exclusively to antiques.

A bastion of urban chic, Mercado San Ildefonso is one of the best places to eat and drink in the fashionable Malasaña neighbourhood. Situated just a few minutes’ walk from Tribunal Metro, its three airy floors are home to twenty food stands, three bars and two intimate terraces. A good selection of international beers and ciders await you at Barra Beer Experience – conveniently the first place you’ll hit after entering – while up on the first-floor Brochets serves delicious beef, pork and chicken skewers (brochetas), and Paco’s Tacos offers Mexican classics such as nachos and burritos. It’s ideally located for refreshment while exploring the trendy Calle Fuencarral or shopping on Gran Via.

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Platea Madrid is a glitzy gastronomic centre in Salamanca where well-heeled locals go to see and be seen. More of a deluxe food hall than a market (you couldn’t do your grocery shopping here), Platea’s exciting culinary offerings justify its inclusion in this list. Housed in what used to be a theatre, the stage of which is still used for live music, its five glamorous levels present everything from traditional tapas to the bold creations of Michelin-star chef Ricard Camarena, installed in Canalla Bistro on the first floor. It’s not cheap, but if you love food and drink, it’s worth every euro.

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The thirty-odd bookstands ranged along the Cuesta de Moyano in the Botanical Gardens, just before you reach the Retiro park, comprise the best open-air bookstore in Madrid. For almost a hundred years, this leafy avenue has offered everything from collectible, leather-bound volumes to classic titles in several languages. The stores’ proprietors are hugely knowledgeable, so don’t be afraid to ask if you have a question, especially as some speak English well. Browsing here is the ideal beginning or end to a couple of hours relaxing in Retiro, Madrid’s most popular green space.

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A hipster vibe defines this characterful market, which is held on the second Sunday of the month inside Madrid’s Railway Museum (Museo de Ferrocarril), just opposite Atocha train station. Most of its 170 stands are placed amongst the old carriages and include specialists in vintage clothing and accessories, jewellery vendors, colourful food vans and veggie/vegan food stalls for a snack and caña (fans of Mexican cuisine will love MexiFoods). In addition to this vibrant setup, the mercado also offers a mini-train for kids to ride on, a range of children’s workshops and a varied calendar of live music.

Recommended by Mark Nayler.