Mexico’s capital is a diverse destination, and the Mexico City markets are no different. Some are gritty and urban serving dishes eaten for generations, while others are artisanal shopping heavens selling beautiful goods you never knew you needed.
In this post, I’ll cover farmers markets, food courts, street food, and artisanal shopping. Let’s begin with what I consider to be the highlight…
Traditional markets in Mexico City
Forget the supermarket: this is where locals shop! Traditional markets are the best places to experience local life and get an authentic feel for the city.
The following places are colorful, local, and affordable. Shop for fresh produce or sit down for an authentic feast.
Most of these places are perfectly safe for tourists to visit. I’ll mention any safety issues as we go.
Mercado Medellin, Roma Sur (first-timers pick)
Located in Roma Sur, the quieter and less gentrified part of La Roma neighborhood, this vibey Colombian market is a great place to shop for fresh produce, eat an affordable meal, or simply soak up the atmosphere.
Although Mercado Medellin is authentic, it doesn’t feel as overwhelmingly hectic as some. A perfect introduction to Mexico City’s local markets!
Don’t miss the food court at the back where you can try tacos, tortas, enchiladas, and all the other fantastic Mexico City street foods. You’re unlikely to pay more than 100 pesos for a hearty lunch and drink.
Getting there: it’s within walking distance of the Roma Norte and Condesa neighbourhoods. Metro station, Chilpancingo, and Metrobus stop, Campeche, are nearby.
If none of the food stands appeal, Roma Sur is full of foodie gems like Café Tacobar (upscale tacos and cocktails), Morenos Tasting Room (tacos and craft beer), and Por Siempre Vegana (cheap, vegan tacos).
Xochimilco Market
This is a fantastic Mexico City market because it’s not your average tourist trap, summarized by one funny TripAdvisor review saying ‘Don’t come here looking for tat to take back to England for your mother’!
The main reason you’ll have heard of Xochimilco is due to the colorful trajinera boats that roam the waterways, taking locals and tourists along the canals, often with food, drinks, and mariachi bands in tow. If you’re a lover of authentic culture, begin the day with an early morning visit to Mercado de Xochimilco.
The market is enormous with more fresh fruit, veggies, and meat than you’ll have seen in your life (probably!). From small snacks to whole meals, there are plenty of authentic dishes you may be unfamiliar with, even if you think you know Mexican food.
I had delicious tlacoyos here (corn dough stuffed with potato, beans, or meat) and tried agua miel for the first time: unfermented pulque, straight from the maguey plant. So refreshing!
I learned a lot about the food culture, although it’s worth noting I was in a small guided group with Pachoa Mexico. Our guide’s local knowledge and friendship with the vendors helped me experience more than I would have solo.
Getting there: it’s a long journey with several changes on public transport (the easiest way is the blue metro Line 2 to Tasqueña then the Xochimilco Light Rail the rest of the way) or call an Uber for around 250 pesos from the center.
From the market, you can walk to the closest trajinera port, Embarcadero Salitre, but I personally prefer going to the Embarcadero Cuemanco port on a weekend as it’s less crowded. It’s a 20-minute drive away.
Jamaica Flower Market
For a fun local experience, take yourself over to Jamaica Market where stands sell everything from fresh produce to piñatas. But the real appeal is the wonderful Mercado de las Flores section with hundreds of fresh flower stands.
From sunflowers to pot plants, there are more varieties than I could ever name. Around Dia de los Muertos, cempasúchil flowers characterize the market with their typical scent and vibrant orange hues.
There’s also a fantastic array of food stands. Most serve typical Mexican food but there’s one casual restaurant, Mariscos Los Paisas, that’s become a YouTube sensation for its unusual seafood tacos. The pulpo (octopus) tacos served straight off a trompo are unique and totally delicious.
Getting there: take an Uber or ride the trolley bus for 4 pesos. There’s a stop right near the market.
Mercado San Juan, Centro (exotic market)
I wouldn’t San Juan (also named Ernesto Pugibet) is my favorite market in CDMX but it’s conveniently located in Centro Historico so it’s easy to combine with your sightseeing plans.
Although an ‘exotic’ market sounds intriguing, it mainly sells imported European cheeses and charcuterie meats; delicious but perhaps not what you came to Mexico for. Adventurous eaters can try chapulines (grasshoppers) and other insects, while anyone will enjoy tucking into Mexican staples like tacos and tortas.
One of my favorite taco places in CDMX is just around the corner. Don’t miss Rico Tacos Toluca for their three types of chorizo tacos (green, red, and tamarind).
Getting there: the nearest Metro station is Salto del Agua or you can easily walk from Centro.
Coyoacan Market
Located in one of the most famous boroughs of Mexico City, you wouldn’t travel to Coyoacan for the mercado exclusively. However, when you’re in the area visiting famous CDMX museums like the iconic Frida Kahlo House and soaking up the quaint neighborhood, don’t miss Coyoacan Market.
