Oaxaca is one of Mexico's most culturally rich states, home to 16 recognized indigenous groups, the archaeological capitals of Monte Albán and Mitla, and a coastline stretching from the surf town of Puerto Escondido to the calm resort bays of Huatulco. Oaxaca de Juárez, the colonial capital, is celebrated for mole, mezcal, and some of the finest regional cooking in the country.
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mercado Benito Juárez
central covered market with textiles, leather goods, spices, chocolate, and quesillo stalls
Where: Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez
Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
food market famous for the Pasillo de Humo grilled-meat corridor plus mole pastes and chiles to go
Where: Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez
Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Mercado de Abastos
Oaxaca's largest wholesale market, sprawling stalls of produce, pottery, textiles, and everyday goods
Where: Central de Abasto, Oaxaca de Juárez
Hours: Daily 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, largest on Saturdays
MARO (Mujeres Artesanas de las Regiones de Oaxaca)
women's artisan cooperative selling fixed-price textiles, pottery, and embroidery made by its own members
Where: Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez
Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Alfarería Doña Rosa
original black-pottery (barro negro) family workshop founded by Doña Rosa in the 1950s, with live demonstrations
Where: San Bartolo Coyotepec
Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Taller Jacobo y María Ángeles
renowned copal-wood carving workshop producing intricately painted alebrijes
Where: San Martín Tilcajete
Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Cooperativa Bii Dauu
weavers' cooperative producing naturally-dyed Zapotec wool rugs and textiles
Where: Teotitlán del Valle
Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Fe y Lola Rugs Studio
family weaving studio using cochineal and indigo natural dyes, with loom demonstrations
Where: Teotitlán del Valle
Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Chocolate Mayordomo
traditional chocolate-grinding shop mixing cacao, sugar, cinnamon and almonds to order
Where: Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez
Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
In Situ Mezcal Shop
curated mezcal shop and tasting bar stocking over 100 small-producer labels
Where: Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez
Hours: Monday-Saturday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM; closed Sundays
La Mezcaloteca Shop
reservation-only mezcal library selling bottles direct from small family palenques
Where: Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez
Hours: Monday-Saturday 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM; closed Sundays
Mezcal Distillery Shops, Santiago Matatlán
roadside palenque shops in the self-declared world capital of mezcal, tastings included with purchase
Where: Santiago Matatlán
Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
ChocoMuseo Oaxaca
cacao-focused shop and workshop space selling bean-to-bar chocolate and offering tastings
Where: Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez
Hours: Daily 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM