If Spain had one national gastronomic treasure, it would undoubtedly be jamón ibérico. Iberian ham is a variety of jamón serrano, a kind of dry-cured ham produced in Spain and, trust us, once you try it, you’ll only want to keep trying it over and over again. You’ll definitely want to buy jamón ibérico in Madrid before you leave the city.

The country’s cured-to-perfection ham is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before. According to Spain’s regulations on jamón, for it to be considered ibérico, it must be made from either pure breed Black Iberian pigs, or cross-bred pigs at least 50% Black Iberian mixed only with Duroc pigs. So, when you see “ibérico” in the name, you know you’re getting the real deal.

Of course, that probably means you’ll want to stock up when visiting the Iberian capital. Thankfully, we’ve done more than our fair share of exploring the city, and we’ve compiled the best places to eat and buy jamón ibérico in Madrid. 

Don Jamón

Despite its seemingly touristy location, right in the center of Madrid, the clientele at Don Jamón (Gran Vía, 60) tends to be a pleasant mix of locals and visitors. It’s also a great place to buy jamón ibérico in Madrid, if you’re staying close to the center, after trying it out with some other traditional tapas.

Buy some fresh-sliced ham to take home for later, or enjoy it in-house. They specialize in high-quality Spanish cured meats, but they also offer some delicious home-cooked tapas as well. Order a drink (like their delicious vermouth) and get a tapa for free!

Alma, de Julián Becerro

This family-run gourmet shop now has several locations in the city. However, Alma (Calle Cava Baja, 41) is one of our favorite places to buy jamón ibérico in Madrid, because it’s in a charming street full of places with delicious goodies to taste.

Known as Alma, de Julián Becerro, it truly captures the heart and soul of patriarch Adrián Becerro’s endeavor. The team carefully hand-selects the products to ensure the finest quality.

If you have time, be sure to sample some of the meat in-shop with a nice glass of local wine. They’ll be happy to offer advice in relation to their Iberian ham selection.

Insider’s Tip: If you are going to buy jamón ibérico in Madrid, always buy it freshly sliced by a master carver, and subsequently vacuum sealed. It’ll be way better and last longer.

Casa González

In addition to being one of our favorite places to buy jamón ibérico in Madrid, Casa González (Calle del León, 12) is also a fabulous deli and wine bar (and has a coveted spot on our list of the best places for tapas in Madrid). Beyond ham, you’ll be able to buy olive oil, cheese and other delicious Spanish treats to take back home with you.

This family-run shop holds true to the same roots as when it was founded in 1931, without feeling stuffy or old-fashioned. Don’t miss their fabulous selection of more than 200 Spanish wines, either!

Mercado de Antón Martín

You can’t beat Mercado de Antón Martín‘s location smack dab in the middle of the city.

The clientele here is mostly local. You’ll feel like a true madrileño while perusing this vibrant and colorful market. The market has plenty of food options for you to choose from.

Enjoy some fresh-sliced ham for a fraction of the price as in the tapas bars, and pick up some bread and cheese while you’re at it for a quick and easy picnic. This is one of the most authentic places to buy jamón ibérico in Madrid.

What to look for when buying Spanish ham

To the untrained eye, ham is ham. But it’s not. It is most definitely not. Whether buying Iberian ham for home use or eating out, make sure to check out the category of ham on offer. The levels of quality are quite different, and actually designated by law. Yes, it’s that serious.

There are variations of quality within each category. To give you an idea, we’ve compiled a breakdown of the ham basics. 

• Jamón serrano is made from white pigs that are typically raised indoors and fed a mix of grains, which leads to less fat, which leads to less flavor. Jamón serrano is fine, but in Spain people don’t use it for anything more than a quick topping for toast, or maybe mix in with some huevos rotos, or croquetas. Although there are some quality serrano hams out there, overall this ham is fairly basic, less flavorful than jamon ibérico.
• Jamón ibérico is the most common type of ham. This type of ham is made from Ibérico pigs that are raised indoors and fed hay. There are also quite a few ranges here, so you never quite know what you may get when you order it at a restaurant. It will probably be good, but once you try the next two on the list, you’ll never go back.
• Jamón ibérico de cebo de campo is one step above plain old jamón ibérico. This is because the pigs are free-range and eat both acorns and hay. The flavor here is when you really start to realize how delicious Spanish ham can be. The salty, smooth, almost woody taste is distinct from all other types of ham, and delicious. 
• Jamón ibérico de bellota is the top of the top when it comes to Spanish hams. In theory, depending on your budget, this is what you should be ordering. It’s made from Spain’s premier level pig—free-range, black-footed Ibérico pigs that only eat acorns. Why does that matter? Well, that may be a story for another day. Basically, the “pata negra” pigs eat up to 10 kilos of acorns a day, which makes for a mouth-watering taste that is truly unique. 

Update Notice: This post was updated on February 1, 2024.

 

Now that you know how to buy jamón ibérico in Madrid, why not delve deeper into the fascinating world of Spanish ham and more beloved Spanish plates? Join us on our Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour of Madrid and enjoy 15+ tastes at six iconic establishments, trying everything from authentic Spanish churros to Iberian ham and more.