Mercat de Sant Antoni is a neighbourhood market at Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, 1, in Barcelona’s Eixample. Its restored 19th-century iron-and-glass hall is worth a look in its own right, and inside you’ll find stalls selling fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, olives and other food. Around the hall, shops sell clothing and household goods. The market is less geared to tourists than La Boqueria, so it’s a good place to browse everyday Barcelona shopping. On Sundays, an outdoor collectors’ market draws people looking for books and memorabilia.
A market hall built for Sant Antoni
Mercat de Sant Antoni occupies a full city block at Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, 1. Catalan architect Antoni Rovira i Trias designed the iron-framed building, which opened in 1882. Its scale and metal structure set it apart from an ordinary neighbourhood shop: the market hall has a Greek-cross plan and an octagonal dome at its centre.
The building was restored after an extensive renovation that kept it closed for several years. It reopened in 2018. Take a moment to look at the exterior as well as the stalls inside, where the ironwork and glass give the market its distinctive character.
Food stalls and everyday shopping
The indoor food market sells the ingredients of a traditional Spanish market, including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, olives and cured meats. It is a working shopping place for local residents, so you can browse everyday produce alongside visitors interested in the food and architecture.
The market extends beyond the food hall. Its outer galleries have shops selling clothing, textiles, household goods and other items. This mix makes the visit broader than a stop for groceries, though the market is best approached as a place to browse rather than as a dedicated restaurant destination. If you want to sit down for tapas, look to the neighbourhood’s bars and cafes.
The Sunday collectors’ market
On Sundays, the area outside the main food hall becomes a market for collectors. Stalls have been associated with second-hand books, comics, magazines, postcards, stamps and coins, as well as other memorabilia. It gives the market a different focus from its weekday food trade.
Sunday information can be confusing: the main market is listed as closed that day, while the outdoor collectors’ market is described as a Sunday activity. If you are making a special trip for books or collectibles, confirm that the outdoor market is running before setting out. For the food stalls, plan a weekday visit instead.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is Mercat de Sant Antoni?
The market is at Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, 1, in Barcelona’s Eixample district.
What can you buy at Mercat de Sant Antoni?
The indoor market sells fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, olives and other food. Shops in the surrounding galleries sell clothing and household goods.
Is there a Sunday market at Mercat de Sant Antoni?
An outdoor collectors’ market is associated with Sundays, with books, comics, stamps and coins among the items sold. The main market is listed as closed on Sundays, so check whether the outdoor market is running before you go.
Who designed the market building?
Catalan architect Antoni Rovira i Trias designed the iron-framed market, which opened in 1882.
