Food scene
Pitiona
114 C. de Ignacio AllendeVery pricey, but one of the best current restaurants in Oaxaca!
Two bakers from Hidalgo opened this initially in a tiny little place but now they have the bakery and a cute cafe with great food, seriously yummy bread
132 locals recommend
Boulenc
207 C. Porfirio DíazTwo bakers from Hidalgo opened this initially in a tiny little place but now they have the bakery and a cute cafe with great food, seriously yummy bread
This restaurant is food from the Istmo of Oaxaca, and they have a amazing mezcal selection. The owner also sells blouses from that area
83 locals recommend
Zandunga
#512 C. de Manuel García VigilThis restaurant is food from the Istmo of Oaxaca, and they have a amazing mezcal selection. The owner also sells blouses from that area
Beautiful space in a colonial building, good food, service not exceptional but nice for lunch or dinner
Calle de Manuel García Vigil
Calle de Manuel García VigilBeautiful space in a colonial building, good food, service not exceptional but nice for lunch or dinner
Amazing baked goods and now with a great cafe with healthy for breakfast and lunch
132 locals recommend
Boulenc
207 C. Porfirio DíazAmazing baked goods and now with a great cafe with healthy for breakfast and lunch
Nice, locals place for comida corrida, including a very interesting book store, check it out
33 locals recommend
La Jícara Librespacio Cultural
1105 C. Porfirio DíazNice, locals place for comida corrida, including a very interesting book store, check it out
Hotel Casa Vertiz
404 ReformaCesar and I love going here for breakfast, in their beautiful patio at this hotel
Mexita
105 Federico Ortiz ArmegolGreat Italian food, artesanal pizza oven
One of the owners of Biznaga branched out and opened this cute little place
17 locals recommend
Cabuche
1017 Miguel HidalgoOne of the owners of Biznaga branched out and opened this cute little place
We LOVE this locals place, so cheap and good. Perfect place for an atole, hot chocolate, cafe de olla, and tacos with all different choices of what to put in them. The señora is there making the tortillas in the patio, and it a favorite. We go for breakfast. Plus Parque Conzatti is nice.
24 locals recommend
Conzati Garden
s/n Valentín Gómez FariasWe LOVE this locals place, so cheap and good. Perfect place for an atole, hot chocolate, cafe de olla, and tacos with all different choices of what to put in them. The señora is there making the tortillas in the patio, and it a favorite. We go for breakfast. Plus Parque Conzatti is nice.
This is an absolute must. Please make the time because it is fun, interesting, and you eat the tastiest food ever. Plus it is located in Teotilan del Valle, the rug making village, in her family's home w/ mostly family members helping. And you visit a traditional morning market too. This family are some of the best weavers in Oaxaca and they now have a little store to buy rugs, local mezcal and other artisan products from their sister in laws store, El Nahual. Go to cookingclasseselsaborzapoteco.com Tell them Lauren sent you :)
El Sabor Zapoteco Cooking School
This is an absolute must. Please make the time because it is fun, interesting, and you eat the tastiest food ever. Plus it is located in Teotilan del Valle, the rug making village, in her family's home w/ mostly family members helping. And you visit a traditional morning market too. This family are some of the best weavers in Oaxaca and they now have a little store to buy rugs, local mezcal and other artisan products from their sister in laws store, El Nahual. Go to cookingclasseselsaborzapoteco.com Tell them Lauren sent you :)
Gorgeous boutique hotel and restaurant, and there is another awesome location w/ terrace on Calle Constitucion too. The chef was one of the first ones to take traditional Oaxaca food and make it a bit more gourmet. Pricey
23 locals recommend
Hotel Casa Oaxaca
306 C. de Manuel García VigilGorgeous boutique hotel and restaurant, and there is another awesome location w/ terrace on Calle Constitucion too. The chef was one of the first ones to take traditional Oaxaca food and make it a bit more gourmet. Pricey
Agavero - Cocina, Bar
208 Andrés Quintana RooAwesome terrace for some mezcal sipping, or a glass of wine or whatever
The address is not accurate on this link but the restaurant by a Mexico City entrepreneur is worth the visit. He is doing fixed lunches recently. He also has a store on Parque Conzatti to pick up some of his good but strong mezcal and also some good Mexican wine. By the way, above Danzantes is a very cool bar. And by the entrance of Danzantes is the best textile store around.
143 locals recommend
Los Danzantes
403 C. Macedonio AlcaláThe address is not accurate on this link but the restaurant by a Mexico City entrepreneur is worth the visit. He is doing fixed lunches recently. He also has a store on Parque Conzatti to pick up some of his good but strong mezcal and also some good Mexican wine. By the way, above Danzantes is a very cool bar. And by the entrance of Danzantes is the best textile store around.
Been around forever and always serving up excellent traditional Oaxaca food.
41 locals recommend
Las Quince Letras
300 C. de Mariano AbasoloBeen around forever and always serving up excellent traditional Oaxaca food.
You can't leave Oaxaca without eating a tlayuda. This is a great place. You can also go to the neighborhood Zachilla for yum tlayudas too
14 locals recommend
Libres Tlayudas Doña Martha
212 C. de Los LibresYou can't leave Oaxaca without eating a tlayuda. This is a great place. You can also go to the neighborhood Zachilla for yum tlayudas too
Neighborhoods
Great little neighborhood, You can go to Xiguela that has a great restaurant and also their Organic market.
