Exploring Madrid and the San Miguel Market

Since we were staying across from the Palace, I figured it would be a good place to visit and start the day. Unfortunately, the palace was closed due to a special event. We did get to watch some of the army dressed up and ride horses for a bit though.

Instead, we visited a really cool exhibition on the art of Sorolla and then the Royal Palace art collection which featured art during the Hapsburg time period.

I wanted to find the artsy side of town where I could shop a bit in artisan shops with handmade pottery and soaps and such. It took a Google search but finally found a little shop called Cocol that was super cute and exactly what I was looking for :)

But I know you are here for the food content. For the last night, I wanted a food hall type place that I knew had to exist in Madrid. The Mercado de San Miguel was absolutely perfect. There were probably 20-30 stands and each one specialized in something specific: burgers, mozzarella, tuna, etc.

First stop, the spritzer stand for two passion fruit aperol spritzes.

Next, a potato egg sample plate.

Not sure what they were each topped with but it was different to have an entire stand devoted to potato egg tortillas. The downside was this was not heated up, however every bite was still good.

Next stop, these olive skewers which have a baby pickle, semi sundried tomatoes, cheese and a pepper stuffed olive. Those were 3.5€ each which was too much but also they were really damn delicious.

Next a burrata situation with red pepper jam and sun dried tomato and crispy onion.

Mini cheeseburger with bacon seemed a little American basic but super good.

Then to the tuna stand and had this tuna in a soy sauce with onions and caviar.

Empanada time…we decided on a “Costilla” version which was a bbq rib filling.

This was called a “chorizo Stromboli” and it looked a bit heavy considering how much we had eated already but that bread was bomb.

Last was a dumpling taster tray. I’ve included a pic of all of the options there but honestly only 3 of them were distinct tasting. Everything else pretty much blended together.

No dessert after this Mercado tapas tour. Considering it was a Monday night in the off season and it was pretty crowded, I can’t even imagine what that place is like during the summer. But whether touristy or not, the food was spot on.