A Guide To Antique Shopping In Mexico City

Everyone likes to take home souvenirs from the places they visit, but instead of the typical artesanías and gifts that are popular in Mexico City, why not consider picking up some antiques instead? There are plenty of stores, markets and stalls where you can find some great, one-off pieces, either in their original ‘used’ condition or restored to their former glory. Here’s your guide to antique shopping in the Mexican capital.

Bazar Santa Catarina

Coyoacán is one of the best places to do a bit of antique shopping in Mexico City, given that there are any numbers of stores tucked away in the streets of this neighborhood once inhabited by Frida Kahlo. However, the Bazar Santa Catarina, situated in the garden of the same name, may be one of the best places to get your hands on some truly retro, unique pieces, from fashion to furniture. As an added bonus, if you’re looking to sell your own antiques, the vendors here may also be willing to buy. Another Coyoacán option is the Mercados de Coyoacán located in the Del Carmen area of the neighborhood, where you’ll also find some excellent antiques.

Rivero Lake Rodrigo

Bazar Cuauhtémoc

Bazar Cuauhtémoc is less organised than the aforementioned Coyoacán Bazar, being more of a flea market that has the potential to turn up some great antique finds, rather than a specifically antique-oriented shopping experience. Just outside of the popular Roma neighborhood, this long-running Saturday and Sunday market does have some great pieces though, if you’re willing to search for them; from old books to cameras, watches and vinyl records, it makes for a great day out for the casual antique collector.

La Portales

This daily antiques market is one of the city’s best and most well-known, so you can rest assured that whatever day of the week you turn up on, there’ll be something cool and interesting for you to stumble across. A real hodge-podge of items, you could end up walking away with an antique suitcase or even some vintage clothing, plus a ton of household decorations that will really liven up any living space. If you’re serious about your antiques, you need to go more than once as the stock is regularly rotated.

Plaza del Ángel

Of the options presented so far for antiques, Plaza del Ángel is undoubtedly the site that has the most marked up prices, due to its prime location just off Avenida de la Reforma, right in the center of Mexico City. As you can imagine, it’s a popular spot for travelers. However, while the prices might be a bit, well … pricier, the quality is still excellent and you can even enjoy the Plaza without buying anything, given that its incredibly aesthetically pleasing. Top tip: On Saturdays, you’re more likely to find bargains and offers that are not available midweek.

La Lagunilla

Moving from one of the pricier antique hunting options, to one of the most famous and arguably one of the largest too – La Lagunilla. While this is not a particularly nice area of the city at night, during the day it’s another story. (Having said that, keep an eye on your possessions and be prepared to haggle unless you want to pay tourist prices.) Literally anything you could possibly need can be found on Sundays at La Lagunilla, and it truly is a quintessential Mexico City market experience that we wholeheartedly recommend. If you’re hunting for furniture in particular, the so-called Rincón Lagunilla is the place to be.

Piezas Únicas

Finally, if you prefer to steer clear of the hustle and bustle of street markets, then Piezas Únicas could be a better spot for you to check out. Situated in Roma, this quirky store sells, restores and buys furniture, meaning you’ve got all your antique needs covered in one handy and reliable location. Most of their pieces are from the 40s, 50s and 60s and come pre-restored, so while the prices might seem high, you don’t have to worry about factoring in separate repair costs on top.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.