Really enjoyed Mercado de San Miguel, even if it's the more touristy food market in Madrid. Came…read morelater in the evening. Must gets include - jamón ibérico from Puesto Carrasco Ibéricos - olives and vermut from The Hour of the Vermouth - wine from Pinkleton & Wine - codfish from La Casa del Bacalao There's also a Spanish omelet vendor but it was okay. Great energy in the market. Can be difficult to find a seat at a table but there's plenty of standing counters along the perimeter.

Gee, how do I put this diplomatically? OK, I can't. I hated it from the moment Jamie W and I tried…read moreto walk through the front door. We had just strolled from Plaza Mayor on a Monday afternoon at 4:30PM. It was completely packed like an indoor version of The Great Migration in really slow motion. We could hardly see any of the food much less be able to order anything or even less, find any place to eat it. Through the masses, I could tell it was a high-end gourmet hall, and apparently over thirty vendors do business here. I saw maybe two. Come at 10AM if you have any interest in trying the food here. The cacophonous late afternoon anarchy made us lose our appetites. If you think my assessment is unfair, I suggest you march off the cliff with the rest of the Instagram lemmings. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/Q4Qey2-qmW

We popped into Anton Martin Market and kicked things off with a handful of olives before diving…read moreinto Spain's take on fish and chips! Ha! Anchovies hanging out on a bed of potato chips. Salty and perfect! Unlike the polished chaos of San Miguel Market, Anton Martin feels lived-in. People actually come here prior to cooking dinner and not for the selfie. It's not curated for your Instagram story, it's just real. You'll find spice stalls, plenty of olives, unlimited cheese, little bars for a quick drink and there's always that one guy slicing ham somewhere in some corner. Walk around and taste it all. The vendors are fast so be ready.

Great time and great food stands…read more We wanted to try out another food stop on our adventure last November and we stopped here. There were plenty of bocadillos and tapas on at least three floors here. We had an opportunity to browse at most of the offerings through windows. We finally decided on this one place that served delicious ceviche and beer. This place does slow down after two o'clock but they were warming up to open after about 4pm. It is well within walking distance of the Puerta del Sol and Atocha Train Station. One of the many food markets that Central Madrid has to offer and great offerings for all types of tastes.

This is a local public market in Madrid, located in the Salamanca district which is kinda like the…read more5th Ave/UES of Manhattan with its fancy stores and nice apartments. Although in a fancier neighborhood this neighborhood spot is down-to-earth and accessible to all. A lot less touristy than markets closer to Sol. Like other markets they have a variety of vendors carrying a plethora of ingredients--fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, cured meats & cheeses, herbs/spices/condiments, preserved and prepared foods. A florist, bakeries and house/kitchenware shops round out the assortment. A few restaurants too, notably the famous "Casa Dani" is located here, most recently made popular (to non-local foodies) by Netflix's "Somebody Feed Phil". I arrived on a Monday morning around 10:30am so the atmosphere was pretty low key with mostly locals picking up groceries, grabbing a bite to eat, with a couple local tour guides bringing around 1-2 tourists on personalized tours. Vendors were still setting up/unloading some items for the day. It was fun to check out the variety of items at each stall, and pick up a couple food souvenirs. Opening hours are 9am-8pm Mon-Friday and 9am-2:30pm Saturday, closed Sundays. Vendors take cash and card in most cases though always good to bring a little extra cash for smaller purchases with local vendors.

Mercado de la Paz is the sort of place that gets you in trouble fast, which is exactly why it is my…read morekind of place. You walk in with some vague idea of restraint, and within minutes, that collapses. Seafood here, jamón there, cheeses lined up like bad decisions, pastries waiting to finish the job. I felt like a kid in a candy store, except this was far better than candy. What makes the place work is the range. It is not just market stalls. You have fresh produce and specialty food counters alongside bars, restaurants, and small places to stop and eat properly, which is part of what gives it real life. This is not some bloodless, overdesigned food hall built for people who want photos more than flavor. It has pulse, smell, noise, and appetite: exactly my taste, and the kind of place where one lap is never enough.

Attentive all Vegans. This is the spot for all day brunch. Be warned they are a hot spot with…read morelimited seating which may mean a wait. There was only one waitress but she was working pretty hard to take care of all the tables. Everything on the menu is vegan and was very tasty. Would recommend

Probably my favorite smoothie/juice place I have been to in Madrid so far! The place is rather…read moresmall- there are only two bars to sit at. There are probably 12-14ish chairs total. There are Spanish and English menus to order from. What I ordered: I got the curry chickpea wrap and the devolución juice. They were reasonably priced for what they were. The wrap came with mixed root chips. The wrap had a nice curry flavor, but it was light and not overwhelming. The juice was very beet-y, but tasted sweet as well. I will be back sometime to try one of their smoothie bowls!

