Mexico City

Sanborns

Casa de los Azulejos

This department store and restaurant is housed in the former residency of the Counts of the Valley of Orizaba. Revolutionist Emiliano Zapata had breakfast here during his entrance to Mexico City in September 1916. This was the first store of the Mexican Sanborns chain, founded by the Sanborn brothers, American immigrants in Mexico City and later sold to Walgreens in 1946 and then to Grupo Carso in 1985. There are more than 100 Sanborns stores in the country today.

Daily

Mercado Roma

Large fun marketplace that specializes in food stands (grab-n-go, mix-n-match meals). Artesanal beers, gourmet coffees, a large variety of tacos...you name it.

Daily 10:00 - 22:30 (until 01:30 Fri-Sat)

Mercado de la Merced

La Merced Market

One of the largest and most famous markets in Mexico, La Merced was built in 1860 and covers several blocks with tianguis style vendors lining nearby streets. The market mainly sells food and household items; if you're looking to cook for yourself or just want to wander aisles of stalls selling cheap limes or huitlacoche, this is the place to go. Many vendors offer tastings. Foreigners will stick out a bit, but not excessively. Vendors are honest, at least for Spanish speakers, and may accommodate some bargaining although prices are fair. Local tour guides offer half-day tours of the market (yes, it's that big!). Vendors with the best food usually have the longest lines.

Daily 06:00-18:00

Barrio Chino

Chinatown

Two pedestrian-only blocks of this street, where much of the city's Chinese community lived in the early 1900s, are full of Chinese restaurants and stores.

Mercado de Sonora

Witches' Market

One of the more interesting markets, this specializes in traditional medicines, as well as paraphernalia for Santa Muerte and voodoo. Endangered animals are also sold here, and the market is regularly raided by the police. The area is not as safe as the higher-class neighborhoods to the west; exercise caution.

Daily 08:00-17:00

Pasteleria Madrid

This is a very old and typical bakery, they will usually have fresh bread twice a day, but if there are a lot of customers they will bake as many as four times a day. Also serves breakfast platters, pastries and pan dulce.

Mon-Sat 07:30-21:00, Sun 08:00 - 20:00 · Wheelchair accessible

Under the Volcano

English-speaking travelers might want to check out this bookstore which is the only one in Mexico City to specialize in English-language books. They also sell used books and will accept your already-read discards for partial store credit.

Daily 11:00 - 18:00

El Hallazgo

Eclectic used bookstore with a wide variety of books on various subjects on many languages of the world. Very well organized with helpful staff who know how to find anything of interest. Also buys used books.

Daily 10ː00 - 21ː00

Tianguis Cultural del Chopo

El Chopo

Huge outdoor flea market. Focuses on alternative music including grunge, heavy metal, punk and ska. Bands play at one end of the park.

Sat

Casa Bosques

Stylish modernist bookstore with bright naturally lit interior and an eclectic selection of books and magazines in both Spanish and English. The best selection is books on architecture, art, and literature. If the door is locked, press the bell to get buzzed in. The store is on the second level.

Jardín del Arte

Colorful market on Sundays with more than 100 artists exhibiting and selling their paintings and sculptures.

Mercado de San Juan

This market specializing in gourmet foods, and is frequented by many of Mexico City's top chefs. On offer are many foods imported from Europe and elsewhere, including such specialties as European cheeses, Spanish and Italian sausage, pre-Hispanic foods and exotic meats.

Daily

El Pendulo

Eclectic bookstore with a widr-ranging selection of (mostly Spanish language) books with an integrated coffee shop serving hot and cold coffee beverages along with light food.

Daily 08:00 - 23:00

Un Lugar de La Mancha

Eclectic independent bookstore in a restored mansion with an outdoor garden and terrace where you can sit and have coffee with light breakfast and lunch food. Classy background music and friendly staff make it a hidden gem for CDMX book lovers.

Daily 08:00 - 21:30

Mercado de Coyoacán

A traditional Mexican market with a large selection of produce and food items as well as other goods; Frida Kahlo used to shop herself. There are also a number of food stalls here, making this a good place to stop for lunch.

Daily 07:00-17:00

Tienda MAP

Museum store

Sells authentic Mexican folk art including eclectic trinkets that are not only visually appealing but an authentic piece of culture, often showing a humorous perspective on poverty, death, or other misfortune. The shop in Polanco is an extension of the official museum shop of the Museo de Arte Popular (MAP).

Daily 10ː00 - 18ː00

Mercado de la Ciudadela

Ciudadela Market

Tourist-oriented handicrafts market with over 350 vendors from all over Mexico, first established for the 1968 Olympics. Cleaner and more expensive than the other markets in the city.

Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun 10:00-18:00

FONART

Government-operated store that is part of the Ministry of Culture. FONART promotes traditional craftsmen creating Mexican artesanias that preserve historical and cultural traditions. Every item in the stores is certified authentic (no Chinese plastic junk here!) FONART pays craftsmen a fair, sustainable price so don't expect bargains. The store is a gallery of some of Mexico's most outstanding works of folk art.

Mon-Fri 11:00 - 19:00, Sat-Sun 11:00 - 17:00

Mercado Lagunilla

La Lagunilla

This huge street market features antiques and other new goods such as clothing, crafts, food, jewelry and toys. It is considered safe to stroll in this street market, but try to remain in the streets near Francisco Bocanegra and Comonfor, because beyond that the market eventually blends into Tepito, another market which is a lot less safe.

Sun 10:00-16:00

El Palacio de Hierro

The Iron Palace

This department store was established in 1891. The store was named when it was the first iron and steel building in the city.

Plaza del Ángel

This complex houses several antique shops and on Saturdays and Sundays, there are more informal dealers selling vintage stuff. Arrive early as dealers close around 16:00.

Cafebreria El Péndulo

Bookstore with a wide selection of books (almost all in Spanish, but a few English titles) and an on-site coffee shop. Many books on art and architecture.

Daily 08:00 - 23:00

Librería Rosario Castellanos del Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE)

One of the biggest bookstores in Latin America. Worth the stop just to see the gorgeous interior. You can spend hours just browsing through the shelves.

Daily 09:00 - 22:00

Pastelería Ideal

Established in 1927. This is a good place for traditional bread, pastries and desserts. Ask for Danes de Chocolate, the place's delicacy. There is another branch at Av 16 de Septiembre 18 which makes cakes on commission.

Daily 06:30-21:30

Centro Historico

The city's oldest shopping district, you can find almost anything here. The old department stores are clustered around 20 de Noviembre St.

Polanco

Upscale shopping and dining district centered around Presidente Masaryk and Campos Eliseos streets. It also has several shopping malls.

Forum Buenavista

The largest shopping mall close to the centro. Includes a large supermarket, a Sears department store, and a Cinepolis cinema complex. This mall is inside the Buenavista train station, which has frequent train service provided by Ferrocarril Suburbano as well as three Metro subway lines and numerous Metrobus connections.

Mercado Insurgentes

Marketplace specializing in Mexican artesanias with a few vendors selling regional Mexican cuisine. Good place to shop for meaningful souvenirs.

Mo-Su 11:00-17:00

Mercado Medellin

Fruit and vegetable market with a wide selection of unusual products used in Mexican regional recipes as well as cuisines from throughout Latin America. Many specialty vendors, some selling only chiles, others selling only coffees from Oaxaca, or food from Colombia. Street food fans will find regional dishes and inexpensive gourmet foods.

08:00 - 18:00

Mercado el Chorrito

Large public market, lots of food vendors. Local vibe, not tourist oriented.

Daily 08:00 - 18:00