San Cristóbal de las Casas

Abuelita Books

Carries a decent selection of mostly used books in English, and a number of books in Spanish, German, and French.

Thu-Mon 12:30-20:30

Café Las Nubes

Famous for its dimly lit ambiance creating a nice mellow mood, also a place where Gourmet Coffee is done right and always 2x1 for any drink on the menu all day long also offering breakfasts, lunch and dinner.

Daily 08:00-23:00

Café Museo Café

This combined café and museum is run by a collective of 17,000 indigenous coffee growers from Chiapas. The displays illustrate the history of coffee cultivation in the state. Far better than the displays however is the organic coffee they serve – especially worth sampling is the café de chiapaneca, a local variant of the traditional spiced Mexican café de olla.

Mon-Sat 08:00-22:00·M$30 (museum admission)

Café Toyol Witz

For a Fair Trade, shade-grown cup of coffee that is beat by no other check out this local cafe that doubles as the first floor of the owner's home. Slightly off the beaten path to the city center, you'll find the cafe keeper to be more than willing to help answer any questions you may have about the coffee or neighborhood.

Chedraui

This branch of the Mexican hypermarket chain carries everything you might need, and has an onsite bakery and pharmacy. A taxi sitio is conveniently located outside the main entrance.

Daily 07:00-23:00

Cocoliche

Mexican, Asian, pasta, vegetarian, smoothies, juices, sandwiches, burritos, all very good. Free Wi-Fi. They frequently have free bands that play here in the evenings. Prices are very reasonable, but diners should take care to inspect the bill and change, as mistakes are frequent and nearly always in the restaurant's favor.

Daily 12:00-24:00

El Alebrije (Cocina Popular)

A local favorite near all the hustle and bustle of the market, offering inexpensive Mexican meals that taste great. Main courses of menu usually changes daily.

Mon-Sat

El Caldero

Enjoy some hearty traditional Mexican soups. The menu also includes salads and few other snacks.

Daily 11:00-22:00

El Molcajete

Known for its delicious pozole, a traditional Mexican meal. Reasonably priced and filling.

El Tacoleto

Some friendly and attentive wait staff, serving Mexican tacos and quesadillas. Lacking any chicken tacos but other than that everything is great. Very clean places and quick service.

Sun-Thu 16:30-24:00, Fri Sat 16:30-01:00

La Casa Del Pan, Panadería, Tienda y Restaurante Vegano y Vegetariano

With restaurant and a bakery. Known for its quality baked goods as well as the organic products used in the restaurant and sold in the store. A nice selection for vegetarian and more health conscious visitors. In a building offering a cinema, bar, language school, yoga and few more activities.

La Viña de Bacco

A wine bar with a good selection of wines and beer, including many from Mexico. Free tapas are served with each glass.

Mon-Sat 14:00-24:00·M$35 per glass and up

Marchante Mercadito Culinario

A place to look for local culinary gifts (mezcal, cajeta, etc).

Daily 11:00-22:00

Mercado José Castillo Tielemans

Municipal Market

The daily market, which people from nearby villages visit to purchase and sell everything from herbs, live chickens, dried fish, housewares, and clothing. The market is also a great place for authentic regional food at street food prices.

Dawn to dusk

Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías

Traders sell a good range of local handcrafts here, but are less willing to bargain.

Daily

Museo Mesoamericano del Jade

La Casa del Jade

This small museum displays ancient jade artifacts and jewelry, and sells high-quality contemporary pieces.

Mon-Sat 12:00-20:00·M$30 (adults), M$15 (students)

Museo Na Bolom

The former home of Swiss anthropologist/photographer Gertrudis Duby Blom, the wife of Danish archeologist Frans Blom, continues to be an inn and museum managed by her supporters and associates. The museum also includes an extensive library of research on the Maya.

Tue-Sun 09:00-20:00·M$45 adults, M$25 concessions

Museo de la Medicina Maya

Maya Medicine Museum

Not to be missed, this museum is operated by a collective of indigenous healers and herbalists. Information is available in English and Spanish and there are also healers on site to treat whatever ailment you may suffer.

Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat Sun 10:00-16:00·M$25

Museo de los Altos de Chiapas

Exconvento Santo Domingo de Guzmán

Housed in the former convent, this museum displays artifacts illustrating the history of Chiapas and the region. On the first floor is the Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya, also known as the Francesco Pellizzi Collection, a remarkable collection of historic and contemporary Mayan textiles from Chiapas and Guatemala.

Tue-Sun 09:00-18:00·Free of charge

Museo del Ámbar

Amber Museum

Housed in a former convent, this small museum displays more than 300 specimens of amber, and also offers some beautiful pieces for sale. This is a good place to visit if you intend to purchase amber in Chiapas, as staff can explain how to identify real vs. fake amber: real amber is always warm to the touch, and emits a faint resin smell when rubbed.

Tue-Sun 10:00-14:00, 16:00-19:30·M$20

Orquídeas Moxviquil

Established in 1994, this garden grows orchids and other plants rescued from nearby areas undergoing deforestation, and is dedicated to preserving and displaying all varieties of orchids native to the state of Chiapas. Nearby, on property owned by the gardens, is the unexcavated Mayan site of Moxviquil. All that remains of the structures are the foundations, which can be reached via a short hiking trail beginning from the garden area The trail pass through the forest where squirrels, butterfly and native plants can be seen. The gardens are best visited in the spring beginning in April, when most of the orchids are in bloom.

Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-16:00·M$50 (gardens only / hiking trai only), M$90 (gardens + archaeological site-hiking trail )

Restaurante Taniperla

Has a noteworthy quesadilla recipe, also live music and vegetarian options.

Sna Jolobil

A textile cooperative with authentic goods from the surrounding villages. The prices are a good deal more expensive, but you'll be getting the real handmade goods.

Talabartería Ballinas

To get your quality leather products (bags, purses, rucksacks, belts) custom made, Vicente Hernández will exercise his excellent handicraft skills for you.

Templo de Guadalupe

Cerro de Guadalupe

Situated up a long flight of stairs on a hill to the east of town, this church is not especially noteworthy but does offer good views of the town. This area is not safe after dark, and even during the day solo women may be harassed.

Templo de San Cristóbalito

Cerro de San Cristóbal

Located on a hill to the just southwest of the town center, this church offers good views of the town below. This area is also not safe after dark.

Templo de Santo Domingo Guzmán

Built in the mid-16th century, this is the most notable of San Cristóbal's many churches. The Baroque façade is a mix of Oaxacan and Guatemalan styles, and the ornate interior is richly gilded. The interior is especially beautiful in the evening with candlelight.

Daily·Free

TierrAdentro Centro Cultural

Mexican and Italian kitchen, vegetarian options, smoothies, juices. Free Wi-Fi. The restaurant is very popular with tourists and NGO employees. Surrounding the covered patio there are shops. For example the Zapatista cooperative "Women for Dignity" with clothes and craft and the store of the Zapatistan shoe factory of Oventik.

Daily 08:00-23:00

TierraAdentro Centro Cultural

A complex which sells handicrafts, t-shirts, posters, etc. in a cooperative which helps the autonomous communities of the Zapatista movement. The restaurant is very popular with tourists and NGO employees.

Daily 08:00-23:00

Yik Café Andador Eclesiástico

A good place to relax with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and watch the activity in the square. The café also serves good breakfasts and lunches.

Daily 07:30-23:00