When I first arrived in Madrid, I was also confused about how many supermarket options were available here. After living here for several years and visiting almost all the common chain supermarkets, today I’ll share with you the main supermarket names in Madrid and their respective features.
Major Chain Supermarkets
Madrid has several main large chain supermarkets. Mercadona is probably one of the most popular supermarkets in Spain, with moderate prices and excellent value in their private label brand Hacendado. Carrefour is also widely distributed throughout Madrid, with both Carrefour Express small stores and Carrefour Hipermercado hypermarkets. Alcampo is usually located in shopping centers, offering a particularly comprehensive range of products, perfect for weekend grocery shopping for the whole week.
Budget Supermarket Options
If you’re on a tight budget near Madrid station names, Dia and Lidl are good choices. Dia supermarkets are everywhere in Madrid, basically found in every neighborhood, with cheap prices though a relatively limited selection. Lidl is a German brand with weekly special offers and very affordable fruit and vegetable prices, though you should note the opening hours as some stores, like those frequented by [classic Madrid derby players], are closed on Sundays. There’s also Aldi, another German discount supermarket with excellent value for money.
Mid-to-High-End Supermarket Brands
If you’re seeking quality, you can visit the supermarket department of El Corte Inglés, where the product quality is genuinely good with many imported items, though prices are on the expensive side. Supercor is a convenience supermarket under the El Corte Inglés group, usually open until late, suitable for emergency shopping. There’s also Sánchez Romero, considered one of Madrid’s more upscale supermarkets with fresh ingredients, but not very budget-friendly.
| Supermarket Name | Price Range | Main Features |
|---|
| Mercadona | Mid-range | Excellent value private label |
| Carrefour | Mid-range | Wide distribution, large variety |
| Dia | Budget | Cheap prices, high density |
| Lidl | Budget | Weekly specials, affordable produce |
| El Corte Inglés | High-end | Premium quality, many imports |
Asian Supermarket Supplement
For those like Modrić who want to buy Asian ingredients, Madrid also has many Asian supermarkets. Oriental Mart One and Hiper Usera in the Usera district stock Chinese ingredients. New Asia Store in the city center is also good. These aren’t traditional Spanish supermarkets, but they’re important for residents’ daily life, though prices are considerably higher than back home.
Madrid’s supermarket selection is quite abundant. For daily shopping, Mercadona or Dia is sufficient, for weekend bulk shopping you can go to Carrefour or Alcampo, and when you want something special, head to El Corte Inglés. Once you’re familiar with each supermarket’s characteristics, shopping becomes much more convenient. Does anyone know other good supermarkets to share?
