Mercado Little Spain

Mercado Little Spain Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: Italy has Eataly, France has Le District. Scandinavia has the Great Northern Food Hall at Grand Central Terminal. And now Manhattan has Mercado Little Spain, dedicated 100 percent to the cuisine of Spain. Tucked in a corner of Hudson Yards, under the High Line, the place is the brainchild of super chef José Andrés in collaboration with Ferran and Albert Adrià (elBulli).

Likes: Well laid-out, authentic and colorful setting with many options for all budgets.
Dislikes: A bit tricky to find.

Food & Drinks: You’ll find all the food elements that make Spain great, from kiosks and counters selling patatas bravas (order them with aïoli) and churros to more elaborate bars and restaurants where you can have a composed meal with Andrés’ famous liquid olives, wood-fired meats, seafood and more, all in a warren of aisles and seating areas. The best way to approach the market is to put together your own progressive meal, perhaps starting with wine and tapas at La Barra, then getting oysters at the nearby raw bar or grabbing a flauta from Jamón & Queso to share among friends. Another worthy stop is Bar Celona for Spanish cocktails. Moving on to mains, you could sit down in the set-apart restaurant spaces at Mar or Leña and choose saffron razor clams and Gambas elBulli, or Catalan choices like butifarra sausages with white beans. You could also go for a paella from the counter that serves Valenciana and Verdura versions. A more casual restaurant is Spanish Diner offering a home-cooking menu throughout the day. For dessert, a Bar Celona sherry or vermouth would go well with some churros from the stand. The wines from Spain are equally tantalizing with a robust selection of vintages hailing from the Basque region poured at Vinos and La Barra bars as well as at the restaurants. Should you fall madly in love with your all-Spain experience, there are shops with products to-go including jars of the aforementioned olives. Bravo to chef Andrés for this delightful foray into Spanish gastronomy.