A few good reasons to shop at Atarazanas market

Almudejar style entrance to the market.
Photo credit: malaga.eu.

The Atarazanas market in the center of Málaga is one of those classic Euro markets that you see in movies. Produce hanging on every corner of the stalls, pot bellied men smoking cigarettes while hacking at blood red bluefin tuna (no joke, saw a fishmonger smoking while cutting a tuna, health code violation!), cow brains being chopped up for eager old ladies who comment on the meat selection like it's Champions League. It's more than a place to buy garlic, it's an experience.

Photo credit: mercadoatarazanas.com

Last week I popped in to buy a zucchini and some queso fresco to make lasagna and thoroughly enjoyed my twenty minute meander around the place. I offer below, for your reading enjoyment, a few reasons why you might want to have a look around, maybe pick up some non-ashy tuna.

1. Free herbs: Buy a bunch of produce, get a bunch of parsley or mint for free. Deal.

2. Free molluscs: I caught a stowaway on my tomatoes the other day.

 This guy was lucky that the Cordobesas weren't
around, they do love them some snails.

3. Fresh fish: The seafood selection is top notch. There are huge bins of octopus, sardines grouped into various sizes, monkfish, cod, navajas, mussels, and other marine life. Many fish are in that Tony Bourdain-approved state of rigur mortus, with their bodies arched like acrobats. As far as I know, this is the best place to get seafood in the city. 

4. Fresh produce: All oranges have leaves and stems on them, all bananas are slightly green, no tomatoes have spots, all potatoes have dirt on them. Make sure they give you the fresh stuff when you tell them what you want, otherwise you´ll get saddled with the mushy avocados they keep in the back.

5. Fresh men: An average stroll through the market by a 20-something blonde yields more catcalls per worker than construction sites. I'll just have the lettuce, thanks, hold the whistles.