25 Best Places to Shop in Oaxaca, Mexico

La Cava

Centro Historico Fodor's choice

La Cava, affiliated with Los Danzantes restaurant, sells a variety of quality mezcals along with regional wines and hand-rolled cigars in a cozy shop just off the Conzzati Park.

Mezcaloteca

Centro Historico Fodor's choice

This speakeasy-style bar gives you an adrenaline rush from the moment you ring the bell to gain access. Serving only mezcal from hundreds of glass bottles, the staff can offer you a three-variety tasting menu incorporating flavors and textures available only in individual mezcal-making villages, or you can feel free to choose your own and discuss your opinions with the regulars. More than a bar, this is an unforgettable experience in a mezcal museum.

Piedra Lumbre

Centro Historico Fodor's choice

The owners, Betty and Fernando, are wonderful hosts at their gallery and mezcal-tasting room. The attractive decoration, variety of mezcals available, and excellent food make Piedra Lumbre one of the best new mezcal bars in Oaxaca.

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Silvia Suarez

Centro Historico Fodor's choice

Silvia Suarez is undoubtedly the mother of ethno fashion in Oaxaca. Her handmade designs have been shown and worn around the world and provide a modern, fashion-conscious take on the traditional indigenous textiles and techniques from the state of Oaxaca. Alongside her current collections, customers can see and buy examples of the highest-quality local clothing and artisan textile products. No visit to Oaxaca would be complete without a piece of clothing from this Oaxacan institution.

Amate Books

Centro Historico

This is the bookstore you wish you had found before your trip. Hundreds of books, most of them in English, cover topics from the country's cuisine to its couture. There's also a great travel-guide section, as well a cheap used-books section.

Calle Macedonia Alcalá 307, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
951-516–7181

Artesanías Chimalli

Centro Historico

Sort through an excellent selection of crafts, including painted copal-wood animals with comical expressions, at this shop.

Calle García Vigil 512-C, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
951-514–2101

Central de Abastos

Centro Historico

Oaxaca's largest and oldest market is held at the Central de Abastos (literally the "Center of Supplies") on the southern edge of downtown. Saturday is the traditional market day, but the enormous covered market swarms daily with thousands of buyers and sellers from Oaxaca and the surrounding villages. Along with mounds of multicolored chilies and herbs, piles of tropical fruit, electronics, and bootleg CDs, you'll find intricately woven straw baskets, fragile green-and-black pottery, and colorful rebozos (shawls) of cotton and silk. Don't burden yourself with lots of camera equipment or bags; and keep an eye out for pickpockets and purse-slashers. Polite bargaining is expected.

Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico

Chocolate Mayordomo

Centro Historico

Oaxaca is famous for its chocolate—most of all for its hot chocolate. This shop near the market is arguably the best around; it grinds its own chocolate together with the trademark Mexican cinnamon. You can also buy mole here.

Calle Colón at Calle Flores Magón, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
951-514–7097

Cristina Palacios

Centro Historico

Cristina Palacios has made her name creating contemporary silver jewelry for a discerning, design-conscious client. Her store in the heart of the city attracts lots of interest. One of the most impressive features of her process is that every item is handcrafted. Her jewelry designs can be made to order.

Cuish

Centro Historico

South of the city center, Cuish has a small mezcal tasting room, great for pre- and postdinner drinks, where it sells only its own house-bottled brand. Try the Espadin, Arroqueno, and Tobala varieties, and hear the stories of the producers and production. Cuish can also sell you a bottle to take home to share with your friends.

Diaz Ordaz 712, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
No phone

El Cortijo

Centro Historico

The mezcal at El Cortijo comes from Santiago Matatlan, one of Oaxaca’s most famous mezcal-producing centers, and the bar reflects this in the variety of mezcals available. Alongside the tasting, quiet conversations, and good snack food, you can get your hands on a bottle at a reasonable price. This is an excellent place to start your night and your mezcal-drinking journey through the state of Oaxaca.

5 de Mayo 305-A, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
951-514–3939

Galeria CuatroSiete

Centro Historico

Home to the works of Julio Martinez, the gallery also hosts visiting shows by artists from Oaxaca and across Mexico. Its central location—and the variety of art available—makes it a good place to visit if you are interested in making a purchase.

Galería Quetzalli

Centro Historico

Here you can see the latest from Oaxaca's most famous artist, Francisco Toledo, as well as many other well-respected contemporary artists. Of course, these are some of the most expensive works in town, but the browsing is free.

