Mercado Little Spain — Restaurant in New York

I hadn’t heard of Mercado Little Spain before. I just happened to be walking by Hudson Yards when a friend suggested that I stop in to check it out. I am so glad that I did because it was the little slice of Spanish culinary heaven that I never knew I needed!! Full disclosure, I loved it so much that I went a total of 4 times over the next few days.

I’ve been a big fan of José Andrés since he opened multiple restaurants in the DC area decades ago. Mercado Little Spain is a “a veritable love letter to Spain from Chef José Andrés and his team." It’s quite the love letter because this place is filled with Spanish culinary delights at every turn!

There are a few ways to enter Mercado Little Spain from Hudson Yards you go to the lower level, where you’ll see colorful murals welcoming and directing you downstairs. There’s also an entrance under the High Line @ 10 Hudson Yards where you’ll can walk directly into the market from the street level.

From the moment you walk in there’s a lot to take in depending on your mood and what you have a taste for — there’s something for everyone! From Spanish grilled cheese, to tapas, seafood, there’s a churros popup; a place to get delicious salads and bowls, burgers, divine Spanish pastries and soft serve. There’s a bar and a few restaurants like Oyamel & Lena where you can go for a traditional sit-down meal, otherwise you can go to one of the many food stalls to try the Spanish delicacies available and grab a seat at any of the tables or counters available.

Mercado Little Spain is open from 11am-10pm daily. It’s a colorful, vibrant and delightful place to experience. The food, the scents, the music, the murals, the decor and ambience make for a wonderful sensory journey that is unique each time.

The first time I ate with my eyes. I got a warm rice and salad bowl combo with chicken from Lola’s Greens that was delicious! It was a simple mix of flavors that hit just right. It reminded me of a Spanish version of CAVA.

Next my sweet tooth kicked in and Qué Sweet was soon calling my name! Their mango soft serve sundae topped with fresh mango! It was next level fresh, fruity & flavorful! So much so that I had another one the next day! This time mixed with vanilla yogurt.

It’s fun to walk around the market to see the different kiosks. There is eye candy for days in Mercado Little Spain! It’s a fun place to visit even if you’re not a foodie.

Many other things caught my eye, but one thing in particular was a MUST TRY! A liquid olive! What? There were posters around the market enticing one to try this gastronomical wonder! I love olives, so I decided to check out La Barra to see what a liquid olive tastes like and grab a cocktail. I’m glad that I did. It looked exactly like an olive and tasted like an olive that was just made of liquid. You are served two olives on a wooden spoon. They jiggle as you taste them. It’s so cool to try.

Lastly, the restrooms are clean and easily accessible. They are adorned with a whimsical and colorful mural along the way.

Mercado Little Spain has an escalator and elevator inside if you want to venture into Hudson Yards to check out the shops. I highly recommend it if you have time.

Adios Mercado Little Spain, it won’t be the last time that’s for sure!!

If you’re in NYC and find your way to the Hudson Yards, definitely check out Mercado...

This is by FAR the best place in the city to get authentic Spanish tapas in an immersive atmosphere that transports you to Spain! I will start by saying that I have always ordered their Jamon Iberico sandwiches on Uber eats, and they are so amazing, but due to a limited menu, I needed to visit in person to see all the options that I was missing. Walking into Mercado Little Spain, makes you feel as if you are eating in Spain with multiple dining spots nearby with food being prepared in-front your eyes. You can even see the wood burning to cook paella. There are many different areas to sit and choose food, however I decided to sit in La Barra’s dine in restaurant in the back called “Mar”. The menu was extensive and presented many different authentic options that one would enjoy in Spain. I had the jamon iberico to start with and it doesn’t get any better than that. It melts in your mouth immediately and gives so much flavor with every bite. I paired it with some bread and manchego and it is just heavenly. The patatas bravas were spot on as well. Very few places are able to replicate the tomato sauce and aioli, but it was delicious and accurately good here. I was pleasantly surprised to try the chistorra con patata. It is such a savory experience. The thinly, fried potato that wraps the sausage gives such a unique flavor and texture that is further complimented by the aioli. The paella is so rich and flavorful, with every bite you crave another. The gambas al ajillo was another meal that is bursting with flavor that has been soaking up the essence of the olive oil and garlic herb mixture. To balance everything, I had a spinach salad which added some much needed greens to my meals. Lastly, for dessert there was no way I could choose just one. I will start by saying the flan was by far the best tasting flan I had! It was so delicious I wanted to order another. The churros paired with hot chocolate were also the perfect balance of hot and sweet flavors. The cheesecake was a rich and scrumptious dish that I couldn’t get enough of. Writing this review was difficult because it gets me extremely excited for how good the food was. I cannot wait to eat here again and try everything else on the menu. You will not be disappointed by...

We recently visited Little Spain for a family outing (party of six) and overall we loved it — we’ll definitely be back. We had: a beer to start, a jamón sandwich, a chorizo sandwich, a salami plate, ice cream and churros. Every bite delivered. The jamón and chorizo sandwiches were full-flavored, the salami plate very satisfying, and the churros + ice cream made for a perfect sweet finish.

The space felt lively but not overwhelmingly crowded. We were able to find seats (though we had to split up our family of 6 into two adjacent tables) which worked fine — some reviews do warn that it can get quite busy and loud at peak times.  The vibe for us was just right — energetic without being chaotic.

What we appreciated: • Great variety of Spanish-food offerings and strong execution. Other reviewers note that while some dishes are more dependable than others, the concept and setting are fun and flavorful.  • Good for sharing and exploring multiple items, which worked well with our group. • A large wine list (even though we didn’t drink wine), which signals they take the Spanish food & drink culture seriously.

Things to be aware of: • It is a bit pricey. Some review­ers feel that the cost is on the high side for what you get.  • While our service was fine, other guests have mentioned slower service or that during peak times it becomes noisy and seating/movement can be less ideal.  • Because we had to split our group of six, if you have a larger party it might take a little extra coordination or you may ask ahead for contiguous seating.

In summary: Strong recommendation from us. If you’re in Hudson Yards and want a lively Spanish-food trip with plenty of variety, this is a great pick. Just know it leans a little upscale in price and can fill up, so maybe go slightly off-peak or have a little flexibility with seating.

⭐️ We’ll definitely...