Mercado Barceló

We'd tried to get used to the idea that we'd never again walk among the stalls of fishmongers, greengrocers and butchers in the Mercado Barceló. Renovations that were supposed to take two years ended up lasting five, but eventually the quintessential Malasaña market reopened its doors in September 2014. There's still the traditional trade, but now the second floor of this impressive modernista building is also dedicated to tastings and gastronomic experiences, in line with the new Madrid fashion of having beers and tapas in the city's markets where before you went for a couple of kilos of tomatoes or a half a chicken (see the Mercado de San Antón and the Antón Martín). A library and a gym will also be part of this innovative space located just a few steps from the Tribunal metro.