Must-see shopping in Mexico City

  • Centro de Artesanías La Ciudadela

    Alameda Central

    A favorite destination for good, and also mass-produced, handicrafts from all over Mexico. Worth seeking out are Oaxaca alebrijes (whimsical painted…

  • Barrio Alameda

    Alameda Central

    Enter this converted art deco building at the edge of the Alameda for inspired shopping, where plants drip from sleek railings and soft lamps. Three…

  • Vértigo

    Roma

    The store at this playfully hip art gallery sells silk screens, graphic T-shirts and etchings made by popular Argentine illustrator Jorge Alderete and…

  • Mercado San Juan

    Alameda Central

    Small market specializing in top-price gourmet food items such as huitlacoche (trufflelike corn fungus), insects, mole pastes, crocodile, ostrich, deer…

  • Bazaar Sábado

    Coyoacán & San Ángel

    The Saturday bazaar showcases some of Mexico’s best handcrafted jewelry, woodwork, ceramics and textiles including silver from Taxco and psychedelic…

  • Fonart

    Zona Rosa & Reforma

    This government-run crafts store sells quality wares from around Mexico, such as Olinalá-produced lacquered boxes and black pottery from Oaxaca. Prices…

  • Plaza Downtown Mexico

    Centro Histórico

    Shops surrounding the central courtyard of a beautifully restored, 18th-century colonial-era building sell upmarket crafts, ceramics, chocolate and…

  • 500px Photo ID: 104337241 - art colors craft work.

    Fonart

    Mexico City

    The well-known government-run handicrafts shop displays beautiful wares from around the country, ranging from Olinalá lacquered boxes to Oaxacan alebrijes…

  • Mercado de la Merced

    Centro Histórico

    This gigantic market, Mexico City's largest, occupies four whole blocks dedicated to the buying and selling of daily needs, with photogenic displays of…

  • Tianguis Cultural del Chopo

    Mexico City

    A gathering place for the city’s various youth subcultures – especially goth, metal, indie and punk – with most of the outdoor vendor stalls selling new…

  • Plaza Loreto

    Coyoacán & San Ángel

    An attractive shopping mall converted from an old paper factory in San Angél. Several patios and courtyards are set between the brick buildings and it’s a…

  • Mercado de Sonora

    Mexico City

    This place has all the ingredients for Mexican witchcraft. Aisles are crammed with stalls hawking potions, amulets, voodoo dolls and other esoterica. This…

  • Fusión

    Zona Rosa & Reforma

    From a converted house, a dozen boutique stores produce giftware, clothing and furniture, most with a Mexican spin. Each Friday to Sunday there's an ever…

  • Libreria Rosario Castellanos

    Condesa

    Inside the impressive art deco Centro Cultural Bella Época is one of the largest bookstores in Latin America where it is easy, and permitted, to sit for…

  • Jardín del Arte San Ángel

    Coyoacán & San Ángel

    Local artists set up on the west side of Plaza San Jacinto in San Ángel to sell their paintings while vendors hawk art supplies. There is another location…

  • Condesa Tuesday Tianguis

    Condesa

    Visiting a tianguis (local weekly market) is a great way to peek into the daily life of Mexico City locals. You can buy cheap clothing, fresh fruit and…

  • Jardín del Arte San Rafael

    Zona Rosa & Reforma

    Local artists line the pathways of this park to sell their paintings and vendors hawk art supplies.

  • Jardín del Arte El Carmen

    Coyoacán & San Ángel

    Local artists sell their paintings in Plaza del Carmen. On sunny Saturdays it's a pleasant local ritual to stroll, browse and chat to some of the artists,…

  • Galería Eugenio

    Centro Histórico

    Galería Eugenio sells more than 4000 traditional, mostly wooden and clay masks from artisans across the country. Prices start from M$800. It’s in the…

  • Dulcería de Celaya

    Centro Histórico

    This candy store has been operating since 1874 and it's worth a look for the ornate building alone. Candied fruits and coconut-stuffed lemons are some of…

  • Mumedi

    Centro Histórico

    This design-museum gift shop sells interesting pop-culture knickknacks, handbags and jewelry crafted mostly by local artisans. Take a shopping break at…

  • Pasaje Polanco

    Polanco & Bosque de Chapultepec

    A classy complex flanked by sophisticated boutiques, specialty stores and a large crafts shop selling handbags, wrestling masks and Day of the Dead folk…

  • La Naval

    Condesa

    Name your poison: this gourmet store stocks a tantalizing selection of mezcals and tequilas, as well as Cuban cigars and hard-to-find imported gourmet…

  • La Europea

    Alameda Central

    Get reasonably priced tequila, mezcal and wine at this well-stocked liquor store with a better range than most. There are stores all over CDMX.

  • Antigüedades Plaza del Ángel

    Zona Rosa & Reforma

    Weekend flea market within a mall of high-end antique shops selling silver jewelry, paintings, ornaments and furniture in Zona Rosa.

  • Mercado de Artesanias Insurgentes

    Zona Rosa & Reforma

    Packed with crafts – silver, pottery, leather, carved wooden figures – but you’ll need to bargain to get sensible prices.

  • Under the Volcano Books

    Condesa

    Buys and sells used English-language titles. An excellent selection and very good prices. Cash only.

  • Never Die Gang

    Centro Histórico

    If you're looking to tap into Mexico City's rap and hip-hop culture, the 'Gang' sells its own line of streetwear, accessories and music, and the shop…

  • Mercado de Jamaica

    Mexico City

    Huge, colorful flower market, featuring both baroque floral arrangements, exotic blooms and plants. It's filled with marigolds, costumes and papel picado …

  • El Hijo del Santo

    Condesa

    Owned by wrestler El Hijo del Santo – Mexico's most famous, iconic lucha libre star who rose to fame in the 1980s – this small specialty store sells (you…

  • Gandhi

    Centro Histórico

    This citywide bookstore chain has a voluminous range of texts on Mexico and Mexico City. More branches can be found at Bellas Artes and San Ángel. There…

  • Antara

    Polanco & Bosque de Chapultepec

    This cluster of upmarket and chain stores is half open-air and although there is little you won't find elsewhere in the world, it's a designer destination…

  • La Lagunilla

    Centro Histórico

    This enormous complex comprises three buildings: building No 1 contains clothes and fabrics, No 2 has food and No 3 sells furniture. Beware of petty theft…

  • Bazar el Oro

    Condesa

    This market is a mix of upscale items and mass-produced trinkets, with clothing, gifts and an excellent cheap eats area. It's runs from Fuente de Cibeles…

  • Plaza de la Computación y Electrónica

    Centro Histórico

    Hundreds of electronics stalls huddle in the Plaza de la Computación y Electrónica, south of Uruguay. Best prices and availability in the city for laptop,…

  • Gandhi

    Alameda Central

    This citywide bookstore chain has a voluminous range of texts on Mexico and Mexico City. There's another central branch at Madero 32.

  • Casasola Fotografía

    Condesa

    Odds are you've probably seen this studio's world-famous, revolution-era sepia photos. Items on sale include framed pictures, calendars, T-shirts and…

  • Bazar de Cuauhtémoc

    Mexico City

    East of Avenida Cuauhtémoc, this trash and treasure antiques market has items large and small: books, beer trays, posters and furniture.

  • La Torre de Papel

    Centro Histórico

    English-language newspapers and magazines are sold at La Torre de Papel, which also stocks newspapers from around Mexico.