Mercado de San Miguel

As my time continues to wind down here in Madrid (less than 5 months to go), I realized I should tell all of you some of my favorite places to go in the city.  A list of Must-Sees/ Eats in Madrid.

This one should be at the top of almost everyone's list: El Mercado de San Miguel (Saint Michael's Market, if you want a literal translation but it's easy enough to pronounce in Spanish so no use changing it)

I was first introduced to this place 2 Christmas' ago by my good friend Michelle.  She and her students were having a tapas/ holiday party there and she asked if I wanted to tag along.  I had no plans so I agreed figuring it would just be like a big bar or something.  It was anything but.... 

That night,in general, was probably in my top 20 nights in  Spain and a large part of it was my first experience in El Mercado de San Miguel.  Subsenquently, I've spent quite a bit of time in this magical place over the next year and a half.  Friends and I celebrated Valentines Day there, I've brought all my friends and family who have visited me to take part in at least a glass of wine and cheese platter. This is also one of my favorite romantice spots for a first date. 

The food in gourmet and delicious.  The wine flows with a sense of elegance and sophistication without a huge dent in your wallet.  It's a fantastic escape to the tourturous Madrid summer heat.  However, one would need to get there early or without being in a hurry, as it can be quite difficult to find a table especially for larger groups of people.

If you're in Madrid for a short time, I would recommend El Mercado for a quick glass of wine and small tapas before heading to dinner somewhere else in the center.  Or for a relaxing dessert break after a long lunch.  They have one of the best assortments of chocolates and small pastries that I've seen in Madrid.

It's located near Plaza Mayor, one of the biggest tour spots in the city.  However, it's hidden behind some of the side streets off the Plaza so a tourist that wasnt well informed probably wouldn't come across it by accident.

To sum it up, El Mercado de San Miguel is a MUST SEE here in Madrid and one of the places I will truly miss when I'm gone!