The Market of San Antón is a new market concept where tradition and modernity are combined in order to offer all kinds of food products. Some weeks ago, we wrote an article in this blog about Platea Madrid, a gastronomic leisure place located in Barrio de Chamberí. The Market of San Antón is similar to Platea Madrid as they both offer the best food products and delicious dishes as well as cultural activities.

The Market of San Antón is located in the very centre of the Chueca neighbourhood in 24, Augusto Figueroa Street. We have chosen it for our section Corners of Madrid. Previously, we wrote about Parque Lineal del Manzanares.

A LIVELY AND EVER-CHANGING MARKET

The origin of The Market of San Antón goes back to the XIX century. In those days, the market was organized around wooden crates, and it was named San Antón due to its proximity to the Church of San Antón.

In 1945, the architect Carlos de la Torre y Costa, planned the market. However, before and during the Spanish Civil War the market opened even though it did not have an appropriate structure.

Throughout the XX century, the market went through several periods and uses which depended on the demand of the Spanish society. In 2007, it underwent a complete renovation because the building had fallen into disrepair and it was necessary to create a new space in order to promote it.

Four years later, in 2011, the market re-opened with a different concept: the Madrileños could not only do the shopping but also enjoy the food service and restaurants as well as cultural activities.

As we saw in Mercado de San Miguel and in Mercado de la Cebada, the market concept has changed in recent years. At present, markets offer much more than just the sale of food products, as happens in the Market of San Antón.

THE SPACE

Currently, the Market of San Antón is divided into three different floors. On the first floor, there are ten traditional stalls such as butchers, fish mongers, greengrocers, paultries and so on. In addition, there is also a tapas bar.

On the second floor, the stalls offer food ready for consumption or take-away food. This space is called show cooking/take away. Apart from the typical Spanish tapas, you can also have seafood and Greek or Japanese food.

Lastly, on the third floor, on the 400 square metre terrace, there is a splendid restaurant where you can see the stunning view over Madrid whilst enjoying a delicious cocktail.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

The Market of San Antón is firmly committed to sustainability. A clear proof of this is the great skylight in the central part of the market which stores photovoltaic power. The floor is made of recycled and reused molten basalt. The market has a system of refuse collection which recylcles up to 80% of the organic waste.

Picture 01: Earlyspatz

Pictures 02, 03, 07 and 08: Benjamín Nuñez González

Picture 04: Leeturtle

Picture 05: nvivo.es

Picture 06: InfluenZia marketing

Picture 10: Tjeerd Wiersma