Mercado de Maravillas, Cuatro Caminos, Madrid, Spain

Our Mercado de Maravillas

One of the most fascinating things about living in Madrid is the food shopping! Madrid is an old city and its an extremely walkable city! It seems that most of the locals still shop for their food the old fashioned way! In old style covered market places, hopping from one vendor to the next toting their wheely bags.

John buying mince for our dinner!

Although many of the city's food markets (such as San Anton or San Miguel) are now tourist destinations and there is substantial competition from one stop discount supermarket chains (like dia/lidl and carrefour), Mercado de Maravillas is still worthwhile and surprisingly more economical. 

Fresh fish salesman preparing someones tea.

We are very spoilt to have recently found that we live just the throw of an apricot pit to our own traditional (non-touristy) market place (Mercado de Maravillas).

This hidden away gem is actually the largest market (half a kilometer around with over 260 stalls) in the city and is full of amazing character, colours, smells, people and food!. This weekend we ventured together to explore, do some people watching and a bit of shopping. 

One of the many meat shops, with all your meaty needs.

It was a perfect day for exploring an indoor market! Very overcast with threatening rain overhead and a cold wind seeping its way through under the door. So we donned our hats and gloves and briskly walked up the road to the market. Inside was extraordinarily busy and we were greeted by the warm smell of roasted garlic potatoes and burnt coffee.

We took our time wandering around the shops, watching the many vendors at work cutting up huge fish with even larger knifes, salesmen de-boning rabbit, others weighing up fruits, eggs, cured meats and cheeses. We ummed and aaahhed far too long about what type of olives we should buy to munch on and admired the beautiful Spanish breads and pastries, which you might as well just slap onto your thighs they look so decadent.

Fresh fruits and veges

You could purchase anything food related at this market.

There's actually an old Madrid saying on the door at the entrance "Si buscas algo, vete a Maravillas. Si no lo encuentras, es que no hay" (If you're looking for something go to Maravillas. If you don't find it, it's because it doesn't exist.)

Chocolate con Churros (typical 2nd breakfast food)

By the time we felt that we had seen enough for one day vertical gravity took hold and we were suddenly pulled  into one of the random spotted cafes for a chocolate con churro~Kara and paella~John. (Actually it's more like a bar you lean up against to drink your coffee or beer as you eat your tapa).

So we stayed a bit longer before again venturing out into the cold and wet winter day and heading home with our wares. 

(As a side note, when visiting watch your timing when shopping because of course they close every day for siesta time!) Closed Sundays. 

Tot siens,

John and Kara