Mercado de San Miguel: What To EAT & DRINK!

Where to eat and drink in the Mercado de San Miguel. 9 food stops! I taste tapas, paella, vermouth, wine and dessert. And I answer key questions: Is the San Miguel Market actually a market? Is it a tourist trap? And what's the best time to visit? Venga, let’s go! 🥝

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What do you eat and drink in the Mercado de San Miguel (aka the San Miguel Market)? It’s such a common question. And I understand the confusion! This place has so many options, and can get really busy!

In this video I take you inside the San Miguel Market for a food tour of sorts. We eat and drink at 9 different stops - including vermouth, olives, cheese, bacalao, fried fish, pintxos, paella and gelato. And I give you my honest opinion on each stop.

I also answer the following questions
- Is the Mercado de San Miguel a market?
- Is the Mercado de San Miguel a tourist trap?
- What time is the best time to visit the Mercado de San Miguel?

The places I stopped at to eat were:
1. La Hora del Vermut for vermouth and banderillas and olives
2. Mya Quesos for cheese
3. La Casa del Bacalao for bacalao and smoked sardines
4. Mr Pinkleton for wine
5. El Señor Martín for fried seafood
6. Arzábal for patatas bravas
7. Amaiketako for pintxos
8. Paella Power for paella
9. Rocambolesc for gelato

And I also give you my opinion on the market as a whole. Is it worth visiting? I think if it’s your first time then yes. But go when it’s quieter, and know that sometimes the prices are expensive. But that it’s a fun place to get your tapas sea legs. So it really should be the beginning of your tapas adventure, not the end of it.

And other traditional markets that I recommend you check out are:
1. Mercado de Antón Martín (don’t confuse this with Mercado de San Antón which is in Chueca - I don’t love it… it’s sort of a market, but not really a place where the grannies shop).
2. Mercado de la Paz
3. Mercado San Fernando
4. Mercado de las Maravillas

Enjoy!

WHO ARE WE? 🥝
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Hola, Spain lovers! We're James and Yoly. James is a New Zealander, and Yoly is from Spain. And we both live in Madrid. This channel is all about giving you a local insight into life in Spain, and helping you experience this country like a local when you come to visit (or live!). If that sounds like your kind of thing, bienvenido!

*This description contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you use them 🙏🏻

[spainrevealed]

Hi Spain Lovers! 👋 Have you been to the Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid? What did you think? Touristy? Worth it? Fun? In this video I give you my opinion - but I'm really curious about yours! Let us know below 👇👇

[annehenderson]

For certain, I need to return to Spain. What a glorious country where there is emphasis on the breaking of bread and sharing life over a great meal.

[fionluk]

I’ve been to Madrid 4 times, every time I visited this wonderful market
It is definitely not cheap, there is no service, it is difficult to even find a table to stand by. But I just like here

[MadamGazell]

I live right across the Mercado de Vallehermoso, and I love las señoras haciendo la compra. Wait! I am one of them!!

[annapaik]

Once again, very informative and helpful. Thank you!

[AznKenshin]

My gosh, I'm so glad I found your channel. Thanks for not being one of the Food Youtubers that almost feel "forced" to LOVE everything they taste. Thanks for your honest opinions. Keep it up. Subbed.

[piolinak]

Thank you for sharing. We were there last summer and it was amazing. Madrid es un lugar mágico. 🥰🥰

[nicolashogan]

Thank you for all those great videos about Madrid and Spain!

[Sheiwangi]

I love watching your videos! They're very informative and fun to watch. I'll be coming to Spain soon. ¡Hasta pronto!

[TheTravelingChzhed]

Hi James! This video is super helpful! Taking my first trip to Madrid at the beginning of October and have jotted down the names of all the stalls you mentioned! Your videos are awesome! Thanks!

[Marciap]

James, it’s nearly midnight in London, and I’m starving after watching this video. Excellent! So now I have even more excuses to visit Madrid (although I am passionate for Barcelona). And thanks for the tours links, etc Have a good week

[GlocknerBua]

Thanks much for all your Madrid food tips. Very helpful guides to excellent food and vermouth 🤩😋👍🍷🫒🍳🍗🍖

[syrkaros]

I prefer the Mercado de San Antón in Chueca. It's not so crowded and they have delicious food as well

[dcsportsmark]

I’ve been to this place stumbled across it and had no idea how amazing it was before walked in. Thanks for posting this amazing video.

[ZelcaMarland]

Super helpful! We'll be there in May, can't wait :)

[laurenbaccus]

Thanks for doing this one, James. It's been on my list of must sees. Two more weeks and I'll be drinking vermut! You are the maestro of vlogs, amigo!

[AnSEpisodes]

wow this place has really got lots to offer!! authentic Spanish foods! thanks for sharing :)

[lenswork]

Mercado San Miguel is a great introduction to the food options. When visiting Spain with others, I like to take them there soon after opening for a sampling of many foods, then linger with wine for people watching. One visit is fine, then down to Cava Baja and other places for a tapas crawl.

[TalesofTwoTravellers]

This is very helpful, thank you! We followed a lot of your guides in Barcelona and Madrid! ☺️

[emilianstefan]

Nice to see that place again. I've been there last year, before visiting the royal palace. Great little stopover. I really miss Madrid. Even if I almost missed my flight home, only to eat one more time at Taberna el Sur. 😅