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Crushing on Mercado El Huerto de Lucas

Crushing on Mercado El Huerto de Lucas

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Before arriving in Madrid, I wasn’t sure what the mercado culture wa1st images like here but, within a few months after my arrival, I found I had fallen completely in love with it. First, with the most famous ones: San Miguel, San Anton, San Ildefonso. But my real market crush was El huerto de Lucas in Chueca area: the real jewel of the city. Situated in Calle San Lucas into the whole center of Madrid, it offers a breath of fresh air into the already vibrant Chueca neighbourhood.
While it doesn’t look particularly special from the shop windows, its inner secret garden will steal your heart in seconds. The 450m2 dedicated to health and environmental care offers tons of high quality and 100% organic products of any type 2nd image(cheese, meat, fruits & vegetables, tea & coffee, etc) in a green and environmentally designed atmosphere. You can choose whether to buy these products in the market as raw ingredients for homemade dishes, to eat them directly on-site, or to take the easy take out route and get the pre-prepared products del4th imageivered directly to your home.
The restaurant attached to the market, La Cantina Orgánica, offers ecological and sustainable gastronomy based on the quality of the products sold in the market. And the flavors of each dish is… INCREDIBLE! They also offer special brunch that is sure to make your mouth water and yo3rd imageur tummy sing.
This fantastic cuisine is available in two locations: one on Calle San Lucas 13 (Chueca) and another one on Calle Hermosilla 103 (Goya).
The concept of San Lucas seduced us with its peaceful, fresh, and relaxing vibe, as well providing unique place that you won’t find anywhere else in the center. Spending time in this verdant area, drinking fresh fruit juice or smoothies, is the perfect way to spend one of the hot afternoons in the coming summer! See you there!

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Escaping the heat with a sweet treat

Escaping the heat with a sweet treat

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It’s July and it’s hot in Madrid.  Let’s face it, nothing sounds better during the summer months than a nice icy cold treat.  Since moving to Madrid, I’ve had one (or more!) almost every day.  Here are a few of my picks for beating the heat:

  • Acquolina:  Located in the Plaza del Dos de Mayo in Malasaña, this small shop serves ice cream, granizados (fruity iced beverages) and coffees.  Free wifi is an added bonus (just ask at the counter for the password) plus you can take your ice cream out and about for a stroll around the plaza.
  • — Plaza del Dos de Mayo (c/ Velarde, 15), Malasaña (tel: 91 523 3036) / Metro: Tribunal or San Bernardo
  • Labonata:  The super-creamy ice cream at this Chueca shop is perfect for a hot day in the Madrid sun.  Get it to go or sit down and watch the world go by from their tables within the plaza.  In addition to ice cream they have smoothies, batidos (similar to a smoothie, but with a milk base) and granizados.
  • — Plaza de Chueca 8, Chueca (tel: 91 523 7029) / Metro: Chueca
  • Horchateria Alboraya:  Horchateria Alboraya was recommended by my classmate’s host family.  Not only do they serve ice creams, batidos and granizados, but they specialize in horchatas which are creamy, nutty beverages made with chufas (tigernuts).
  • — Calle Alcalá, 125 (tel: 91 576 58 17) / Metro: Príncipe de Vergara
  • Capriccio Divino:  Just over two weeks old, this gelateria on Calle de Hortaleza serves traditional Italian gelato.  The staff are happy to offer you a sample or two of their flavours!  Located in between Chueca and Malasana, it’s a great stop when strolling through the nearby boutiques and zapaterias!
  • — Calle de Hortaleza / Metro: Chueca or Tribunal

Another option is the dessert station on the second floor of Mercado San Anton.  It’s a good option if you want a snack or drink before your dessert!  Check out more info on the Mercado from Jamie’s earlier post.

Whatever spot you choose, all these treats are a great way to cool off, relax and make the most of the sunny Madrid weather!

 

Acquolina: Plaza del Dos de Mayo (c/ Velarde, 15), Malasaña (tel: 91 523 3036) / Metro: Tribunal or San Bernardo

Labonata: Plaza de Chueca 8, Chueca (tel: 91 523 7029) / Metro: Chueca

Horchateria Alboraya: Calle Alcalá, 125 (tel: 91 576 58 17) / Metro: Príncipe de Vergara

Capriccio Divino: Calle Hortaleza / Metro: Chueca or Tribunal

El Mercado de San Anton

El Mercado de San Anton

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Since moving to Madrid, I have come to appreciate more than ever before the mercado culture. There is something about getting your fish fresh from the pescaderia, your meat directly from the butcher, and so on and so forth that makes everything taste better than when you buy it in the supermarket.  That is why when El Mercado de San Antón in Chueca opened its doors in May, I was one of the first guiris in line.

El Mercado de San Antón combines the charm and gourmet delight of the Mercado de San Miguel with the functionality of Mercado de la Paz.  The bottom floor is home to Opencor, a traditional supermarket in the Corte Ingles family. The next flight up is the actual mercado, which hosts various stalls where you can buy high quality basics such as meat, fish, poultry, cheese, bread, wine and hamburgers.

The second floor is where you can find the prepared food kiosks. The variety is impressive and hosts stations dedicated to the tapas of Greece, Japan, Italy and of course Spain. There are several areas to enjoy a wine, cider, beer or tinto de verano with your appetizers as well.

The distinguishing feature of the Mercado is undoubtedly the rooftop restaurant, La Cocina de San Antón. It is a large restaurant with an indoor section, a patio, and a cocktail bar. Although I have not yet had the pleasure of dining there, my trusted colleague tells me that it is truly exquisito. 

El Mercado de San Antón has something for everyone, whether you are looking for a place to take out of town guests, need to stock the fridge with some fresh food, or fancy a drink or a meal out.

El Mercado de San Antón

Calle de Augusto Figueroa, 24