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Alegra
A small space crammed with all sorts of textiles, crafts and jewelry, including beaded bags, leather belts with colorful ceramic-painted buckles and an unusual range of earrings and brooches decorated with tiny pressed flowers.
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American Bookstore
This place has a small and classy selection of novels and books on Mexico in English, plus a solid range of Lonely Planet guides and some maps.
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American Vintage
Vintage clothing surely never looked this good back then. Tucked into a corner inside the American Apparel boutique, there is a great selection of threads here, including '60s frocks, floral-print sweaters, Capri pants and Art Deco scarves.
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Arte Mexicano Para El Mundo
Explore three floors of quality arts and crafts from all over Mexico, including rugs, jewelry, pottery and those delightful shocking-pink papier-mâché dolls with plenty of glitter and attitude. The first floor has an excellent bookshop with coffee-table-style tomes on Mexican design, cookery and architecture. There's a cafeteria on the sixth floor with sweeping Zócalo views.
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Arte Prehispánico
This is the place to pick up your Aztec mask or sculpture; the copies here are excellent, as good as those at any museum. Other artesanías irresistibles include the woven wraps from Chiapas and the reasonably-priced Día de Muertos figures from Michoacán.
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Artesanías Soler Arumi
This hole-in-the wall sells classic and modern designed frames, bowls, plates, teapots, candlesticks - you name it - made out of pewter so shiny you can see your reflection.
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Artesanos De Mexico
Elderly owner Antonio Frausto is a real charmer and will explain the origins of the intriguing items for sale here, which include furniture, masks, lacquered, painted trays, paintings and ceramic pottery. The prices are as good as the markets. Ask Antonio to show you the photo of him with Reagan in the '70s; it will make his day.
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Ayllu
This local designer has come up with a cool and comfortable line of women's fashion, using all-cotton fabrics in colors like salmon, Mediterranean blue and cream. Embroidered shawls complete the flowing summery look with the prices more off-the peg than off-the-wall.
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Bazar de la Roma
East of Av Cuauhtémoc, this market has used and antique items, large and small: books, beer trays, posters and furniture. There is also a similar antiques and art market along Álvaro Obregón on the same days.
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Bazar Del Oro
This upscale street market between Insurgentes and Plaza Cibeles has clothing, gifts and an excellent eating section.
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Bazar Sábado
In the southern suburb of San Ángel, this is a showcase for some of Mexico's very best handcrafted jewelry, woodwork, ceramics and textiles. Prices are high but so is the quality. At the same time, artists and artisans also display work in Plaza San Jacinto itself, in surrounding streets and in nearby Plaza del Carmen.
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Bene Pasta
Somehow you don't associate Mexico with homemade pasta, although this company has been going for some 100 years. As you would expect, the pasta is wonderfully colorful: fusilli coils of red, purple, green and orange. If this sounds too much of an indigestible dazzle, they also sell traditional white, plus jars of homemade sauce.
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Bodega De Quesos
Join the line of cheese-lovers at this corner shop, with its vast choice of national and international cheeses, including requesón from Chiapas, creamy Brie, Camembert, feta, gorgonzola, fresh mozzarella, parmesan and the costly cured Spanish Manchego (at around $440 per kilo).
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Briguette
Fabulous locally produced chocolates with flavors like tea, kiwi, lavender, marzipan and pistachio, mixed spices and creamy truffle. You can buy one or two or float away on a chocoholic cloud and pick up a couple of hundred grams of your favorites.
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Cafebrería El Péndulo
A branch of this classy local chain with the usual quietly bookish and elegant atmosphere. There are two levels with all the categories of books you could think of, including some English-language classics and novels. Arty greeting cards are also on sale, plus there's a small restaurant.
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Casa Azul
Walk up the wide steps to the terrace and grand entrance of this colonial-style grand house, which today creates a fitting showcase for antiques and crafts. There is a beguiling combination of kitsch, historic and current day artesanía items spread over three large creaking rooms.
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Casa Del Coleccionista
A treasure-trove of local crafts, including miniatures, silver jewelry and beaded bags. There are also antiques and collectables here, like gaudily-painted tin trays from '50s cantinas and brightly decorated gourds.
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Casa Del Obispo
Has a divine setting with its hacienda-style courtyard and central fountain. There are mainly jewelry and artesanía stores and prices tend to be comparable or slightly higher than the nearby Bazaar Sábado.
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Casa Toroda
Beautiful engraved glass plates from Senegal, Kenyan masks, and Brazilian jewelry embellished with turquoise and coral.
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Catimini
Stylish kiddies wear with top international names like Lili Gaufrette, Ikks, Kenzo and Osh Kosh and a range of cuddly to cool threads from 0 to 16 years, plus accessories.
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Centro Cultural Bella Época
A sprawling, but well laid-out, bookstore with all the categories you could possibly hope for, including an extensive Mexican and Spanish cookery section. Most of the books are in Spanish, but there are a few worthy classics (and similar) in English.
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Centro de Artesanías La Ciudadela
A favorite destination for good stuff from all over Mexico. Worth seeking out are Oaxacan alebrijes (whimsical representations of animals in wood), guitars from Paracho and Huichol beadwork. Prices are generally fair even before you bargain.
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Chíc By Accident
Featured in stylish wallpaper* magazine, French owner Emmanuel Picault has a fascinating collection of 20th-century furniture and objects here, ranging from a quirky giant walrus to a sumptuous abstractly designed quilt. Picault has published a book on contemporary furniture with Philippe Starck (Book by Accident) . The adjacent showroom, Sex By Accident, concentrates on the erotica in art and sculpture.
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Dione
This Mexican shoe designer from Guadalajara creates classic shoes for women in the softest of leather. There are Spanish Pons Quintana boots here, as well as fellow Spaniard Baltarini's stylish line. Bags and wallets are also top notch; for the best deals head for the 50% off rack at the back of the shop.
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Dulcería de Celaya
This traditional candy store has operated since 1874, offering delicate Mexican sweets such as candied fruits, sugared almonds, crystallized strawberries and coconut-stuffed lemons. These treats aren't cheap, but they're worth the splurge. If you're not a sweet tooth, go for a look at the ornate building.
