Picnic season is here and Mexico City dwellers are all about it. After a prolonged dry season and long sunny days, all we want is to get out there and enjoy our recently renovated green areas. How do you prepare the perfect picnic with fresh and local ingredients? Enter Mexico News Daily’s ultimate digest of the best mercados to visit this summer, as the Mexican capital thrives with the season’s heat.
This selection of places, however, is not limited to food markets. Only in Mexico City can you find markets specializing in century-old books, with stalls just blocks away dedicated to the best heavy metal bands of the last century. This summer is a great time to visit them all.
Mercado de Flores (San Ángel)
South of Mexico City, this emblematic flower market dates back to when “the Carmelite friars cultivated flowers along with fruits in the large orchards of Chimalistac,” per the Mexico City government. For over 300 years, this has been the place in Mexico City for wealthy families to get their floral arrangements, from weddings to Mother’s Day. If you’re looking for a wonderful Sunday morning plan, stroll across the market aisles to buy your favorite summer flowers. Once you’re done, you can have a very chic breakfast at La Petite Lola, at the heart of San Ángel’s main square.
Where: Av. Revolución 1620, San Ángel, Álvaro Obregón.
Mercado de Antojitos (Coyoacán)
As a child, Saturdays meant going to Coyoacán’s historic center to eat quesadillas de frijol con queso at our favorite stand at the Mercado de Antojitos. Oftentimes, my sister wailed to my father, asking for the iconic “character waffles” at the stand in the back, where the same man who had been running it for 30 years made waffles shaped like princesses and cartoon characters for kids. My mom, however, preferred her tostadas de pata. The same vendors from yesteryear still run their businesses. So, if you’re in for a more local culinary experience, do not hesitate to visit Mercado de Antojitos.
Where: Higuera 30, La Candelaria, Coyoacán.
Mercado de Libros Antiguos (Centro Histórico)
Also known as “Tendido de Libros,” this traditional tianguis is rarely heard of in travel guides. It’s definitely an insider’s secret that’s worth a visit. Managed by the Fondo de Cultura Económica, it is placed in a hidden alley between Callejón de la Condesa and Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico City’s Historic Center. Between the Palacio de Minería and the Edificio de Correos — both over 100 years old — this alleyway offers first editions of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” alongside lithographs by Remedios Varo. If you’re lucky, you might even find dusty postcards from the last century, a true Mexico City time capsule.
Where: Next to the Postal Palace, in the alley between Callejón de la Condesa and Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc.
Tianguis de los Martes (Condesa)
If you’re looking to experience a traditional open-air market without leaving the Roma or Condesa areas, the Tianguis de los Martes is the perfect option for you. You’ll find it, naturally, on Tuesdays, along Calle Pachuca. All the vendors pride themselves on growing their own produce. Although it’s considerably more expensive than a regular market, it’s one of the few places in the area where Indigenous women sell mushrooms, fruit, vegetables and fresh meat. Always look for fruit that’s in season, as it’s the tastiest. If you’re lucky, you might even get freshly squeezed maracuyá juice.
Where: Mainly across Pachuca Street (between Veracruz and Juan de la Barrera), Condesa, Cuauhtémoc.
Tianguis Cultural del Chopo (Buenavista)
Journalist Andy Hume described the Tianguis del Chopo Market as the “punk market” of Mexico City. I couldn’t agree more. It’s the kind of place where you can get band T-shirts and soak up someone else’s sweat while buying Black Sabbath memorabilia. Looking for Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album? This is the place to get it, straight from the 1990s. If you’re looking for books on Satanism or the dark arts, local vendors can suggest a few titles. Try arriving before noon, as people host free heavy metal concerts after lunch, and it gets really crowded.
Where: Across Juan Aldama Street, Buenavista, Cuauhtémoc.
Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.
