Mercado Central de Abastos de Cádiz
Cádiz's central market fills Plaza de la Libertad in the old town: a square ringed by a Doric colonnade by Torcuato Benjumeda, opened in 1838 as one of Spain's oldest covered markets.
About Mercado Central de Abastos de Cádiz
The market stands on the former garden of the Descalzos convent, expropriated in the 1830s. Torcuato Benjumeda designed a square ringed by a Doric portico, and it opened in 1838, one of the oldest covered markets in Spain. A central pavilion followed in 1928, a full renovation ended in 2009, and the sandstone galleries were restored in 2025–26. There are 57 fruit and vegetable stalls, 54 fish stalls and 44 butchers.
The fish hall is the main draw, with prawns, cuttlefish and sea bream from the bay. Butchers sell chicharrones, and other stalls offer Sierra de Cádiz cheeses and chacinas, olives, bread and local produce. The outer arcades hold the Rincón Gastronómico, food stalls with shared tables serving fried fish and other Cádiz dishes alongside Argentine, Belgian and Valencian cooking.
Stalls open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 15:00, and the food stalls also serve on Tuesday to Saturday evenings until between 23:00 and 01:00, depending on season. The cathedral is a five-minute walk away; parking in the old town is scarce, so use a public car park. Access is step-free, with adapted toilets. It suits families, food lovers and anyone cooking in a holiday flat.
Come on a weekday before 11:00 to see the fish counters at their fullest; Saturday is busiest. Around 31 October, for Tosantos, stallholders dress their stalls with satirical scenes made from produce. Bring cash for small stalls.
Mercado Central de Abastos de Cádiz in pictures
What you’ll find
- Butchers and charcuterieMeat, ham and sausagesBuy
- Evening openingLate opening (20:00–01:00)Free
- Fish marketFresh fish and seafoodBuy
- Food courtTapas and food stalls (09:00–01:00)Buy
- Free entryFree visitFree
- Historic buildingArchitectureFree
- Local specialitiesRegional produceBuy
- Market stallsFresh food shopping (09:00–15:00)Buy
- Step-free accessAccessible visitFree
- ToiletsPublic toiletsFree
Nearby places to visit
The market sits in the middle of the old town, next to Plaza de las Flores and its flower stalls. Cádiz Cathedral (300 m) is a short walk south-east, and the Roman Theatre of Cádiz (450 m) lies just behind it in the El Pópulo quarter. Cádiz Museum (550 m) on Plaza de Mina holds Phoenician and Roman finds. Walking west through La Viña, the old fishermen's quarter known for its tapas bars, you reach Playa de la Caleta (700 m) and Castillo de Santa Catalina, Cádiz (900 m) on the seafront.
Mercado Central de Abastos de Cádiz at a glance
Category
Food & Wine Food markets
Location
Bahía de Cádiz, Cádiz
Town
Cádiz
Address
Plaza de la Libertad s/n, 11005 Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
Opening hours
Market stalls Mon–Sat 09:00–15:00 (building closes 14:00 on Mondays). Rincón Gastronómico food stalls Mon–Fri 09:00–15:30, Sat 09:00–16:00; evenings Tue–Thu 20:00–24:00, Fri–Sat 20:00–01:00. The market website also lists Sunday 12:00–17:00 in winter (October–May). Closed on some public holidays.
Entry and prices
Free entry; food-stall prices vary by stall.
Checked 3 Nov 2026 on the official website. Times and prices can change, so confirm before you go.
Website
mercadocentralcadiz.com
Phone
+34 956 21 41 91
More places nearby
Other places within 25 km of Mercado Central de Abastos de Cádiz, nearest first.
