Es Mercadal Market

Es Mercadal is a small town in the centre of Menorca, on the main road that links the island’s two historic cities, Maó and Ciutadella. It sits at the foot of Monte Toro, the island’s highest point, which is crowned by a sanctuary and gives wide views across the whole of Menorca. The town’s old quarter, with whitewashed houses and narrow lanes, is where its market takes place, and the setting is a good reason to go.

The Es Mercadal Market is best known for its Night Market, held on Thursday evenings in the summer season. Lights are strung through the streets, the stalls stay open into the evening and the mood is relaxed, aimed more at a stroll and a bite than at serious shopping. Regular markets also take place on Saturdays and Sundays. Because dates and times are set locally and can change, it is worth checking the town’s information before planning a visit around them.

The stalls focus on local and handmade products. Menorca’s cheese is well known, and the island’s Mahón-Menorca cheese has protected designation of origin, so a market stall is a good place to try it at different stages of ageing. Other common finds include homemade bread, local wines, pastries made with nearby ingredients and sold on a zero-kilometre principle, and craft goods such as basketry, wood items and rustic ceramics. Leather sandals, known as avarques, are a traditional Menorcan product and often appear at craft stalls. Island specialities such as sobrasada, a spreadable cured sausage, and xoriço, a local sausage, are also worth looking for, though availability varies between stalls.

Es Mercadal itself has a few places for coffee or lunch, and the town is known for its pastries, so the market can be combined with a meal. From the town it is a short drive to the north coast and the fishing village of Fornells, or south to the beaches of Cala Macarella and Cala Pregonda, which are further along the island, and a drive up Monte Toro is worth adding if the weather is clear.

The market suits people who prefer small, local events over large tourist attractions. Arrive early in the evening in summer for the best choice and the most comfortable temperature, bring cash for small purchases, and allow time to look around the town as well as the stalls. Entry is free.