All posts, Food and drink

San Agustín market – Granada

mushroomsSuch is the joy of discovering a ‘new’ city that stumbling across things – fountains, alleyways with exquisite balconies, bohemian bars and pop-up bookstalls – means there’s always something you’ve not seen before.

Just an olive stone’s throw away from the cathedral we were drawn through the entrance of San Agustín market – a vibrant place built in the 19th century on the site of a convent. It sells fresh fish, meat, wine, spices, vegetables and gourmet food, including sushi. It’s a bit like London’s Borough market but more polished (the market was recently renovated to the tune of around €800,000).

What we love about London’s offering is its Dickensian feel – all dripping walls, boxes piled high and cobbled streets as the trains rumble overhead – so San Agustín may seem a bit sterile. However, propping up a counter nibbling on some jamón while admiring the various food counters is not to be missed.

And that’s exactly what we did. The trick is to home in on the best things, and have a little of them. For example, we had a small plate of jamón ibérico de bellota (€4), a plate of less expensive jamón and two slithers of gorgeous smoked salmon with a few olives. Total about €8 plus two glasses of rioja (€4.60). So you don’t need to spend much to have, as S would say, a ‘taste sensation.’

You can flit from station to station collecting your chosen food and drink, eat it where you like and someone glides by taking your plate. You can even buy produce and have it cooked for you.

On another counter the lovely Carmen dished out plump olives skewered with anchovy, peppers and other delights. Anyone who bangs on about Italy being the centre of the world for food should come here.

The market is very accessible for disabled people, including the pristine toilets sandwiched between sawn-in-two lambs and baskets of mushrooms. We believe the market still holds music recitals, dances, children’s events and other stuff as it did before its facelift– so you can listen to Scarlatti as live snails crawl from a bucket.

If you’re visiting Granada, this market should be on the ‘to do’ list, perhaps after visiting the famous sites nearby.

prawns_at_market

Tiger prawns

jamon_at_market

Slicing the Barbie-sized portion of jamón

Carmen of the plump olives

Carmen of the plump olives

olives

Olives, artichoke, egg, boquerones…

 

Plaza de San Agustín, Granada (8am to 2pm, closed Sunday). Location on Google maps

Related posts:

A Late Dinner – by Paul Richardson (book)

Puesto 43 fish bar – Granada

Casa de Vinos – Granada

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All about Granada, Órgiva, La Alpujarras, Las Alpujarras, Andalucia, Spain – tapas, history, local guides and more.

Discussion

4 thoughts on “San Agustín market – Granada

  1. I miss Borough Market 😦

    A few months ago, they inaugurated a “San Augustín Market” here in Toledo. Needless to say, it has nothing in common with the Madrid one. Except for the prices. I wonder how long it’ll last. Toledo just doesn’t have the audience for it. I mean, WHO is going to buy fruit and veg at three times the price compared to la frutería round the corner? Tourists??? I don’t think so.

    There’s some very nice cheese to be had, though. And apple cake.

    Posted by ladyofthecakes | December 14, 2014, 12:26 pm
  2. What is (are?) pleurotus eringy called in English?

    Posted by C in Ohio | December 13, 2014, 8:00 pm
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