El Mercado de San Miguel- Night 2, Something New

Whenever you go back to visit a place you haven't been in a while there is always something new and different.  Things get torn down.  Shops close.  New shops open.   Buildings get erected out of nowhere.   The only hope is that this new thing is something cool and unique.  There's nothing worse when you return to a place and find that your favorite deli or restaurant was replaced by a 7/11 or Starbucks. (The horror)

On the second day in Madrid I got to talking to the receptionist in the hotel.  After a brief conversation I mentioned I lived here years ago and of course she said that many things have changed in the last 8 years.  One thing she recommended I check out was El Mercado de San Miguel.  It opened 2 years ago and she described it as basically a big food area where you can sample different dishes and drink various wines from all over Spain.  It was also open to 12am on weekdays and 2am on weekends.  "It's not cheap but very good"' was her last comment before I set off for the day.

Now in my head I had already planned where we would eat for the four nights.   The market wasn't one of them so I put it on the back burner. But after a few hours of strolling the city center I was leaving the Plaza Mayor on the west side and a block away was a huge new structure I had never seen before.  It's a wrought iron frame with windows all around the rectangular complex.  Without trying we had stumbled upon el Mercado de San Miguel.  "Let's just have a look"- aren't those just famous words.   My 4 night plan was suddenly altered.  The minute I got inside I was surrounded by food and smells from every direction. I knew I had no chance of restraint.

Let's start with some oysters washed down with a Galician Albarino.

Now maybe some Pulpo Gallego.

I think i'll have some Angulas with shrimp.

Now some meat as we switch to Rioja.  Jamon anyone?

There's also a cheese stall, an olive stall, a caviar stall, bocadillos- just about every Spanish food is in here. None of the plates are expensive but go in hungry and you won't be able to stop yourself and all the samplings will add up in the end.

The wine bar is impressive.  3 euro for a glass of Crianza, 4 euro for a Reserva.  You can try glasses from every region in Spain. If you really want to go for it you can try a Vega Sicilia for 30 euro a glass.

And the place is fun.  There are few seats, mostly high tables that you stand around and eat.  Finish one plate and wander off to another stall and bring back something new.  It's loud but not too loud.  It's just full of atmosphere in that great Spanish way.  Maybe that is the best thing about it.  The food isn't the best in Madrid but what it lacks in quality is more than made up for by just being in there.  It's a place to eat, drink and talk about eating and drinking- what can be better?

Here's a little video I took.  It's not the best but you get the sounds and visuals of the place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s2UzDCygRs

If you're in Madrid you must check this place out.