Why? Well, aside from balancing authentic local goods like piñatas and fresh fruit with tourist souvenirs, clothing, and jewelry, there’s fantastic food.
One place you can’t miss is the iconic Tostadas de Coyoacan. They serve (unsurprisingly) just one thing: tostadas. These crispy fried tortillas are topped with ingredients of your choosing from chicken with mole to seafood (the octopus and ceviche are both delicious), and veggie options, too.
Coyoacan Market is a great place to try other local dishes including new fruits you may not have heard of before. Mamey, guava, and black sapote (often known as ‘chocolate pudding fruit) are readily available.
Getting there: Coyoacan Metro stop is a 20-minute walk to the center, or you can take an Uber to avoid the walk (around 120 pesos from the Romaor Condesa neighbourhoods or 150 from Centro).
Mercado Sonora (Witches Market)
The infamous Witches Market (Mercado Sonora) is dedicated to brujeria or, in other words, witchcraft. Despite being a Catholic country, the two marry surprisingly well. Dolls of the baby Jesus sit beside statues of Santa Muerte, the popular Saint of Death in Mexico, and no one bats an eye.
From love potions to crystals, voodoo dolls, and taxidermy animals, Sonora Market isn’t for the faint of heart. Although ‘witchy’ has become a cool buzzword these days, parts of this market are dark and crowded, selling animals kept in cruel conditions.
I wouldn’t highly recommend this market to tourists, especially if they visibly LOOK like a tourist and/or don’t speak Spanish. I’m not saying don’t go, but I am saying be prepared and perhaps hire a local guide who knows the area.
As one Google reviewer says ‘Arguably the weirdest place I have ever been to’.
Getting there: Fray Servando and Pino Suárez are the nearest stations. An Uber from Centro or Roma won’t cost more than 100 pesos.
Related activity: guided tour to Sonora and Merced markets
Central de Abasto (world’s biggest market!)
Transalting as Supply Center, Central de Abasto is thought to be the largest wholesale market not just in Mexico City but the world, covering more than 3km of land in the Iztapalapa borough. Thousands of wholesale vendors serve hundreds of thousands of daily customers, accounting for more than a third of all the food served in CDMX!
It isn’t the best place for tourists or casual shoppers because it’s designed for wholesale purchases. Still, Central de Abasto is a true spectacle that some adventurous travelers may want to check out!
Getting there: 150-200 pesos by Uber from the center.
Mercado Juarez
Although not the biggest or most famous market, Mercado Juarez is worth visiting if you’re exploring the fun Juarez neighborhood of CDMX. They serve typical Mexican dishes and handicrafts.
Mercado La Merced
The biggest traditional market in Mexico City is more like a village of shops all joined together. Open since the 17th century, many consider it the offspring of Tlatelolco, the great market predating Spanish invasion.
You’ll definitely get lost in the wonderland of weaving alleyways surrounded by an eye-catching mix of stalls selling meat, fresh produce, and food. At the open-air tianguis, you can browse everything from piñatas to fake designer shoes.
Food options in Mercado La Merced include stews, tacos, tortas, and tamales, plus more unusual delicacies like ants, crickets, and chicken intestines. You can even buy an ENTIRE cow to take home, although I’m not sure why you would.
It’s advisable to go with a guide to get the best of this enormous, sprawling mercado – otherwise, you’ll be there all day without seeing a fraction of it. Note that the area is often listed as one of the less safe places in CDMX. Don’t visit after dark.
Getting there: Merced is the dedicated Metro station, or get an Uber for around 100 pesos from Roma/Centro.
Related activity: guided tour to Sonora and Merced markets
Artisan/shopping markets
There are plenty of amazing options whether you’re looking for souvenirs, artisanal products, or art.
La Ciudadela Artisans Market, Centro
To do your souvenir shopping, earmark this as the best market in Mexico City. It’s located near Centro and easy to work into your sightseeing plans.
La Ciudadela is a large market overflowing with beautiful artisan products like cushions, rugs, and pottery, plus your usual colorful Mexican handicrafts aimed at tourists like vibrant skulls and keyrings adorned with hummingbirds and Frida Kahlo’s face.
The prices aren’t too high so it’s a great place to buy gifts for yourself and your loved ones.
Getting there: it’s within walking distance from popular neighborhoods like Juarez, Centro, and even Roma Norte. The nearest metro stops are Balderas and Juarez. The nearest metrobus stop is Juárez.
La Lagunilla Sunday Antiques Market
There are two parts: the main La Lagunilla market, which happens 7 days a week, mainly selling fake designer goods. Bordering the Tepito neighborhood (one for foreigners to avoid), it’s not somewhere I’d recommend visiting.
