Jalatlaco
Oaxaca, Mexico
A charming, colourful barrio of cobbled streets, murals, cafés and small restaurants, quieter than the centre. The city's most photogenic, arty neighbourh…
Places in Jalatlaco
- Criollo / Levadura de Olla Chef-driven rooms exploring Oaxacan tradition with modern technique and local produce, part of the city's exciting dining wave. Thoughtful and rooted.
- Muss Café / Cardumen (specialty coffee) Specialty-coffee cafés serve fine Oaxacan and Chiapan beans in charming courtyards and colonial rooms. The city's growing coffee scene.
- Jalatlaco café-courtyards The colourful barrio's café-courtyards are lovely for coffee and cake among the murals. Relaxed and photogenic.
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
- Centro Histórico — The UNESCO-listed colonial core around the Zócalo and Santo Domingo church, of pedestrian streets, markets, restaurants and mezcalerías. The city's magnificent heart.
- 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