Mercado de la Paz is the sort of place that gets you in trouble fast, which is exactly why it is my…read morekind of place. You walk in with some vague idea of restraint, and within minutes, that collapses. Seafood here, jamón there, cheeses lined up like bad decisions, pastries waiting to finish the job. I felt like a kid in a candy store, except this was far better than candy. What makes the place work is the range. It is not just market stalls. You have fresh produce and specialty food counters alongside bars, restaurants, and small places to stop and eat properly, which is part of what gives it real life. This is not some bloodless, overdesigned food hall built for people who want photos more than flavor. It has pulse, smell, noise, and appetite: exactly my taste, and the kind of place where one lap is never enough.

This is a local public market in Madrid, located in the Salamanca district which is kinda like the…read more5th Ave/UES of Manhattan with its fancy stores and nice apartments. Although in a fancier neighborhood this neighborhood spot is down-to-earth and accessible to all. A lot less touristy than markets closer to Sol. Like other markets they have a variety of vendors carrying a plethora of ingredients--fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, cured meats & cheeses, herbs/spices/condiments, preserved and prepared foods. A florist, bakeries and house/kitchenware shops round out the assortment. A few restaurants too, notably the famous "Casa Dani" is located here, most recently made popular (to non-local foodies) by Netflix's "Somebody Feed Phil". I arrived on a Monday morning around 10:30am so the atmosphere was pretty low key with mostly locals picking up groceries, grabbing a bite to eat, with a couple local tour guides bringing around 1-2 tourists on personalized tours. Vendors were still setting up/unloading some items for the day. It was fun to check out the variety of items at each stall, and pick up a couple food souvenirs. Opening hours are 9am-8pm Mon-Friday and 9am-2:30pm Saturday, closed Sundays. Vendors take cash and card in most cases though always good to bring a little extra cash for smaller purchases with local vendors.

Sanchez Romero is a elegant upscale food market that has a lovely selection of Spanish treats,…read moremeats, wine, and more. They carry an extensive line of gourmet foods from Spain and other countries, as well. Torres black truffle potato chips, one of Oprah's favorites, are great to bring back as gifts to your US friends! They have gorgeous produce, seafood, a bakery and a little cafeteria for sandwiches, cafe, and fresh squeezed oj. Along with helpful and attentive staff. I can spend hours perusing the aisles here!

Their bakery goods were fresh and very good. Selection of food items was good, too. Prices were…read morereasonable. Staff was very unfriendly.

I am adding this review to correct my previous one. This is a great market for many reasons:…read more1. Convenient hours 2. Great location 3 First class products 4. Friendly and helpful staff 5. Very clean and well lit environment 6 Great variety of products and spices. I cook Haitian, Spanish, French, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Cuban/Dominican, Jewish, Jamaican and Trinidadian dishes. I was raised in the US and learned to cook my favorite dishes from my friends. I find everything I need including a nice wok the refried beans for Mexican dishes, etc. My last review was an error I did not realize then that this market was not even aware that tainted water bottles had been placed there. Unfortunately, I bought 5 one liter bottles of different brands. Well deserved kudos to you!!! My heartfelt apologies, PS I am now in Rennes. I recently shopped at an excellent Carrefour market. I found the same standards of excellence. That reminded me of my early, unfair review. I am indeed sorry for any damage I may have caused to your reputation. Marie Durogene

This is a nice Supermarket, very modern and large with a good range of products, even a small bit…read morefor Gluten Free as well as a large selection of Iced Coffees and more. Some items were overpriced compared to what we would pay in the UK however they do have some great items at reasonable value including Iced Coffee Drinks and Heinz Baked Beans. The staff were helpful and spoke a good knowledge of English to assist me to find Gluten Free and at the Checkout. I also like the computerised screens similar to What we (UK) have in Post offices, calling people out to a checkout on a electronical screen.

I went to this store the day before I left Madrid to look for some nice cheeses and almonds and…read moresuch...the cheese selection was not great, the service was slow, and the supermarket was neither clean nor well-organized. But the most galling thing was to be asked for identification as I paid for 30 euros worth of mediocre cheese! If this were standard practice I wouldn't mind, but it clearly is not- we'd traveled through Portugal and Spain for a month and this was a first). I was there with my brother, who informed me that the store cop had followed me around and nodded at the cashier (my brother of course was not asked for ID for his purchases). For the record, I am a 67 year old woman wearing a linen skirt and blouse, and am boringly respectable looking...was it my uncoiffed white hair? My skirt didn't look ironed? Whatever the reason for the targeting, and it was that, I was completely insulted and too surprised to ask them why they did that in the moment, though it was on the tip of my tongue. Quite apart from this nasty ageism or whatever it was, the store is tacky and I would never ever go back. Am only sorry I didn't challenge them at the moment. Crappy store, avoid it as there are specialty cheese and wine and produce shops with far better products near the Prado.

The Carrefour Express is a small and convenient grocery store in the Salamanca neighborhood. I…read morestopped in for yogurt and some fruit for breakfast. They have recently added hot prepared food, which I have not tried. The staff are efficient and helpful. You can pay with cash or card, and you will pay for a grocery bag if you need one/do't have your own.

Was traveling here for work and found just what I needed at a reasonable cost. So much cheaper than…read moreCorta Ingles.

All I have to say about this place is GET THE ORANGE JUICE. My school was across the street and…read moreeveryday students from my program would go in between classes to get some of the fresh squeezed orange juice. There is literally nothing better for a hangover than this OJ. It single-handedly got me through going to school in Madrid.