The market I WOULD recommend visiting is the Sunday Antiques Market at La Lagunilla. This is a wonderfully eclectic mix of art, trinkets, vintage jewelry, carpets, chandeliers, fur coats, clothing, books, vases… The list goes on!
I didn’t buy anything but it was fun to wander and marvel at the items, wondering about their history. The food and drink stands add to what’s already a fun Sunday spent in CDMX.
The starting point for the market is the Super Chedraui supermarket. For safety reasons, I’d advise staying in this area rather than going too far towards Tepito.
Getting there: there’s a Metro bus stop right outside the supermarket and a Metro station, Garibaldi/Lagunilla, a five-minute walk away. An Uber from Centro should cost around 50 pesos and one from Roma/Condesa around 60-100 pesos.
San Angel Saturday Market (El Bazar Sábado)
My absolute favorite market in Mexico City is a real experience. There’s no better way to spend a Saturday in CDMX, if you ask me. I have been SO many times and I never got bored.
Located in San Angel neighborhood (near Coyoacan), it’s worth the 30-minute drive from the center. Rather than a cheap and cheerful mercado where you can haggle for bargains, there’s more of an artisan feel with beautiful handmade goods.
At El Bazar Sábado, I generally browse rather than buy due to the high prices. But if you’re looking for high-quality silver jewelry, gemstones, leather bags, and more, it’s a great place to splurge.
The main sections of the market include:
- Outdoor art section – decorative water fountains, live mariachi bands, and talented local artists displaying their work. Begin at Plaza del Carmen and continue to Plaza San Jacinto.
- Shops along Madero – although not specifically part of the market, there are so many lovely shops selling colorful clothes, jewelry, souvenirs, and homeware items.
- Outdoor tianguis at Plaza Tenanitla – stalls sell affordable goods such as jewelry, cushions, leather bags, etc. An ideal place to shop for souvenirs.
- Indoor section – expensive homeware, silver, high-quality goods, mezcal tasting, beers from Monstruo de Agua (remember to drink these inside as it’s illegal to drink alcohol outside in Mexico). Head upstairs to taste gourmet chocolate, salsas, honey, and more.
Getting there: the Metrobus runs along Insurgentes to San Angel costing 6 pesos a journey. Meanwhile, an Uber will cost about 150 pesos from anywhere central.
Foodie tip – start your day in San Angel at Na Tlali, one of my favourite restaurants in Mexico City. Everything is vegetarian (which I’m not but you don’t need to be!), delicious, and presented on beautiful crockery. Try chilaquiles with a wide range of moles, pancakes, and watermelon ‘tuna’ tostadas.
Weekend markets in La Roma
This trendy hood is known for its parks, cafes, and upscale restaurants. One of the best things to do on the weekend is stroll the pleasant streets and peruse the weekend markets, coffee in hand.
Rather than groceries and typical Mexican dishes, these places sell trinkets, jewelry, and body products with a focus on sustainability.
Bunker Bazaar
On Colima in Roma Norte, Bunker Bazar is a cool market selling artisan products like jewelry, candles, clothing, and food products including salsas and chocolates.
I love the soaps, crystal deodorants, and natural shampoo bars at Silvestre and the salsas (coconut, blueberry, crickets etc) at Salsas Don Pica. But, vendors are ever-changing so I can’t promise you’ll find these exact ones.
Resilient Bazaar
Beside Bunker Bazaar is this larger market with an outdoor section selling gourmet food products and an inside section with fashion and accessories.
Both sections are upmarket with prices reflecting this so, depending on your budget, it may be a place to browse (and enjoy free samples) rather than buy.
In the outdoor area, Toto’s sells artisanal salsas and natural conserves, while Bencomo makes everything from salsa to marmalade, tapenades, and cheese. After they generously let me sample every item imaginable, I purchased the truffle soft cheese. Delish!
Foodie tip – lots of the best Mexico City vegan food like Gracias Madre and Paxil are nearby Bunker Bazaar and Resilient Bazaar.
Sometimes there are clothing markets in Plaza Rio de Janeiro (above right) but I can’t work out if these are scheduled or sporadic. It’s a lovely place to wander, regardless.
Bazar del Oro
This is a covered market covering El Oro, a street besie the Fuente de Cibeles statue.
It’s a mix between local goods like fake designer clothes and tacos, and – because it’s Roma Norte – more boujee stalls selling soy candles, gemstones, plants, and more. There’s also a lively food aisle with stands serving tacos, coffee, and juices.
El Oro is biggest and busiest at weekends but also happens on Wednesdays.
Farmers markets in Mexico City
Shop for fresh produce with an organic focus, mainly in the Condesa area…
Mercado El 100, Roma Sur (Sundays)
Running from 9.30am-2.30pm on Sundays, this farmers market has been going strong for over 13 years, held on a palm tree-lined street in Roma Sur. Organic small producers sell honey, cheese, salsas, mole, artisan teas, and bread. Expect abundant vegan and gluten-free options.
