The Mercado de San Miguel, the historic iron market in Madrid’s Old Quarter, houses some of the best food vendors in the city. From artisanal cheeses to local sherries, this is one market where you should ignore the old adage of never shopping while hungry; you should come here hungry, and you should come here armed with plenty of Euros to ensure you can eat extensively as you explore and take home plenty of goodies for later. One unmissable spot is Mas Gourmets, an Iberian deli with a penchant for extraordinary meaty delights.

In amongst the market’s iron columns and trendy drop lighting, the corner colonised by Mas Gourmets is easy to spot, thanks to the line-up of aged hams hanging behind the bar, just waiting to be finely sliced and devoured. And just out of reach behind the glass counter, cradled in little wicker baskets, are all manner of salamis, chorizos, and fuets (a type of Catalonian sausage made with pork, garlic and pepper). Whether you’re a sausage enthusiast intent on letting your palate loose on some of Spain’s best gourmet treats, or you fancy trying them for the first time, this spot in the market is unmissable. Especially as, while Barcelona has 11 Mas Gourmet outposts, this is the only one in the Spanish capital.