5 Best Shopping in Oaxaca, Mexico

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.