El Mercado de San Miguel
Remember how I told you guys I’d do a separate post regarding El Mercado de San Miguel? Well here it is! This place is a wonderful stop if you are hungry, want to take some wonderful photos, or want to see how the locals handle tapas. El Mercado is often very busy, especially around lunch time! There are so many things to buy, like a market, and to try, like a large scale tapas bar – with individual merchants specializing in specific ingredients. You can order a hearty gourmet porción de tortilla Española (portion of Spanish tortilla), una taza de café, copa de vino rioja, pastel de chocolate, pastel con crema de requesón, sándwiches de barbacoa estilo Española, rolo de queso y pollo, croquetas, pan y anchoa, helado, pan con salmón, bacalao, calamares, atún, o pescado y caviar.
Aside from the tapas, El Mercado de San Miguel also sells produce, dried pasta, cheese, cold cuts, fish, poultry, and meat. Of course, while you’re shopping for your daily needs, why not stop in at one of the many counters for a small morsel…just don’t get carried away or you may spoil your lunch or dinner, haha.
What's that in the distance!?
El Mercado de San Miguel: one of my favorite places in Madrid!!
Another busy afternoon. Plenty of locals and tourists alike.
I'm assuming this is related to Lhardy - one of Madrid's oldest restaurants
¡Mira la porción de tortilla Española!
¡Ay, que rico!
So many different things on sale...rice, pasta, jam, olives, sauces, etc.
Quite the selection of judias (beans) hahaha
Caserecci - a maestri pasta
Gnocchi - spinach flavored
Ravioli achicoria - ravioli filled with cabbage
Nice representation of the many products being sold @ this stall
This is typical signage for this place...marketing isn't that necessary, the lines are everywhere!
Actually, sometimes people don't even make lines. What an atmosphere!
One of the coffee stands was marketing what they use & what they could sell you
Coffee specials for the week
Specialty coffee drinks on display
These cakes sure do come in different colors, shapes, textures, and flavors!
Cake just isn't the same without a little bit of packaging and branding 
If branding is edible, does that make it as lasting? I think so!
This Pastel con crema de requesón was pretty good - my mom's is better!
Awe, how cute! This way you get your sweet-fix and you can get back to the tapas!
I ♥ the layering on the cake to the left - I'm assuming they are all different kinds of chocolate
Sándwiches de barbacoa estilo Española - no barbeque sauce here!
These little guys had chicken and a type of soft spreadable cheese inside
Many tapas are prepared ahead of time while others are made to order (b/c they ran out!)
I was never a fan of anchovies...until this trip! I had it a few times - each better than the previous!
Multi-colored ice cream cones
No, these are not edible roses...well I guess you could snack on a few pedals XD
Freshly baked breads
By far, my favorite tapas @ El Mercado - salmon ahumado y bacalao en aceite de oliva emcima de pan
Pulpo al pimentón
Bonito marinado = muy rico
A few kinds of caviar
The vibrancy in color of these tomatoes is so compelling
These bad boys sure are red huh!?
Bigaros (sea snails) were on sale @ one of the vendor's stalls
This is one ugly fish!
The Lubina (sea bass) were looking pretty good
You could buy these little ones in the bunches.
Preparing a display or presentation for one of the tapas bars
Outside, looking at all of their produce
Looking back at such a wonderful market, eatery, and social hub
Is it a surprise that we stopped in at El Mercado quite a few times during our stay in Madrid!? I mean, it is a perfect afternoon stop before heading back out for more shopping and site seeing. So don’t be surprised if you see more photos from El Mercado de San Miguel in future posts!!!
Que lindas fotos!!! Me dio muchisimas ganas de tortilla españolaaa ^^ haber cuando improviso una!! jaja
Hi .. thanks for the post, i’d love to see more from you