Constitución 104-1, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
951-514–2606

Jarciería El Arte Oaxaqueño

Centro Historico

In business since 1961, this shop has a small but good assortment of stamped-tin products, whimsical earrings, as well as animals and skeletons carved of featherlight wood. Prices are totally reasonable.

Calle Mina 317, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
951-516–1581

La Mano Mágica

Centro Historico

This magical shop features the works of Arnulfo Mendoza, a top weaver. His rugs, made using hand-dyed silk and wool, have incredibly intricate designs. It's no wonder that some of his larger pieces sell for several thousand dollars. There's also a gallery showing the works of many Oaxacan artists.

Calle Macedonio Alcalá 203, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
951-514–3733

Librería Grañén Porrúa

Centro Historico

Selling books in both English and Spanish—not to mention CDs and high-end gifts—the bookstore adjoins an independent coffeehouse.

Calle Macedonia Alcalá 104, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
951-516–9901

Mercado 20 de Noviembre

Centro Historico

It's mostly locals that you'll find chowing down amid the lively stalls of the daily Mercado 20 de Noviembre, across the street from the Mercado Benito Juárez. No prices are listed, but rest assured that this will be your cheapest meal in Oaxaca.

Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico

Mercado Benito Juárez

Centro Historico

Close to the zócalo, the daily Mercado Benito Juárez has stalls selling moles, chocolates, fruits and vegetables, and much more. The bulky brick building teems with clothing, arts, and crafts.

Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico

Mercado Benito Juárez

Centro

The city's sprawling market is a long walk (but short cab ride) from the beaches. It's divided into orderly sections of comedors (humble eateries), crafts and souvenirs, produce, and fish and meat vendors (a section that vegetarians should stay away from if they’re squeamish). For culinary adventurers, this is the place to sample Oaxacan specialties such as chapulines (toasted grasshoppers sprinkled with lime and chili), chocolate, and stringy cheese. The best time to visit is on the weekends, when indigenous Mixtec and Zapotec vendors bring their goods from the highlands. Watch for handwoven baskets, unique vegetables, and black pottery.

8a Norte, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, 71980, Mexico
shopping Details
Rate Includes: Daily 7–6

Mercado de Artesanías

Centro Historico

For textiles, don't miss Mercado de Artesanías, a great place to shop for handwoven and embroidered clothing from Oaxaca's seven regions. This is also the place to find the handmade huipiles (short, boxy blouses, often made of velveteen) worn in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Calle J.P. García, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico

Mercado Municipal

La Crucecita

La Crucecita's Mercado Municipal is a fun place to shop for postcards, leather sandals, and souvenirs amid mountains of fresh produce. Watch as Zapotec street vendors prepare bags of pale green nopal cactus to go, or enjoy a free tasting of exotic fruit such as mamey sapote.

Calle Guanacaste s/n, Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca, 70989, Mexico
No phone

Mujeres Artesanas de las Regiones de Oaxaca

Centro Historico

You'll support the women artists' co-op by shopping at this huge warren of shops often referred to as MARO. The selection and quality are excellent, the prices are reasonable, and it's open daily.

Calle 5 de Mayo 204, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68000, Mexico
951-516–0670

Museo de Artesanías Oaxaqueñas

La Crucecita

The Museo de Artesanías Oaxaqueñas is really a store, not a museum, where you can find handicrafts produced throughout the state: woven tablecloths, brightly painted alebrije figures, black pottery, and colorful Zapotec rugs. Artisans are occasionally on hand for demonstrations.

Oro de Monte Albán

Centro Historico

The three Centro Histórico locations of this shop are within spitting distance of each other. They all sell gold and silver reproductions of pre-Columbian jewelry found in the tombs of royalty at Monte Albán. The branches are at Calle Macedonio Alcalá 503 and at the corner of Calle Macedonio Alcalá and Calle Bravo. There's also a shop at the archaeological site.

Pajaro del Sol

Centro Historico

Pajaro del Sol is a gallery showcasing the best of contemporary artisan products made using the traditions and materials of the local indigenous community. Of particularly high quality are the ceramic (barro) products and the fantastical animalistic alebrije sculptures. Some of the products are straight takes on traditional products, others more ironic, but all of them are incredibly beautiful and of very high quality. The gallery specializes in the work of two artists, one of whom is the famous Mario Perez. Everything you see is available to buy.