While in Madrid I plan on visiting the Reina Sofia followed by a stroll through Retiro Park. I would like to purchase a meal near the museum to take into the park. Does anyone have a suggestion? Thanks for your help

The park is surrounded by dozens of places to eat. Some even have take out. There is also Flordia Park, in Retiro, where you can sit and have a beer, wine and a bit to eat.

You can also stop by MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL, if you happen to be in the neighborhood, and pick up something before going to the Reina Sofia.

Have your meal overlooking the Crystal Palace in the Park!

http://madrid-travel-guide.blogspot....e-cristal.html

http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/the_...madrid_spain_1

If it is a picnic you are after, the Mercato Anton Martin is very close to the Reina Sofia...

http://mercadoantonmartin.com

Both the mercados suggestedare are not cloes to the museum and in the opposite direction to the Retiro!
When you leave the museum ,cross Atocha and go along the Paseo del Prado and you will come to Mcdonalds-please avoid but a good landmark- and then you will see the Museo de Jamon.Go in there and pick out whatever you like for your picnic!
Cross the paseo and find the entrance to the park-up a street with book stalls.There's an entrance to the park and you will find the statue of the fallen angel-unique!This is the back end of the parkso you can find your picnic spot and then wander through the park to the lake,crystal palace and towards the main entrance on Puerta de Alcala!
Enjoy!

chapla - the Mercato Anton Martin is not very far from the Reina Sofia - I stayed between the two places on C/ Santa Isabel for 10 days last fall. It is an easy walk. Having said that, your recommendation is an excellent one!

I tend to avoid the Museo de Jamon as much as McDonalds.

rialtogrl-I know c/Atocha and you would need to walk uphill to the mercado and then go all the way down again to go to Retiro-too much retracking for me.
Robert2533-your suggestion of Mercado San Miguel made me chuckle!Way off.........and you are suggesting to carry your picnic to the museum,put it through security and then let it sit until you are finished with your tour of the museum,,,,,,,,,,,
As to the Museo de Jamon you are definitely in the minority!

"As to the Museo de Jamon you are definitely in the minority!" Sounds good to me...

thanks everyone for your suggestions. I think we will head to the Museo de Jamon but I will keep the mercados in mind for other meals. I went to the Mercado San Miguel when I visited Madrid a few years ago and recall enjoying it very much.

chapla - thanks also for your directions


joannyc - We are particularly looking foward to seeing the Crystal Palace

Enjoy the Retiro but I also love the Botanical Garden next to the Prado.Unbelievably quiet considering it runs next to the Paseo del Prado.A great variety of trees and plants,great place to visit at all times of the year.It had a lovely little pond with ducks ann a small version of the crystal palace.
Another lovely spot for a picnic!

If you plan to walk through the park, you can go to the municipal market on Ibiza, near the eastern side of the park, to buy your picnic supplies.



http://www.spottedbylocals.com/madrid/mercado-de-ibiza/

ekscrunchy - thanks for the link. I love visiting local markets

Ibiza is in an area seldom visited by tourist. It's also where you'll find some of our favorite tapas bars and restaurants.

Robert: Would love to hear is you've found any places to eat that Maribel has not yet added to the guide...I will be renting an apartment in the area in October and am very eager!

Noting new in the area the last time we where there (a couple of weeks ago), but we only had to days to explore. What is new is that Laredo has moved into a new, upscale space at Doctor Castelo, 30 and it's space has been taken over by La Catapa, which just across the street from it's former location. All in all a good move for the neighborhood.

We did find, or where introduced to, Cantina La Traviesa near Plaza Mayor. It's worth the short walk (http://www.cantinalatraviesa.com).

Count me as one who hasn´t managed to get into a Museo del Jamón. Those astounding displays of croissants with a thin bit of ham showing never fail to perplexe me ...
If you want ham, and don´t want to trek all the way to La Garriga near Plaza de Castilla, the people at Octavio in the Mercado de San Antón are quite good.
In the OP´s case, I would opt for the market in Ibiza.

Ekscrunchy, not near your area, but yesterday I had a long late lunch at the recently open Mercado Isabela. It is a bit expensive, it is posh and it can be crowded in the evenings, but when we went there wasn´t so many people (mostly groups like us, enjoying a drink and something to eat at the end of the work week) and we had a great time- Very nice tiny broad beans and peruvian cooking for the people at La Panamericana. And a bottle of Juve and Camps to survive the heat.

It is near the Corte Ingles of Castellana and the metro stop of Nuevos Ministerios, in Paseo de la Habana, 3

Cova

I knew I could count on the Madrid aficionados for good tips...

I really liked Laredo and it was one of the places I had hoped to visit on the next trip....so many places to try, so little time.....Robert, do you happen to know the days that they are open for dinner...the new website is not yet up...

Cova thanks.....sounds tempting!!

Their hours should be the same as before, closed Sundays.

Thanks! This time, as I mentioned, we will be in an apartment and I'm not sure if SpainSelect will be willing to make restaurant bookings for me...I know that the Barcelona agency that I used for the rental last year was most willing to help with this, but not sure if they are the rule or the exception..I will have to ask them once I get some kind of list together..