Turrón is Spain’s Christmas almond sweet, and in Madrid the shops that make it sit within a short walk of Puerta del Sol. Casa Mira, at Carrera de San Jerónimo 30, has made its own since 1842 and cuts it to order, with Jijona and Alicante from €18. El Riojano, at Calle Mayor 10, sells artisan bars from €21 and half bars from €13.50 per El Riojano’s own shop, and opens 9am to 9pm every day. Vicens has seven shops in the city, and the Antigua Pastelería del Pozo dates from 1830.
Where should I buy turrón in Madrid? Casa Mira, at Carrera de San Jerónimo 30, makes its own turrón and cuts it to order, with Jijona and Alicante from €18. El Riojano, at Calle Mayor 10, sells artisan bars from €21 and half bars from €13.50 and opens 9am to 9pm every day. Casa Mira closes in July and August.
Turrón explained, if you have never had it
There are two classics, and they are not the same sweet:
- Alicante (turrón duro): hard, whole toasted almonds held together with honey and egg white. Snaps when you bite it.
- Jijona (turrón blando): soft, the almonds ground into a dense paste. Closer to a nut butter you can slice.
After those come the yema tostada, a soft turrón with egg yolk and a burnt-sugar top, plus chocolate, coconut and fruit versions. If you are buying for people at home, take one of each classic.
Which shop suits you
- Casa Mira, for turrón cut to order. It makes its own in its workshop and you queue at the counter; the shop itself warns that the queues come back every December. Jijona, Alicante, hazelnut and guirlache start at €18; the toasted yolk is €27 for 450 g.
- El Riojano, for convenience. Twenty-four artisan turrones, sugar-free Jijona and Alicante, and opening hours that do not change: 9am to 9pm every day. It delivers, but only within the city of Madrid.
- Vicens, for modern flavours and handy locations. Shops at Paseo del Prado 10, Arenal 21, Mayor 41, Carmen 8, Gran Vía 47, Calle de Postas 1 and the basement floor of El Corte Inglés in Calle Preciados.
What turrón costs
Chocolate, coconut and fruit turrón cost €24.50 for 500 g, and a 250 g stone-ground torta €22. A 280 g torta imperial, a thin almond wafer-cake, is €18 and the cheapest way to try Casa Mira without buying a whole block; a 500 g pan de Cádiz is €12.25. Prices at Vicens change with each collection.
Getting there, and Christmas hours
Casa Mira is about 250 m from Sevilla metro, El Riojano about 150 m from the Sol exit on Calle Mayor, and the Vicens shop on Arenal about 70 m from Ópera. A single ticket covers one metro ride, and the fares are set out in Madrid metro ticket prices.
Casa Mira keeps its own Christmas timetable: 9:30am to 2pm and 4:30pm to 9pm from 1 to 12 December, 9:30am to 9pm from 13 to 23 December, 9:30am to 2pm on 24 and 31 December and 10am to 2pm on 6 January. Here dinner starts around 9pm, so an evening shop before dinner works; on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve the shop is shut by 2pm. What else opens on those days is in what’s open in Madrid on Christmas Day. Around Sol, keep your wallet in a front pocket in the Christmas crowds; where to be careful is in pickpockets in Madrid.
What you might not like
Turrón cut to order is only sold at the counter, so expect to wait at Casa Mira in December. El Riojano will not deliver outside Madrid. And at Vicens prices change with each collection, so check them in the shop. The rest of the evening is easy: chocolate and churros near Sol, then the Christmas lights route or the Plaza Mayor Christmas market. The 6 January cake is in roscón de Reyes in Madrid, and more ideas in Christmas in Madrid.
Turrón in Madrid FAQ
What is the difference between Jijona and Alicante turrón?
Alicante turrón is hard, made with whole toasted almonds and honey. Jijona turrón is soft, made with ground almonds, so it has the texture of a dense paste. Most Madrid shops sell both, and at Casa Mira both start at €18.
Where is the best place to buy turrón in Madrid?
For turrón cut to order, Casa Mira at Carrera de San Jerónimo 30, which makes its own. For artisan bars and a long opening day, El Riojano at Calle Mayor 10, open 9am to 9pm every day. For modern flavours, any of the seven Vicens shops, the largest at Paseo del Prado 10.
Is Casa Mira open over Christmas?
Yes. From 13 to 23 December it opens 9:30am to 9pm straight through, on 24 and 31 December only 9:30am to 2pm, and on 6 January 10am to 2pm. It closes for all of July and August.
Can I order turrón online in Madrid?
Casa Mira and Vicens sell through their own online shops, and El Riojano delivers, but only within the city of Madrid. Turrón cut to order is only sold at the counter.
Buy one hard and one soft: the argument over which is better is half the fun.