Centro Histórico
Oaxaca, Mexico
The UNESCO-listed colonial core around the Zócalo and Santo Domingo church, of pedestrian streets, markets, restaurants and mezcalerías. The city's magnif…
Places in Centro Histórico
- Casa Oaxaca el Restaurante A Michelin-recognised room serving refined, organic Oaxacan cuisine on a rooftop overlooking Santo Domingo. The city's most celebrated fine dining.
- Los Danzantes A beautiful courtyard restaurant, mezcal brand and bar in one, serving inventive contemporary Oaxacan cooking with its own mezcal. Stylish and delicious.
- Mercado 20 de Noviembre (Pasillo de Humo) The famous 'hall of smoke' where you buy meat by weight and have it grilled on the spot, eaten with tortillas, salsa and grilled onions. A quintessential, smoky Oaxacan experience.
- Mercado Benito Juárez food stalls The central market's food counters serve Oaxacan classics — memelas, empanadas de mole, tejate (the ancient cacao-maize drink) and chapulines. Vivid and cheap.
- Chocolate & tejate stalls Oaxaca is famous for its stone-ground chocolate; the chocolate shops on Calle Mina and the market tejate stalls offer the region's ancient cacao drinks. A delicious tradition.
- In Situ The city's most respected mezcalería, holding what its founders call the largest collection of artisanal mezcal in Mexico, with expert tastings. The definitive mezcal education.
- Sabina Sabe One of the city's best cocktail bars, blending mezcal and inventive drinks with excellent service. Stylish and lively.
- La Mezcaloteca A reservation-only mezcal tasting room dedicated to educating drinkers about traditional, small-batch mezcal. Serious and eye-opening.
- Los Amantes / Espacio en Blanco Intimate mezcal-and-art bars pour rare spirits in creative settings. The city's bohemian drinking scene.
Practical notes for Oaxaca
- Best time to visit
- October to March (the dry season) for pleasant weather and outdoor dining. Late October/early November brings the extraordinary Día de los Muertos; July features the Guelaguetza indigenous festival. The rainy season (June–September) is green with afternoon showers.
- Getting around
- The compact historic centre is entirely walkable. Taxis and Didi cover the wider city; colectivos and tours reach the valley villages, ruins and mezcal palenques. A car or tour helps for the further sights like Hierve el Agua.
- Currency
- Mexican Peso (MX$)
- Language
- Spanish. Indigenous languages are widely spoken in the valleys.
- Timezone
- CST (UTC-6)
- Current trends
- A globally celebrated dining scene (Casa Oaxaca and others on the Latin America's 50 Best radar) alongside legendary markets and street food; a mezcal renaissance with dozens of serious mezcalerías; a booming craft-cocktail and natural-wine scene; and design-led hotels in restored colonial buildings.
Other neighborhoods in Oaxaca
- Jalatlaco — A charming, colourful barrio of cobbled streets, murals, cafés and small restaurants, quieter than the centre. The city's most photogenic, arty neighbourhood.
- Xochimilco — A tranquil old neighbourhood of aqueduct arches, artisan workshops and a village feel, just above the centre. A peaceful, local pocket.
- The Valley villages — The Zapotec villages of the surrounding valleys — Teotitlán (weaving), San Bartolo (black pottery), the mezcal palenques of Santiago Matatlán. The living craft heart of Oaxaca.
Read the full Oaxaca guide