Mexico City is one of the great shopping cities of the Americas, and we’re not talking about the malls (though those exist too). The real action is in the markets — dozens of them, each specializing in something different, from handcrafts and folk art to witchcraft supplies and exotic meats. Then there are the independent boutiques in Roma and Condesa, the luxury brands in Polanco, and the street vendors who set up everywhere. Whatever you’re looking for, someone in this city is selling it.
Here’s our guide to where to buy what, organized by type of shopping experience.
Traditional Markets
La Ciudadela (Crafts Market)
If you’re buying Mexican handicrafts and want quality, selection, and fair prices in one place, La Ciudadela is where to go. Officially called the Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela, it occupies a purpose-built market building a few blocks from the Balderas Metro station.
What you’ll find: Talavera pottery from Puebla, silver jewelry from Taxco, hand-woven textiles from Oaxaca and Chiapas, carved alebrijes (painted wooden fantastical creatures) from Oaxaca, embroidered blouses, leather goods, hammocks, ceramics, glassware, tin ornaments, Day of the Dead folk art, and more. Over 300 vendors operate here, and the range covers everything from cheap souvenirs to genuine artisanal pieces that cost serious money.
Bargaining is expected but keep it reasonable — these are artisans and small vendors, not luxury retailers with built-in margins. A 10-20% reduction from the asking price is normal. Anything beyond that, and you’re pushing it.
Mercado de Sonora (Witchcraft Market)
The Mercado de Sonora is famous for its section dedicated to brujeria (witchcraft) and curanderismo (folk healing). You’ll find dried herbs, amulets, candles shaped like saints and body parts, love potions, cleansing sprays, dried hummingbird charms, and ritual supplies for practices that blend Catholicism, pre-Hispanic traditions, and folk magic. It’s fascinating, slightly unsettling, and absolutely genuine — the vendors aren’t performing for tourists. This is a working market serving real practitioners.
The rest of Sonora is a general market selling live animals (birds, fish, reptiles), party supplies, seasonal decorations, and toys. The animal section is hard to visit if you’re sensitive to animal welfare concerns.
Location: Near the Merced neighborhood, east of the Historic Center. Fray Servando Teresa de Mier, near the Merced Metro station.
Mercado de la Lagunilla (Flea Market)
Sunday is the day at Lagunilla, when the permanent indoor market spills into the surrounding streets and becomes one of the city’s largest flea markets. Antiques (real and fake), vintage furniture, old photographs, vinyl records, vintage clothing, military memorabilia, tools, auto parts, electronics, and every conceivable category of second-hand goods covers blocks of pavement.
The regular indoor market operates daily and has separate buildings for clothing, food, and general merchandise. But Sunday is when it really comes alive, and serious antique hunters can spend hours combing through the stalls. Be aware of your belongings — the Sunday crowds attract pickpockets.
Location: Colonia Morelos, north of the Historic Center, near the Garibaldi/Lagunilla Metro station.
Mercado de San Juan (Gourmet Market)
San Juan is the market for food lovers with adventurous palates and deep pockets. The gourmet section (Mercado de San Juan Ernesto Pugibet) specializes in imported and exotic foods: French cheeses, Italian cured meats, wild game (venison, wild boar, crocodile, lion — yes, lion), imported wines and spirits, specialty chocolates, and Mexican delicacies like escamoles (ant larvae) and chapulines (grasshoppers).
It’s expensive by Mexican market standards, but cheap by international gourmet standards. Several stalls prepare food to order, so you can eat as well as shop. The market also has excellent seafood vendors and high-quality produce stalls.
Location: Centro Historico, near the Salto del Agua Metro station.
Malls and Department Stores
If you prefer air conditioning and price tags, Mexico City has malls. Lots of them.
Antara Polanco
An upscale outdoor mall in Polanco with Mexican and international luxury brands, good restaurants, and a cinema. This is where wealthier Mexico City residents shop when they’re not on Presidente Masaryk avenue. Brands include Carolina Herrera, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, and a strong selection of Mexican designers.
Centro Santa Fe
The largest mall in Latin America (by some measurements — these rankings are contested). It’s in the Santa Fe business district in western CDMX, which means it’s far from tourist areas and requires a car or long Uber ride. Over 500 stores across multiple levels. If you need a specific international brand, it’s probably here. Otherwise, it’s not worth the trip from central CDMX unless you’re already in the area.
Perisur
A large, established mall in southern CDMX near the UNAM campus. Full range of Mexican and international retail, good food court, cinema. More accessible than Santa Fe and draws a younger, university-adjacent crowd.
