Visiting Mexico’s Culinary Capital of Oaxaca
Curated By
Sequoia Armstrong
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Food & Wine
Active Travel
Solo Travel
Oaxaca
Mexico
Downtown
Shopping
Entertainment
Curator’s statement
Oaxaca is an absolutely special place to visit. During my time working in the restaurant industry in NYC, no place in Mexico was recommended more, by Mexican colleagues, than Oaxaca. My first visit was truly magical. I go once a year if possible. I’ve been with my partner, my mother and my friend on different trips. I’d definitely recommend it for solo travel as well. You'll undoubtedly meet wonderful people regardless of who you travel with. Each time I visit I continue to meet the most inspiring and friendly people and have the best food. From street food to fine dining, it’s incredible. The ingredients, the care that’s taken with the land, its resources and the dishes is profound.
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Insider knowledge
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Where to stay in Oaxaca
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Things to do in Oaxaca
Spend a morning at Monté Alban
The state of Oaxaca has the largest number of Indigenous groups in Mexico. Monté Alban is the most historical archeological site in Oaxaca. It was the capital of the Zapotec people for thirteen centuries. It is now a UNESCO heritage site.
The views from Monté Alban are absolutely breathtaking!
Take a cooking class with a local instructor
I took one on my first visit to Oaxaca and I learned so much about the ingredients and how the local dishes are made. Making dishes the traditional way takes time and patience. You’ll have a greater appreciation for these dishes after taking an Oaxacan cooking class.
Learn about and taste mezcal
Whether you visit a palenque or mezcal distillery where they grow, roast, distill, and bottle mezcal. Or hop around the local mezcalerias in Oaxaca Centro, you will learn and taste the nuances of mezcal - they’re not just smoky. You will understand the arduous labor process of growing and making mezcal and the nuanced beauty that the terroir of each type of agave and its distillation process.
Spend time at a market
Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Mercado Benito Juarez are where you’ll find local produce, baked goods, street food, artisan goods and more. Mercado 20 de Noviembre is more for food.
Enjoy coffee and chocolate
Plenty of both. On chilly mornings, hot chocolate will warm you up and there are numerous coffee shops to enjoy. You’ll love the coffee so much you’ll want to bring some home with you!
Places to eat & drink in Oaxaca
Mezcologia: Sip on mezcal pre or post dinner. Buy a sweet or savor tamale from any street vendor set up on the corners of centro streets or inside Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Cafe Brujula (Alcala location): For excellent coffee and a cute outdoor courtyard
Criollo: This beautiful and elevated restaurant with an open kitchen is run by Chef Luis Arellano, a local from Oaxaca, and is co-owned by Chef Enrique Olvera. The tasting menu at dinner or a la carte at lunch are both fabulous.
Boulenc: Some of the best pastries I’ve had. I had read that the chef trained with a French chef in Mexico and went to Copenhagen to learn. Don’t quote me on it, but however they trained it shows. You can get pastries to go or enjoy a meal at the restaurant behind.
Las Quince Letras: Recommend dinner here where you’ll enjoy wonderful Oaxacan dishes. The restaurant is owned and run by Chef Celia Florián.
Magnolia Mezcal Cafe: Perfect rooftop terrace for a sunset hour cocktail.
Travel Advisor
Sequoia Armstrong
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This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Oaxaca.