157 locals recommend
Barrio de Jalatlaco
Great little neighborhood, You can go to Xiguela that has a great restaurant and also their Organic market.
Lovely neighborhood to wander and visit the small homes and market and pick up some beautiful pieces small and large
59 locals recommend
San Bartolo Coyotepec
Lovely neighborhood to wander and visit the small homes and market and pick up some beautiful pieces small and large
My friend Alex, who gave tours in English for years, is now mainly doing artsy work but is available occasional for an exceptional tour. Price is $75.00 per person including lunch - see the real Oaxaca!
16 locals recommend
Oaxaca
My friend Alex, who gave tours in English for years, is now mainly doing artsy work but is available occasional for an exceptional tour. Price is $75.00 per person including lunch - see the real Oaxaca!
Closed off to cars, passing the famous Santo Domingo church and museum - always need to take a strong in the centro
Calle Macedonio Alcalá
Calle Macedonio AlcaláClosed off to cars, passing the famous Santo Domingo church and museum - always need to take a strong in the centro
Our friend Paulina has been teaching Spanish forever. She gives individualized glasses. She is knows a lot about the local art scene and can give a graffiti tour, art studio tour if you are interested in buying local art too.
16 locals recommend
Oaxaca
Our friend Paulina has been teaching Spanish forever. She gives individualized glasses. She is knows a lot about the local art scene and can give a graffiti tour, art studio tour if you are interested in buying local art too.
Sightseeing
An absolute must see. Best way is to book through local travel agency to get bus transport, entrance and tour. Or take a cab up and hire a guide when you get there, totally worth it. Try to go late or early to protect against sun. Bring hat, water and sunscreen.
104 locals recommend
Monte Albán
An absolute must see. Best way is to book through local travel agency to get bus transport, entrance and tour. Or take a cab up and hire a guide when you get there, totally worth it. Try to go late or early to protect against sun. Bring hat, water and sunscreen.
A great wild market selling goats, veggies, mezcal, some crafts - definitely an experience. Lot all markets, pay attention to money, phone.
72 locals recommend
Tlacolula de Matamoros
A great wild market selling goats, veggies, mezcal, some crafts - definitely an experience. Lot all markets, pay attention to money, phone.
If you have time, go visit this incredible place where there a rock formations that look like a waterfall and mineral pools to bathe in.
14 locals recommend
Hierve el Agua
Hierve el AguaIf you have time, go visit this incredible place where there a rock formations that look like a waterfall and mineral pools to bathe in.
Right past the zocalo, a nice market with everything you need to bring home!
101 locals recommend
Benito Juarez Market
S/N Las CasasRight past the zocalo, a nice market with everything you need to bring home!
This botanical garden is special because it is filled with plants that have to do with the culture of Oaxaca. Tours available in English too
162 locals recommend
Ethnobotanical Garden of Oaxaca
Sur n ReformaThis botanical garden is special because it is filled with plants that have to do with the culture of Oaxaca. Tours available in English too
A must see, it took so long for Oaxaca to have a textile museum but when they restored an old colonial building, the design is impressive. Always interesting exhibits and their store has products from all over
105 locals recommend
Oaxaca Textile Museum
917 Miguel HidalgoA must see, it took so long for Oaxaca to have a textile museum but when they restored an old colonial building, the design is impressive. Always interesting exhibits and their store has products from all over
One of our favorite places to get out of town is to go to El tule. Go see the gargantuan tree and listen to the funny kids giving mini tours of what the shapes in the tree look like. El Milinario is great for lunch
39 locals recommend
El Tule
El TuleOne of our favorite places to get out of town is to go to El tule. Go see the gargantuan tree and listen to the funny kids giving mini tours of what the shapes in the tree look like. El Milinario is great for lunch
You can find a tour or better yet have a temezcal - a traditional sweat lodge to get rid of all your negative energy and feel refreshed
Casa de las Bugambilias B&B
402 ReformaYou can find a tour or better yet have a temezcal - a traditional sweat lodge to get rid of all your negative energy and feel refreshed
Taller Lapiztola
#1208 Av. Fuerza Aerea MexicanaGreat Oaxacan street art to purchase from the original street artists!
Mitla is a nice outing with the second most important historic ruins in Oaxaca. I also work with a phenomenal weaver and his staff, if you are looking for textiles, let me know. Lovely family
27 locals recommend
San Pablo Villa de Mitla
Mitla is a nice outing with the second most important historic ruins in Oaxaca. I also work with a phenomenal weaver and his staff, if you are looking for textiles, let me know. Lovely family
Enjoy a temezcal, limpia (cleansing), purchase every herbal medicine you can imagine. Doña Queta has been my midwifery mentor from day 1. She comes from a family of healers and hence has taught her daughter as well. If you are interested in authenticity from a Zapoteco family, let me know.
San Francisco Tutla
Enjoy a temezcal, limpia (cleansing), purchase every herbal medicine you can imagine. Doña Queta has been my midwifery mentor from day 1. She comes from a family of healers and hence has taught her daughter as well. If you are interested in authenticity from a Zapoteco family, let me know.
Traveler advice
Customs and culture
Avoid street food
Avoid illness, don't eat street food, uncooked veggies, wash your hands before eating
Getting around
Safety
Pay attention to your wallet and phone. Just like any international travels, be alert. You should always have copies of your passport, etc in case you lose it too.