Let’s start with a shocking truth: supermarkets in Spain are closed on Sundays. Closed. As in, shut down tighter than a Spanish pharmacy during siesta time. You’ve just stumbled out of bed on Sunday morning (after a big Saturday night), bleary-eyed, craving an orange juice, and boom, nada. No Mercadona. No Carrefour. Then, after wandering aimlessly along the quiet Sunday morning streets, you may or may not stumble upon a shady corner store with a pack of dusty Doritos. Welcome to Spain, amigo.
But here’s the thing: Spanish people don’t mind. In fact, they plan for it. You’ll spot them on Saturday afternoons loading up like there’s a Category 5 Spanish tortilla shortage heading their way. And while you’re desperately Googling “open grocery stores near me” on Sunday, the locals are strolling through Sunday markets.
But provided it isn’t a Sunday, where does a God-fearing expat in Spain go for his groceries and other useful stuff for around the house?
Carrefour: A One-Stop Shopping Disneyland for Expats (with Better Wine)
Step into Carrefour and it’s like walking into a consumer utopia. You can get everything from sushi to socks, toothpaste to TV sets, and even a half-decent bottle of Ribera del Duero, all under one roof. It’s where French efficiency meets Spanish needs.
You’re pushing your cart past organic hummus and suddenly, boom: a sushi bar. Yes, an actual sushi bar inside the store.
Want a new outfit? There’s a full clothing section. My buddy Jeff, a fellow American expat, once walked in for cat food and walked out with a Hawaiian shirt, a Bluetooth speaker, and a store-made paella the size of a manhole cover.
Carrefour is your go-to for survival, especially if you’re new in Spain and trying to upgrade the furnishings of your new real estate purchase (most apartments and homes for sale in Spain come furnished). Carrefour even sells mattresses. The only thing they don’t have is the will to speed up the checkout line, but whatever you do, avoid their self-checkout, unless you want to get a short tongue-lashing from their rabid self-checkout kapos.
Feu Vert: When Your Car in Spain Breaks Down (Literally)
Every expat in Spain has their “oh crap” moment. Mine came on a highway outside Valencia, when my VW’s windshield wiper fluid light lit up and the liquid sputtered off, losing the fight against the highway mosquitoes, making driving almost impossible. I drove down to Feu Vert, Spain’s answer to AutoZone or Pep Boys.
Feu Vert is that green-and-black oasis that saves your life when your car decides to stage a rebellion. Need windshield wipers? New tires? Cupholder-phone mount? Fuzzy steering wheel cover that screams midlife crisis? Done.
Leroy Merlin: The Spanish Home Depot with a French Name
Say it with me: Le-roy Mer-lin. No, it’s not a wizard. It’s the French DIY megastore chain that has taken Spain by storm. It’s where you go when your newly purchased Spanish apartment has shower tiles from 1983 and doors that don’t close unless you body-slam them.
Need a new toilet seat? A power drill? 700 varieties of lightbulbs? Leroy’s got you covered.
Decathlon: Where Every Spaniard Pretends to Be an Olympian
If you’ve ever wondered where Spain hides its Lycra-clad population, look no further than Decathlon. This is where Spain goes to buy running gear, paddleboards, yoga mats, snorkels, and tennis rackets.
Beware, Decathlon makes it dangerously easy to spend €300 on neon-colored everything.
Even if your idea of a sport is opening a wine bottle without a corkscrew, Decathlon makes you believe. You’ll buy running shoes. You’ll fantasize about beach volleyball. You’ll convince yourself you’re going to join a hiking group in the Pyrenees.
Mercadona: The King of Spanish Supermarkets (and Possibly, Romance)
Finally, we arrive at Mercadona, the beating heart of everyday Spanish life. Forget your Trader Joe’s. Mercadona is a cultural institution, a temple of jamón, olive oil, fresh fish, and lightly flirtatious tension.
Everything here just works. The prices are good. The layout makes sense. The fresh bread section is top-notch. And their house brand, Hacendado, has achieved cult status for being suspiciously good. Their jamón serrano slaps. Their gazpacho might cure a hangover.
But let’s talk about the real secret.
See, in the evening between 7 and 8 pm, Mercadona isn’t just for groceries. It’s for glances across the fruit aisle and for bumping carts with a stranger and saying “Uy, perdona” with a smile. For picking out an upside-down pineapple and maybe, just maybe, getting picked up yourself.
Spanish singles? They know the game. It started as a meme, an urban myth, but has grown into a bona fide cultural phenomenon. I once overheard a Spanish lady say, “Nunca sabes dónde vas a encontrar el amor… incluso en Mercadona.” You never know where you’ll find love… even at Mercadona.
And yes, the pineapple thing is real. If someone lingers too long by the pineapples or places one upside down in their cart, it’s meant to be a subtle signal. A “hey, I’m open to meeting someone who also appreciates good produce and emotional intimacy.”
So next Saturday afternoon, shower, dress sharp, grab your reusable bag, and hit Mercadona like you mean it.
Just… don’t forget the pineapple.
Stay tuned to GuiriGuru for more Spain explorations and expat tips.
