Mexico City's Must-See Markets: From Central de Abasto to La Lagunilla

With more than 300 public markets spread across the city, Mexico City has a market culture that is, in itself, a way of getting to know it. There you'll find vegetables, fruit, plants, herbs, meat, cheese, bread, tortillas, groceries and raw ingredients, but also crafts, costumes, traditional and fashion clothing, traditional toys and sweets. Practically everything.

Within that variety are markets specialized in plants, flowers, furniture, antiques and crafts, each with its own personality. Visiting them is an experience in itself, as well as a direct way to shop local and support the producers and merchants of each area. Here we focus on markets for fresh produce, flowers and objects with history; if you're after handmade pieces, we have a separate guide to the best craft markets in Mexico City.

Central de Abasto

This is the largest market in the city, and one of the largest in the world: at Central de Abasto, wholesalers, retailers and individual shoppers come together across hundreds of hectares, decorated with murals by national and international artists that coexist with the daily flow of people doing their shopping. It's a market built more for stocking up than for strolling, but a short visit is enough to grasp the scale of what feeds the city every day.

• Av. Canal de Río Churubusco s/n, Col. Central de Abasto, CP 09040, Iztapalapa.

San Juan

With more than a century and a half of history, officially named Mercado Ernesto Pugibet, it began as a modest street market and is now one of the city's most renowned among chefs and curious diners alike. Its selection of gourmet and exotic foods — passion fruit, persimmon, star fruit — is extensive, but what truly sets it apart is its uncommon meats, such as armadillo, wild boar, tepezcuintle, ostrich, or buffalo.

• 2ª Calle de Ernesto Pugibet 21, Colonia Centro, Cuauhtémoc, CP 06000, Mexico City.

Jamaica

If you want to fill your home with flowers and plants, this is the market. It's the city's leading destination for domestic and international flowers and ornamental plants, with hundreds of stalls offering an enormous variety of flowers and plants, plus floral arrangements, pots, gardening tools, soil and compost.

• Guillermo Prieto 45, Jamaica, Venustiano Carranza, CP 15800, Mexico City.

Coyoacán

Located in the heart of Coyoacán, this decades-old market is a must-stop if you're visiting the neighborhood. Its three halls bring together a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, though the real draw is the food section: tostadas topped with dishes like potatoes in green salsa, pork trotter or chicken, and horchata and hibiscus aguas frescas that draw lines even among locals.

• Ignacio Allende s/n, Del Carmen, Coyoacán, CP 04100, Mexico City.

Lagunilla

La Lagunilla is one of the city's most famous street markets. Every Sunday, antique dealers, merchants and artists gather to trade in vintage nostalgia and objects that recall other eras. Alongside the antiques market there's a street market for clothing, accessories and food, ideal for pairing with an unhurried Sunday morning.

• Ignacio Allende 127, Lagunilla, Morelos, CP 06200, Mexico City.

Frequently asked questions about Mexico City's markets

Which is the best market to try traditional food?

The Coyoacán Market is a favorite for its tostadas and antojitos, though practically any neighborhood market in the city has a food section worth trying.

Is it safe to visit Central de Abasto?

It's a working market, very busy with constant movement of goods, so it's a good idea to allow extra time, keep an eye on your belongings as you would in any crowded place, and, if it's your first visit, go with someone or during busier hours.

Which market do you recommend if I only have one day to see one?

If you want the most complete experience — food, crafts and neighborhood atmosphere — the Coyoacán Market is a great entry point. If you're more interested in flowers and plants, Jamaica is a must.

Where can I stay to explore these markets?

Maia Home has furnished apartments in different parts of the city, so you can move from market to market without losing time on long commutes.