I stumbled into Pastelería Mallorca with a friend while looking for something light to hold us over…read morebefore a pedicure, and this spot ended up being one of my favorite spots during my recent stay in Madrid. I grabbed a mini croissant-style puff pastry with turkey, tomato, avocado, and pesto, plus a mini brioche bun with crab, pink sauce, and lettuce. The seafood bun was solid, but that turkey pesto croissant was ... excuse my language ... the f****n' truth! No exaggeration THEE best croissant I've ever had. It was so good chile, I came back the next day and got a full-sized one for lunch and it was still just as good. The space inside is clean and room with lots of comfy furniture; in addition, they also have free WiFi and clean bathrooms which is always appreciated while out and about in the city on vacation. If you're in Madrid (or Mexico City or Japan where there other locations are) this place is a must try! PS: The have a rewards app and will give you a free plain buttery croissant for joining.

The tarta de queso fundente (melting cheesecake) is one of the best desserts I have ever tasted!…read more I actually sought out Pastelería Mallorca because I read somewhere that the Fismuler cheesecake was available there. But from what I can gather, the tarta de queso fundente is a completely different dessert. I was not disappointed! According to their website, the cheesecake has a "thin and crispy cookie layer, a creamy interior, and a flavor blend of cream cheese, fresh cheese, and premium parmesan." I admit I'm a parmesan fanatic. This cheesecake has such an interesting, intense flavor. The texture was indeed "melting" - gooey on the inside, a little bit more set toward the outside. It was rich but not overly sweet, and had a savory kick from the parmesan. I will be dreaming about this cheesecake until I hopefully make it back to Madrid again one day. I came here for dessert and coffee after lunch at the Mercado de la Paz. I also got a lovely café con leche to go with the cheesecake. They have other food and desserts as well, but this cheesecake was so delicious, I wanted to leave a review just to spotlight it.

A small casa on Calle de Leon somewhat away from the Puerta del Sol. The street is filled with…read morelocals going about their day or transiting by foot towards city center so it is not heavily overrun by tour groups. Plus, this shopfront is small and not particularly descript so you might walk right by it if you were not searching for it. However, if you know better, you will find a reason to pause, duck in, and take a break! There are small tables within to eat there but there is only 1 at the shop front window alcove. If you time it right, you can grab this table and stuff your pie hole with local sausages, cured meats, and Spanish wine, beer or Vermouth while watching Madridian life pass you by. There may not be a better way to ruin what could have been an otherwise productive day! The menu is substantial but is largely made up of combinations of the various cured meats and cheeses that the shop is known for. Unlike spots that promote only Iberian ham and Manchego cheese, Casa González has all manner of meats and cheeses so it is a fantastic spot to go to for variety within this genre. I think that only strict vegans will be angered by what is on offer here. I recommend Casa Gonzalez for a meat and cheese orgy if you are in the area. They have been doing this since 1931 so you know that they have a winning formula.

Delicious, unbelievably tasty, and one of the best authentic tapas spots in the city! Formerly a…read moredeli, this dine in experience is a true gem in the heart of a great city from the timely and present service to the history on the walls!

This farmers' market is more than what you would expect - we came here on 03.06.24 and discovered…read moreat the end of our trip where we should have gone on Day One. The stalls are operated by local vendors eager to sell their inventory, whether it be meat, seafood, vegetables, fruit, cheese, wine, et cetera. There are also stands where you can buy seafood, have it made for you, then sit and eat it with a bottle of wine from the same establishment. Genius! For friendliness, the vendors we talked to were top notch. The layout of the market is ideal for browsing and taking your time. There was none of that chaos you find at the more touristy markets. If you are on the lookout for amazing produce that you would pay way more for if you could even find this quality in the US, this is the place. Enjoy!

Great "local" market. This seems like where the locals go. A bit off the central Madrid area…read more Fresh seafood stands selling cooked and raw seafood. People standing around eating their purchases afterwards. The stands also sell wine and beer. You can really enjoy yourself as a foodie. The produce looked super fresh and enticing. There were fruits that we've never seen before so we bought some to try. The variety of tomatoes was awesome. Signs posted "no touching." You touch you pay. Apparently they serve the fruits and tomatoes right there for their patrons. We bought some "bulls balls" tomatoes. They looked gorgeous. Gorgeous balls of bulls. Huevos del toro. Enjoy !

We absolutely love this little gem. Service is great, food is delicious and fresh, and the ambiance…read moreis warm and inviting. My bf and I came and tried the Hambriento breakfast (pictures are attached), cafe con leche, and orange juice and paid less than $20 USD. Such a deal! Will be back for the fresh baked goodies.

I've been coming here twice a week for months now and I have yet to have a bad experience…read more The staff is very attentive and exceedingly patient (asides from myself, I've heard many other English speakers in this cafe even though it's outside the center and the staff is always kind and patient with broken Spanish). Even when it's crazy busy ive never had to wait long to put in an order or pay. The coffee is great and cheap and so are the pastries (the empanadilla de manzana is a personal favorite). If you're here for breakfast, I highly recommend the banana-espresso bread. I'm very much blessed to have this place to close to my apartment!!! It's amazing.