The Mercado de San Miguel is Madrid’s best known and most centrally located gastronomic market. The halls have maintained their original structure, so decorative and typical of the early twentieth century, which has been maintained despite the reforms. As is often the case, its popularity cannot be attributed to a single factor: its more than 100 years of history, its location just a few meters from the Plaza Mayor and, of course, a quality gastronomic offer could be three fundamental legs to explain its success.
This gastronomic offer is divided into beverage stands (Pinkleton & Wine, El 19 de San Miguel), coffee (Rocambolesc), food (several stands of the Arzábal group, Crab Crab Crab, Prrimital) and sweets (Madreamiga). Make your way through the crowd because not trying one of these stalls is like not having been to the capital at all.
Prrimital
If you like meat, you’ll love Prrimital. And this is no coincidence. This ‘street meat’ stall in the San Miguel Market was born with a clear vocation: to be a point of reference for carnivores. Its menu includes premium cuts (tomahawk, t-bone, entrecote or txuleta), burgers, winter casseroles (tripe and oxtail), starters and side dishes (steak tartar, cecina or picaña) and sandwiches.
And all this without neglecting sustainable consumption. That is why its official distributor is Discarlux, which has the following motto: “to leave the world and our industry better than we found it. And above all, honor the animal we are slaughtering.”
Vermouth time
La Hora del Vermut is one of the traditional safeguards in the Mercado de San Miguel, as touristy as it is beautiful. Nothing misleads with the name of this stand, it is what it promises.
The madrilenian vermouth is insured in all its colors and barrel. You can accompany it with a tapa of pickles, which are as good a dance partner as wine and cheese. In case you want to learn more about this macerated wine, here they do tastings and usually announce new dates on their website Instagram.
Rocambolesc
The sweetest version of the Roca brothers takes shape at Rocambolsec. This stall in the San Miguel Market changes its theme with the seasons and if in summer its ice creams are a fantasy, in winter the comfort of homemade chocolate, nougat and their revered panettones occupy their showcases.
Motherfriend
If we keep it in mind in our rankings of best bakeries of best cheesecakes and even best roscones of Reyes how could we not include it in a list of the best stalls in the San Miguel Market?
From the previous paragraph it is clear that Madreamiga is (and this is not a cliché) much more than a bakery. With its own bakery, the options of this pastry shop are almost infinite.
Mr. Martin
A restaurant that part of the specialized press has defined as the temple of seafood can’t be a bad thing. Señor Martín, which has its main office on General Castaños Street, offers fish cones at its stall in the San Miguel Market.
Here you will find “a gourmet fishmonger, which has been awarded for its quality and innovation”, as they define themselves.
This article has been written in six hands by Isabel Nieto, Alberto del Castillo y Elena French.