Question about traveling in Spain regarding food. I will be traveling with my teenage son, primarily Madrid/Segovia/Toledo and the cities down south Seville/Granada/Cordoba, with a fairly brief side trip over to Barcelona. Most of our past travels have been in US and Canada, so this is new to us. Our usual travel style is to spend our time primarily seeing the sights, and typically as little time as possible on food, and we tend to move around quickly being just two people. We are normally not picky on what to fill up on, even if it's just something we grab from a supermarket.
Is there a way to get food quickly on the go, avoiding sit down restaurants with waiters, in places that are spread out and accessible from most areas in most of the cities listed above? I'm open to any and all suggestions, (but not something where it's just one single place we might have to travel half way across Madrid for, because obviously that would defeat the purpose of saving time).
Street food? Public markets? Are there many grocery types of places around, either large or small, in most parts of cities? In my initial searching, I also came across this: https://us.100montaditos.com/menu, and was wondering if maybe this is perhaps like a Spain version of Chipotle, just in terms of being able to get a good amount of food fairly quickly? And if so, are there very many of these, or these types of places?
We still want to eat relatively healthy, so typical American fast food is not what we will be looking for. And even though we're obviously not foodies, eating at McDonald's is definitely not our thing and not what we want do be doing for our first Euro vacation.
Nothing against the those who like to go at a slower pace, which from what I understand is more the norm in Spain, especially when it comes to food service and restaurants, but that's not really our style. And we will still be sure and get a couple authentic laid back big Spanish restaurant meals and get that experience a few times here and there, but wanted to know if it's possible to avoid that for most meals or even on most days. Thanks.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2463 posts
There are lots of small markets in all the cities where you can get sandwiches, fresh produce and put together a meal in a short amount of time. There also are bakeries that sell sandwiches in addition to bread and confections. Take out cafes are quite common as well.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23736 posts
You can hit the stand up sandwiches bars. It is really pretty obvious -- if waiters are standing around tables then it is a sit down place and you should be able to observe that from the street. The same is true for the quick service or " Take Away" little store fronts. If people are standing around waiting and leaving with sacks of presumed food, then it is a Take Away shop. They are frequently and busy during the day. May close near evening. Do need to be a little careful of eating in public. In some areas that is now banned or restricted to small area inthe park. Many grocery st ores on the lower level will sell prepackaged food.
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2351 posts
In Madrid the Mercado de San Miguel is very close to Plaza Mayor. It’s easy to get prepared fresh food there, and the El Cortes Ingles department stores usually have groceries in the basement. The branch on the Grand Via off Puerta del Sol has 3 buildings and I believe the grocery store is in the building farthest from Puerta del Sol. There is also a high-end food court on the top floor.
Posted by
North Carolina, USA
377 posts
i am not a gourmet/foodie either and in spain i got by on supermarkets, 'kababerias', and food stalls. also, small south asian restaurants are happy to let you do 'take away'. regarding supermarkets i love the mercadona chain. probably my favorite even more so than trader joe's in the USA! they have a great selection of precooked foods in their 'deli' section. i also love their fresh orange juice machines. for breakfast, any cafe will have a variety of tostada or pan con tomate and/or jamon. combined with a cafe double, it will keep you going for several hours. as has been mentioned almost every city has at least one 'covered market' with multiple food stalls inside. a particularly famous one is the art nouveau mercardo central in valencia. use google maps to find the nearest one in each city you visit. farmer's markets will have at least one food stall. you'll have no trouble eating quickly and cheaply and be healthy as well. enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7457 posts
There are plenty of the type places you mentioned and that already have been mentioned. You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one depending on where you’re at in each city. There will be more in the busier/tourist parts of town and they may be on side streets off of the main walking areas. One chain sandwich shop in Madrid is Rodilla.
Supermarkets are good places to pick up something quick. Offerings will differ depending on the size of the supermarket. In places like Segovia and Toledo, the larger ones are not in historic center, so you may be limited to ingredients for sandwiches.
Posted by
5561 posts
I'm the opposite of you, but sometimes you just want a quick meal, and I have eaten at 100montaditos a few times and you can't go wrong with little sandwiches!
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4214 posts
You won't be in trouble, in Spain we have many options for fast food, slow food, any food lol
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
21503 posts
You are correct, McDonalds would be a terrible choice. Now KFC is a different story.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4744 posts
When we were in Madrid in 2019, there was a hole-in-the-wall chain restaurant where they do custom salads for you. I'm sorry I don't remember the name.
Posted by
North Italy
436 posts
A little more info on some of the above suggestions.
Mercadona supermarkets do ready food and some of them have a small area near the entrance with a microwave and disposbale cutlery where you can eat. But usually Mercadona is not in the centre.
Carrefour convenience stores are everywhere in the centre of cities - they have sandwiches but also ready made salad bowls which can make a healthy change.
Montaditos is a good idea - but study the menu online before you go because there are over a hundred different 'sandwiches' plus some other snacks. Try to get there before everyone else does, or it may not be that quick an option. You sit where you want, then order and pay at the bar giving the 'number' on the menu and your name and they call you when it's ready. In Madrid there are many, one in Calle Montera, just off Puerta del Sol (so very central) and another near the Thyssen museum (on the way to Paseo del arte) and many more, and in most Spanish cities
A delicious and quick lunch in Madrid is bocadillo de calamares from bar Campana, just off Plaza Mayor.
Also, of course, tapas - many ordinary bars and caffès do tapas, and often when you go into the bar you will see dishes ready on the counter. A quick and very Spanish way to eat...
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2025/02/madrid-in-january-trip-report.html
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4214 posts
When we were in Madrid in 2019, there was a hole-in-the-wall chain restaurant where they do custom salads for you. I'm sorry I don't remember the name.
You're probably thinking of Honest Greens, it's Spain's bootleg version of Tender Greens lol
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks everyone, and feel free to keeping adding more detailed suggestions. I originally posted this because I'd been reading/hearing about how to expect everything slow when it comes to food, but obviously now I've been reassured that there's plenty of different types of places to get some good grub on the go. I'm assuming most of this advice applies not just to Madrid/Barcelona, but also to the less major cities I listed there. A lot of this was probably common knowledge to anyone who's been over there before, but appreciate all the help and ideas for this Minnesotan who hasn't ventured that far.