If you’re hungry, grab tlacoyos at Otzilotzi and coffee from Almaquieta. It’s one of the more expensive Mexico City markets, and you’ll see more foreigners and affluent Mexicans than working-class locals.
A few cool stands to earmark are:
- Hongos del Rio – mushroom heaven, even mushroom ceviche!
- Peregrinas – honey in every flavor imaginable, even chocolate and coffee.
- Tlali – freshly baked bread.
Once you’ve finished at Mercado El 100, check out nearby Huerto Verde as they often hold weekend markets selling hippie goods like candles and gemstone jewelry. Either way, it’s a cool venue made from recycled water bottles. Wander the community garden and see what events are going on.
Tuesday Tianguis, Condesa
There are two Tuesday markets at opposite ends of Condesa but this one on the corner of Pachuca and Agustin Melgar is a fantastic place to shop for fresh veggies. You’ll find every fruit imaginable from mamey to mango alongside huge heaps of premade salads.
I like that some stands list where their fruits are from, so you can choose bananas from Mexico rather than imported ones.
There’s also a big food section. Given that the restaurants in Condesa are some of the most expensive in the city, eating street food is a good way to keep the costs down.
It’s all outside, beneath colorful canvases.
Other Tuesday market, Condesa
In the south of Condesa is another Tuesday market that’s considerably smaller than the one above. Still, if you’re passing, it’s a pleasant line of stands selling fresh fruit, cheese, meat, dried chilies, and nuts and seeds.
There are a few food stands, including one selling tlacoyos (blue corn patties stuffed with beans and topped with cheese and nopales) for 25 pesos. At the end near the road, a stand serves heartier meals like enchiladas and stuffed chicken in mole.
Friday market on Campeche, Condesa
Near the Tuesday market mentioned above, the street of Campeche boasts a bigger market on Fridays, selling exotic fruits, meat, and fish. Locals and tourists rub shoulders in this relaxed, friendly environment.
The seafood stand towards the main road has been serving delicious shrimp and ceviche tostadas for years. Maybe some travelers are nervous about seafood on the street but I can vouch for this one myself.
Cool places to check out nearby include La Capital restaurant (order the tuna, I beg of you!) and Cardinal, one of my favorite Mexico City coffee shops.
Mexico City food markets
Most places I’ve mentioned serve food (it’s Mexico after all!), but here are a few places that serve nothing else. And why would they need to?
Mercado de Roma
Looking for an authentic local gem serving affordable food where you’ll rub shoulders with the locals? Then don’t visit Mercado de Roma! This hipster market in Roma Norte (where else?) is a cool spot with tasty food and drinks but it’s certainly more targeted towards foreigners, especially where the prices are concerned.
Here you’ll find many pop-up stands belonging to popular restaurants in Roma Norte serving everything from Mexican to Asian food alongside cocktails and desserts. Other reasons to visit include the cool interior, rooftop beer garden, and occasional weekend DJs.
Comedor de los Milagros, Roma Sur
With a similar lively food court vibe but more of a local feel, Comedor de los Milagros serves Latin food from Peruvian to Colombian and Argentinian. Better yet, there’s a roaming gin cart. Not particularly Latin but who’s complaining?
It’s not the best place for vegetarians, but a few options include vegan Colombian food with rice, black beans, avocado, fried plantain, and veggie fritters. Pescatarians will love all the Peruvian ceviche.
I don’t think the food quality is amazing here, and my friend didn’t like the Brazilian food she tried… You need to go to Mãe Joana for that!
Stay for a live band on Saturday nights!
Thanks for reading!
Mexico City food and drink guides:
- The 50 best restaurants in Mexico City
- Roma Norte restaurants, Mexico City
- Where to eat in Condesa
- Review of Handshake Speakeasy (voted the best bar in the world)
- Where to go for cocktails in CDMX
- Speakeasy bars in CDMX
- Vegetarian restaurants in Mexico City
- Breakfast and brunch in Mexico City
- The best coffee shops in Condesa
- Best places for dessert in CDMX
- La Esquina del Chilaquil (torta de chilaquiles)
- Ultimate Mexico City street food guide
Other Mexico City guides:
- What to do in CDMX on a Saturday and Sunday
- Best places to stay in CDMX
- What season has the best weather to visit Mexico City?
- Top day trips from Mexico City
- Visitors’ guide to the Bazaar Sabado in San Angel
- Hiking in Desierto de los Leones National Park
- Tepotzotlan, Mexico guide (day trip from CDMX)
- Roma Norte area guide
- Condesa area guide
- Juaraz area guide
- San Angel area guide
- Escandon area guide
