Excellent food & drinks in a stunning interior patio. The molotes and tlayudas and excellent, but you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu.
1 block from Santo Domingo. Dinner reservations recommended.
One of our top 3 meals in Oaxaca, and equally great cocktails. They offer both an à la carte and a daily-rotating multi-course tasting menu. A trendy spot with a cool rooftop space.
1 block from Santo Domingo, dinner reservations recommended.
Don't miss this dining experience. Criollo is elegant with understated architecture and a beautiful outdoor space, and offers a daily seven-course tasting menu celebrating Oaxacan cuisine. Celebrity-chef owner Enrique Olvera is best-known for his Mexico City restaurant Pujol, named one of the top 50 restaurants in the world.
Criollo is located just outside of downtown, a longish walk or a short cab ride away. Reservations required.
Excellent bakery cafe with cool courtyard dining. It's popular, so get there early if you want breakfast or be prepared to wait. Try the pizza for a lighter lunch or dinner.
The square in front of Santo Domingo is the heart of Oaxaca and makes for great people watching. This church is simply stunning—plus it's a nice way to escape the heat for a few quiet minutes.
Oaxaca's most important pre-Hispanic archeological site, Monte Alban was the ancient Zapotec capital from 500 BC-800 AD.
Only about a 20 minute drive outside of downtown Oaxaca and well worth your time. Monte Alban has very limited shade so sunscreen and water is essential.
Highly recommended! Not only is the garden itself a must-see, the tour is incredibly informative and ties together native flora, cuisine, and culture in a way that will give you a greater understanding of the region.
A tour is required to walk through the garden. Two-hour English tours are offered every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 11am. Tours in Spanish are more frequent. Reservations recommended.
Directly behind Santo Domingo.
You may be hurting, but please make the effort to visit the sprawling Tlacolula Market on Sunday morning! It is the place to see and hear indigenous Oaxacan culture and, according to one website, has been in operation (in one form or another) since the Mesoamerican period. Lively, crowded, and filled with tasty treats and incredible photo ops, we highly encourage you to make the 35 minute trip out here. You can easily combine this with a visit to Teotilan del Valle (weaving village) and El Arbol del Tule (widest tree in the world).
Read more in depth about Tlacolula Market and the ultimate hangover cure here: www.saveur.com/goat-soup-barbacoa-oaxaca-mexico-breakfast/
Check out these in-town markets out for a local experience. Mercado 20 de Noviembre is home to the famous El Pasillo de las Carnes Asadas, a delicious you-pick-it-they-grill-it hall of meat.
This small, free museum is worth a visit. The collection rotates but always features gorgeous examples of regional textiles.
Check out Oaxaca's craft beer scene at this casual brew pub a few blocks from Santo Domingo.
There are tons of mezcalerias in the city centro, and you can't go wrong with any of them. Some focus more on education and tasting, but all offer an extensive menu with endless options you won't find anywhere else. Places to explore: La Mezcaloteca, Cuish, In Situ, Archivo Maguey, and La Mezcalerita (we loved this spot for the fun atmosphere and live music).
