Hello everyone,

I have a visitor arriving later this week and one of her main interests is going to a food market. I wonder what your recommendations would be for a food market as a tourist attraction. I usually go to the one in my area (Ibiza), I think its ok but I´m not sure if its that entertaining. I read in another thread that Candela really liked Anton Martin market. How about Mercado de los Mostenses? Would that be an entertaining market to see? My friend is Asian American so I thought it might be but I´ve never been there.

the loveliest market with the most amazing food stalls in madrid is Mercado de la Paz in Barrio Salamanca at Calle de Ayala, 28.

The stalls called La Boulette are the most spectacular. At the raucous Casa Dani, have good tostada with jamon and tomato.

I like Anton Martin Market because it is so close to the center and it is very traditional. Also, there is a tiny, bright red knife-perfume shop that is fantastic. If your friend likes to cook, she can get amazing Albacete knives here for a fraction of what they would cost in the states. And, at the far end of the market is the Art Deco Cine Dore which is the perfect respite for a coffee.

I am sure Mariposita will offer a few of her own favorite markets as she is a fellow market lover.

Hello,

I am interested in this topic too, what`s about San Miguel market? - it`s not so far from the place I will stay in Madrid in the end of April. I will come with my little daughter and I wolud like to cook for her so food markets is very important for me What`s about another markets or "Alimentaciones" close to Plaza Mayor?

hey Castalla.

i like t wander around markets every chance i get.

you can forget about the mercado de san miguel for the end of april, it is being totally remodeled inside and is currently closed and gutted.

i know this first hand since my kitchen balcony overlooks the market

they wanted to be ready to open for this summer but rumor has it the project will take at least another 6 months and the market will re-open with fancier gourmet stalls and flower stands.

only 2 of the previous stands held out and did not sell out, one is a fruit stand owned by a rather interesting character named joaquin and the other a seafood stand.

if i were you i would take your daughter to the mercado de la cebada in la latina (plaza de la cebada) and the mercado de antón martín in antón martin. the former is a 5 min. walk from plaza mayor and the latter is 10 minutes.

also, go to the mercado de los mostenses which is in the plaza de los mostenses north side of gran vía between plaza de españa and novicado. a bit tougher to find than the others, see map at http://callejero.lanetro.com/apps/lanetro/mapas.asp?pai...2Dmadrid&prov=Madrid .

saludos,
jer...

Thank you Jer, I am very appreciate your informaton. If you are so great expert and live next door the market could you say some words on current prices in avarage?
I am interested in tomatoes, cheese, oranges, olive oil, beef, tuna, eggs, milk.

Thank you so much in advance.

hi Castalia.

prices will vary slightly depending on brands and the market you go to.

- tomatoes: depends on what kind (vine, cherry, normal, etc...).

- cheese: depends on what kind (there are MANY).

- oranges: for making juice or for eating?

- olive oil: from 2.5-4.5 euros per liter depending on the brand and where you buy it.

- beef: depends on what kind and what quality.

- tuna: fresh or frozen?

- eggs: approx. 1.40-1.60 euros dozen.

- milk: depends on what brand but from 70 cents to 1.20 euros per liter.

so, as you can see, you will need to be a lot more specific on a few of the items above.

also, some of the staple food god that you mention like olive oil, eggs and milk are less expensive if gotten at the normal supermarkets here (día, lidl, gama, carrefour, alcampo, etc...).

saludos,
jer...

Dear Jer,
Thank you for your detail answer.
Yes, my question was not correct a bit
I would like to know prices for normal tomatoes, oranges for eating, fresh tuna, cheapest cheeses, as for beef - fresh flesh and daughter asks about strawberries.
Also could you answer what supermarkets are close Plaza Mayor?
Thank you very much.

Castalia--
There's a GAMA supermarket right next to the northwest corner of the Plaza Mayor (right on the corner where Mercado de San Miguel is/will be. I like it better than the Maxi Día on Calle de Toledo (a few blocks south of the Plaza Mayor). You will also be close to the El Corte Inglés supermarket in the basement of the department store on calle Preciados. It's not a great place for produce, but you can get lots of other staples and it is open until 10pm (later than the others).

You can find lots of produce stands in the Mercado de la Cebada (the closest market to the Plaza Mayor). There are also quite a few freestanding fruterías, like the one on the west side of Cava Baja or Mesón de Paredes (?) south of Plaza Tirso de Molina. There's a store that specializes in wild mushrooms next to the Mercado de San Miguel (calle Conde de Miranda). And an amazing store that specializes in all kinds of different olives on the Plaza El General Vara del Rey (north side). There are two good pastelerías (pastry shops) on the calle Mayor-->la Santiaguesa y El Riojano. My favorite bakery is La Tahona on calle Tabernillas (two blocks south of the Mercado de la Cebada on the east side).

Keep in mind that supermarkets are open all day long, but markets and smaller stores mentioned above are all closed for lunch between 2:00 and 5:00 (and then open until 8:00ish).

Have fun!

P.S. There's a nice playground in the Plaza del Oriente (in front of the Palacio Real) that your daughter might like.

Thank you so much, Mariposita for your detailed information.

...if you find yourself at Anton Martin at lunchtime, make sure to check out the crummy little Peruvian/Colombian diner on the lower level, Sta. Isabel side. They have the best tamale I´ve had in ages, almost big as your head and full of steamy deliciousness!