Palacio de Hierro
Mexico’s premier department store chain, comparable to Nordstrom or Selfridges. The flagship stores in Polanco and Santa Fe carry high-end fashion, cosmetics, home goods, and gourmet food. The Polanco location on Moliere street is architecturally striking.
Liverpool
The other major Mexican department store chain, positioned slightly more accessibly than Palacio de Hierro. Multiple locations throughout the city. Good for mid-range Mexican and international brands.
Independent Shopping: Roma and Condesa
The neighborhoods of Roma Norte and Condesa are where Mexico City’s independent design, fashion, and lifestyle shops concentrate. Walking these neighborhoods, particularly along Avenida Alvaro Obregon, Calle Colima, and Calle Tamaulipas, you’ll find:
- Mexican fashion designers: Small boutiques carrying contemporary Mexican fashion brands. Look for locally made clothing that blends traditional textiles with modern cuts.
- Design and home goods: Ceramics, furniture, lighting, and decorative objects from Mexican designers. Quality is high, prices are reasonable compared to equivalent products in the US or Europe.
- Bookstores: Roma has excellent independent bookshops, including several that specialize in art, architecture, and design books. Many carry English-language titles.
- Vinyl records: Several shops in Roma cater to the vinyl revival, with good selections of Mexican and international music.
- Vintage clothing: A growing number of vintage and second-hand clothing shops, particularly in Roma Norte.
What to Buy: Mexico City’s Best Souvenirs
Talavera Pottery
The hand-painted majolica pottery from Puebla is Mexico’s most distinctive ceramic tradition. Genuine Talavera (certified by denomination of origin) comes only from Puebla and Tlaxcala and uses traditional techniques dating to the colonial period. You’ll find it at La Ciudadela, in shops throughout the Historic Center, and in high-end boutiques in Polanco. Prices range from 200 MXN for small pieces to thousands for large platters and vases. Fakes abound — if the price seems too good, it’s probably mass-produced Chinese ceramic painted to look like Talavera.
Silver Jewelry
Mexico is one of the world’s largest silver producers, and silver jewelry is everywhere. Taxco, in the state of Guerrero, is the traditional silver capital, and many vendors in CDMX sell Taxco-origin pieces. Look for the “925” stamp indicating sterling silver (92.5% silver content). La Ciudadela and the shops around the Historic Center have the widest selection.
Textiles
Hand-woven and embroidered textiles from Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Puebla are among Mexico’s most beautiful artisanal products. Rebozos (shawls), huipiles (embroidered blouses), and table runners in traditional patterns and colors make excellent purchases. Quality varies wildly — a genuine hand-loomed rebozo from Tenancingo takes weeks to produce and costs accordingly. Machine-made imitations cost a fraction. La Ciudadela vendors can explain the differences if you ask.
Alebrijes
These fantastical painted wooden creatures originated in Mexico City (Pedro Linares invented them in the 1930s) but are now primarily produced in Oaxaca. The best are hand-carved from copal wood and painted with extraordinary detail. They range from palm-sized to enormous, with prices climbing accordingly. Available at La Ciudadela and specialty shops throughout the city.
Mezcal and Tequila
Mexico City is a great place to buy artisanal mezcal, which has exploded in popularity and quality over the past decade. Specialty mezcal shops (mezcalerias) in Roma and Condesa carry bottles from small Oaxacan producers that you won’t find outside Mexico. Expect to pay 400-2,000 MXN for a good bottle of artisanal mezcal. Tequila is available everywhere, but the airport duty-free typically offers the best prices on premium brands.
Chocolate
Mexico is the birthplace of chocolate, and the tradition remains strong. Look for Mexican chocolate tablets (used for making hot chocolate), artisanal chocolate bars from Oaxacan and Chiapan producers, and the excellent bean-to-bar craft chocolatiers that have opened in Roma and Condesa. The Mercado de San Juan also has good chocolate vendors.
Practical Tips
- Cash is king in markets. Most market vendors don’t accept cards. ATMs are everywhere, but bring enough cash before you start market-hopping.
- Bargaining rules: Expected in markets, inappropriate in stores with fixed prices. In markets, start at 10-20% below asking and negotiate from there. Always be polite. Walking away is an effective technique — if the price is fair, the vendor will often call you back.
- Shipping large items: If you buy large ceramics, furniture, or artwork, many shops can arrange shipping. Get quotes from multiple providers. Mexican postal service (Correos de Mexico) is cheap but unreliable for valuable items. DHL and FedEx offices throughout the city offer more secure options.
- Tax-free shopping: Mexico doesn’t have a VAT refund system for tourists. The price you pay is the price you pay.
- Best shopping neighborhoods summary: La Ciudadela for crafts, Polanco for luxury, Condesa and Roma for independent boutiques, the Historic Center for markets and traditional goods.