Another MUST SEE in Oaxaca…read more During our time in Oaxaca we came here several time LOL We ate here, shopped here and explored This mercado has everything and anything you can think of. Tons of restaurants, and vendors selling seasoned grasshoppers, mole, liquor, chocolate, herbs and spices, ice cream, seafood, meat ect Everyone is super friendly, we felt safe here at all times

If you want anything, it's probably here…read more I really don't know how to describe this place except for it's an enclosed two building structure covering a two block area. And anything that you would probably be looking for in Mexico would be under this roof at an incredibly low price, but be prepared to barter and speak Spanish. Everything from fresh butchered animals to envelopes for your office. And it's always packed with people in there. You will be able to find exciting places to find food. That's locally sourced that has stuff that you've never heard of and the most incredible tastes. Probably the most famous Oaxacan food in here are the mole dishes. Extremely popular is the black mole followed by the yellow mole. Some of these traditions to make it go back to the Zapotec times. The ancient language of these people is still spoken in remote mountain villages. But the zapotec food is everywhere, and it's gotten better over the centuries. Going here is a total experience that you will not mentally be prepared for until you actually do it and it is pleasant and fun.

We had a great time learning the history and observing the artist who were crafting the beautiful…read moreclay. It was like magic how the artisan crafted a beautiful vase from a pile of clay. Very cool process and they had so many beautiful and complex pieces. We bought a small spoon and ser in bowl. This place was awesome and worth the visit.

After visiting Monte Albán, our tour guide took us to San Bartolo Coyotepec to visit la Alfarería…read moreDoña Rosa, known for its black clay pottery (barro negro). oña Rosa was a Mexican ceramics artisan noted for inventing a technique to make the local pottery type, barro negro, black and shiny after firing. Doña Rosa died in 1980, but the tradition of making the barro negro pottery is being carried on by Doña Rosa's daughter and grandchildren. We were able to catch a demonstration of a piece in the works, and then we spent some time shopping. They didn't take credit cards, but we had some cash on us for souvenirs! The pottery is beautiful - really unique looking - and a unique souvenir to take home from Oaxaca! Worth checking out if you're nearby!

We loved everything about our free tour through Jacobo and María Ángeles' workshop! Our guide…read morewalked us through each step of the process, from carving the copal wood, to mixing colors from natural elements, to the intricate, detailed painting of each piece. It was absolutely fascinating, and I highly recommend it. To make the visit even more special, we had the pleasure of meeting Jacobo and María themselves, who shared their inspiring reforestation project. Their passion for their art, their people, the environment, and their community truly shines through. Their motto says it all: "to teach, to share, to contribute." If you have the opportunity to visit, don't miss it!

Wonderful workshop. I saw many alebrijes throughout Oaxaca and the quality here is superior. The…read moreprices are also much higher. I came here as part of a tour (Ruta de las artesanías, booked via https://oaxacatours.mx). The tour included this town (San Martin Tilcajete) as well as San Antonino, Santo Tomás Jalieza, Ocotlán and Santa Catarina Minas. The alebrijes tour was one of the highlights. They took us through the different steps: cutting the wood, dyeing it, and painting it. They let us smell the pieces of wood (and the incense produced from it), showed us how the natural dyes are mixed, walked us past artisans cutting and painting the pieces. Our guide was excellent and we were offered fresh juice and tamarind ice cream along the way. The galleries had some stunning works on display. Incredible creativity and gorgeous execution. The final gift shop had some wonderful pieces (a lot of variety) and I purchased a lovely cat that I'm very happy with. I saw imitations at other locations thereafter but they weren't even close in quality (the lines were crooked, the eyes too far apart, less detail, etc.) I'm very happy that I bought my alebrije here. That being said, I wanted a larger piece to commemorate my visit and quality was important to me. I do encourage you to purchase smaller souvenirs elsewhere and support other artisans as there are a lot of shops selling these toys in the town (and for less). Don't be afraid to ask your tour guide/driver to stop at other shops to pick up cheaper souvenirs (which is what we did). Obviously you can come here without being part of a tour. I do recommend the artisan tour however as it was really affordable (450 MXN for adults or about 22 USD). The bus was extremely comfortable and private for our group of 3 adults and 2 kids. They picked us up and dropped us off at our AirBnB. The guide was really knowledgeable and spoke great English. The other stops included a market with fabric weaving, an embroidery shop, a busy market in Ocotlán (as well as a stunning church), a stop for lunch, and ancestral mezcal tasting in Santa Catarina Minas (this was the other highlight).

If you are in Oaxaca looking for real treasure, this shop has something special for you! Their bags…read morewere absolutely stunning and of great quality, a one-of-a-kind purchase I will never regret!!!

Great mezcal tasting experience with Monsa the mezcal sommelier. She is very smart, knowledgeable…read moreof mezcal, funny, and gracious. The tasting is in a private room. She helped us pick a bottle to take home. I highly recommend, ask for Monsa. If you're checking your luggage, she can recommend some souvenir that can carry on instead of checkin. The outdoor patio has evening events with a dj.

From the owner: Casa Convite es la Casa Concepto de Mezcal Convite…read more Este recinto cuenta con espacios dedicados a promover la cultura del mezcal; cuenta con un exclusivo Tasting Room especializado en mezcal, donde conocerás más sobre la denominación de origen y la apreciación sensorial del mezcal. Contamos con tres tipos de tastings: catas verticales, por tipo de agave y por tipo de proceso. Mezcal Convite es ampliamente reconocido por los mejores chefs y bartenders del país y es el más vendido en Oaxaca. Cuenta con premios nacionales e internacionales como el San Francisco World Spirits Competition y el Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Su producción es certificada Kosher, Natural Process y cumple con la NOM-070. La casona cuenta además, con una boutique de productos de la marca, un barcito, una panadería, área de hospedaje y un amplio patio para chill out y eventos privados.

Had the cold chocolate milk the first few sips were great…read morethe rest was pure ice would not recommend d for the drinks

Located in the city square this is one of the more prominent restaurants in Oaxaca. There is an…read moreamazing rooftop where you can dine and watch the events in the square. With a nice breeze it is the perfect setting and vibe. The food is tasty and service relatively quick. I loved how they toasted the tortilla. With Oaxaca cheese it cannot be beat.