The Best Markets in Mexico City

Find artisanal goods at La Ciudadela in Mexico City
Find artisanal goods at La Ciudadela in Mexico City | © Eman Kazemi / Alamy Stock Photo
Sam Murray

Copy Desk and Production Manager

The markets of Mexico City are a snapshot of local life. You’ll see chefs inspecting fresh produce, families riffling through mounds of clothes and friends nattering over street-food bites. Plenty of tourists too. There are many markets in the capital, from simple open-air tianguis to grand malls several blocks large. Here are the best.

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La Ciudadela

Market, Shop, Bazaar

La Ciudadela / Flea market in Mexico City, Mexico
© Eman Kazemi / Alamy Stock Photo
La Ciudadela is the market of artisans – an essential stop if you’re looking to pick up a gift or two. It’s semi-covered with more than 350 vendors peddling wares from across Mexico, including Oaxacan textiles, alebrijes – you might know them as the spirit animals in Coco (2017) – and a lot of homeware.

El Bazar Sábado

Bazaar, Market

A bit more boujee than your typical Mexican market, El Bazar Sábado flogs a fine range of artisanal goods. It takes place in Plaza San Jacinto, a park of tree-shaded walkways leading to a central space with a fountain. There’s also a stage, which hosts musical performances. Once you’re done shopping, wander around the cobblestone streets of the San Angel neighborhood, stopping at the pretty Parroquia San Jacinto church.

Mercado Roma

Food Court, Mexican, Turkish, German, North American

The traditional tianguis is given a thoroughly modern look at this hip food court. Do a lap of the vendors before taking your pick from the globe-hopping offerings. There’s an indoor communal seating area on the ground floor or, if you’re fleet of foot, a few al fresco dining spots out front and back. Come evening, head upstairs to the bar for boozy beverages and DJ beats.

La Lagunilla

Market

It’s the best-known flea market in Mexico City, with vendors packed into a large warehouse and many more spilling onto the surrounding streets. It’s the place to go for, well, pretty much everything, but predominantly antiques, trinkets and clothing. It’s a week-long event, but gets extra busy on Sundays, when the weekly tianguis officially takes place.

Mercado de San Juan

Market, Mexican

San Juan Market (Mercado de San Juan) near the Historic District in Mexico City specializes in exotic and gourmet ingredients and caters mainly to res
© David Coleman / Alamy Stock Photo
Your inner foodie will be drawn magnet-like to this grand produce market. There’s all the usual fruit and veg, but it’s perhaps better known as the place to buy lesser-seen meats. You can also try insects here, including local delicacy chicatanas (leaf-cutter ants).

Mercado Medellin

Market, Mexican

distant people wandering aisle of Medellin market stacked high with staggering variety of temptingly arranged fresh fruit Roma district Mexico City
© Dorothy Alexander / Alamy Stock Photo
For a foodie fix in the Roma neighborhood, head to this one-block-large covered market. Inside, you’ll find all sorts. Mole pastes, fruit and veg, spices, dried chilis, and ice cream among them. There’s also several hot-food vendors dishing out Mexican classics.

Mercado Jamaica

Market

Launched in the Fifties, Mercado Jamaica is the go-to flower market in Mexico City, with more than 1,000 stalls. There’s everything from bunches to put up in your home to grand funerary arrangements. Plus a section dedicated to piñatas, and a decent range of fruit, veg and meats.

Updated from the original by Niall McGrade.

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