Food Market

Mercado de Abastos – Jerez Food Market

This traditional food market, with stalls run by local tradesmen, is located in the centre of the city, in Calle Doña Blanca.

Housed in a beautiful, high-ceilinged, period building, it has a lively, buzzing atmosphere, and offers an excellent selection of fresh fish, meat, and fruit and vegetables. These are sold in individual stalls, where the stallholders serve customers directly, and can answer any queries.

Especially of note is the fish and seafood, since the city is just 20km from the sea, and close to such renowned shellfish capitals as Sanlucar de Barrameda, with its fabulous prawns, and Cadiz with its sea urchins, oysters and other delicacies. Other fish caught off the Costa de la Luz, as the coast in this area is known, are urta (sea bream), and atun rojo (bluefin tuna) – the finest of which is the atun de almadraba, caught for a few short weeks in spring and autumn. As with anywhere selling fresh fish, avoid on a Monday, as the boats don’t go out a Sunday, so there’s no produce on sale.

Seasonal goodies to look out for include snails and asparagus (spring/summer) and mushrooms (autumn).

Destinations

Living in Andalucia