Mercado del Este is an amazing place to get a taste of Santander.
It's a nice place to get some bites, having a couple of gin tonics, and just relax for a few minutes...or hours. Generally speaking, Mercado del Este is a huge food hall, but it's a bit more elevated than your typical food hall US malls. Even on busy days, it should not be too difficult to find a table unless something is happening in El Centro. Depending on where you sit, you might have table service, but in most cases, you will have to order your food and drinks from one of the bars and bring it to the table. For US standards, the prices food and drink are not bad. In terms of bites, I recommend a plate of rabas and zamburiñas from Casa Del Indio (I might be off by a letter or two for the bar's name). Overall, service was pretty good, and I have not had any complaints regarding the service and friendliness of the staff. read more