Guidebook for Oaxaca
Arts & Culture
Beautiful old theater with movies and performances happening weekly. Oaxaca Cine Alcala is a film club which screeens great independent films from Mexico and beyond.
86 locals recommend
Teatro Macedonio de Alcala
900 Av. de la IndependenciaBeautiful old theater with movies and performances happening weekly. Oaxaca Cine Alcala is a film club which screeens great independent films from Mexico and beyond.
Good Fine Art Museum. Changing exhibits featuring artists from Oaxaca and beyond.
56 locals recommend
Museo de los Pintores Oxaquenos
607 Av. de la IndependenciaGood Fine Art Museum. Changing exhibits featuring artists from Oaxaca and beyond.
Take in changing exhibits of textiles and woven costumes from Mexico and around the world. SALES happen here benefiting local indigenous artisans. They offer classes for children and adults.
105 locals recommend
Museo Textil de Oaxaca
917 Miguel HidalgoTake in changing exhibits of textiles and woven costumes from Mexico and around the world. SALES happen here benefiting local indigenous artisans. They offer classes for children and adults.
Free classical music concerts in the atrium. Great museum upstairs featuring pre-hispanic artifacts from Monte Alban and more. Great gift shop. Beautiful old restored ex-convent.
121 locals recommend
Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, Santo Domingo
s/n 1a. Cerrada de Macedonio AlcalaFree classical music concerts in the atrium. Great museum upstairs featuring pre-hispanic artifacts from Monte Alban and more. Great gift shop. Beautiful old restored ex-convent.
There are several exhibition halls with changing shows revolving around different themes often related to design and art. There is also a wonderful lounge area with bean bags for kids who are invited to read or play in the space. A quiet and elegant atrium where free films and music happen and a nice library upstairs. You can also have coffee and drinks outside in the large patio where sales of local textiles and crafts sometimes take place.
76 locals recommend
Centro Cultural San Pablo
907 Miguel HidalgoThere are several exhibition halls with changing shows revolving around different themes often related to design and art. There is also a wonderful lounge area with bean bags for kids who are invited to read or play in the space. A quiet and elegant atrium where free films and music happen and a nice library upstairs. You can also have coffee and drinks outside in the large patio where sales of local textiles and crafts sometimes take place.
This museum is a beautiful old colonial house. It houses a historical collection of silver objects and jewelry from Mexico including many pieces designed by Spratling. They also have a permanent collection of old regional costumes and traditional serapes.
6 locals recommend
Museo Belber Jimenez
307 Mariano MatamorosThis museum is a beautiful old colonial house. It houses a historical collection of silver objects and jewelry from Mexico including many pieces designed by Spratling. They also have a permanent collection of old regional costumes and traditional serapes.
A great place to go for peace and quiet and to read! Especially if you are researching or just want to browse through a very worthwhile selection of books on art, craft, design and architecture. The Graphic Art Institute of Oaxaca is a housed in an old colonial dwelling with small rooms and intimate patios full of potted plants: succulents and cacti and bougainvillea abound. You can use the wifi there and sit out in the very agreeable back patio shade. Changing shows of prints and drawings in their small exhibition space are worth checking out. Must leave your bags at the front under lock and key.
59 locals recommend
Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca
507 C. Macedonio AlcaláA great place to go for peace and quiet and to read! Especially if you are researching or just want to browse through a very worthwhile selection of books on art, craft, design and architecture. The Graphic Art Institute of Oaxaca is a housed in an old colonial dwelling with small rooms and intimate patios full of potted plants: succulents and cacti and bougainvillea abound. You can use the wifi there and sit out in the very agreeable back patio shade. Changing shows of prints and drawings in their small exhibition space are worth checking out. Must leave your bags at the front under lock and key.
You are in an absolutely beautiful setting and can visit the buildings and grounds of this old textile factory turned art school while feeling that you are at a park. Usually a really good art exhibit is happening downstairs in the huge open showroom. You can picnic up in the shaded park above the main building. There is a nice gift shop on the premises as well. About a 40 minute drive from Oaxaca.
95 locals recommend
Arts Center of St. Augustine
s/n Av. IndependenciaYou are in an absolutely beautiful setting and can visit the buildings and grounds of this old textile factory turned art school while feeling that you are at a park. Usually a really good art exhibit is happening downstairs in the huge open showroom. You can picnic up in the shaded park above the main building. There is a nice gift shop on the premises as well. About a 40 minute drive from Oaxaca.
Everything Else
Changing exhibits featuring contemporary art from Oaxaca and beyond. Often they have screenings of art films in one of the outside patios. Beautiful old colonial building.
64 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art Oaxaca
202 C. Macedonio AlcaláChanging exhibits featuring contemporary art from Oaxaca and beyond. Often they have screenings of art films in one of the outside patios. Beautiful old colonial building.
Entertainment & Activities
Nice, relaxing place to sit and have coffee and a bite to teat. Indoor and outdoor seating. mellow vibe. Good coffee.
13 locals recommend
Cafe Los Cuiles
115 LabastidaNice, relaxing place to sit and have coffee and a bite to teat. Indoor and outdoor seating. mellow vibe. Good coffee.
The Zocalo is very close to my place. It's a great place to people watch, listen to street musicians and take in the local street performance talent. You can have coffee, drinks or eat a meal here at many of the cafes and restaurants all around the central square and kiosk. On Wednesday afternoons you can go watch the marimba band play in the open area just next to the cathedral.
129 locals recommend
Zócalo Oaxaca
Portal del PalacioThe Zocalo is very close to my place. It's a great place to people watch, listen to street musicians and take in the local street performance talent. You can have coffee, drinks or eat a meal here at many of the cafes and restaurants all around the central square and kiosk. On Wednesday afternoons you can go watch the marimba band play in the open area just next to the cathedral.
Food Scene
Great food and drinks. Casual atmosphere with outdoor seating in an open patio that gets covered in case of rain or cold. Nice bar and great cocktails.
67 locals recommend
La Biznaga
907 Av Benito JuárezGreat food and drinks. Casual atmosphere with outdoor seating in an open patio that gets covered in case of rain or cold. Nice bar and great cocktails.
Great place to try regional Oaxacan food. Many food stalls in a covered market serving mole, tamales, tlayudas, etc. Clean and frequented by nationals and locals as well as foreigners.
101 locals recommend
Mercado Benito Juarez
S/N Las CasasGreat place to try regional Oaxacan food. Many food stalls in a covered market serving mole, tamales, tlayudas, etc. Clean and frequented by nationals and locals as well as foreigners.
For a more elegant "high end" food experience. Fusion Mexican fare on a terrace with a great view of the center.
149 locals recommend
Restaurante Casa Oaxaca
104-A C/ de la ConstituciónFor a more elegant "high end" food experience. Fusion Mexican fare on a terrace with a great view of the center.
Great place to get appetizers or dinner and drinks in the center of Oaxaca. Cool casual atmosphere with really tasty Mexican fusion cuisine and a great variety of cocktails.
58 locals recommend
Sabina Sabe
209 5 de MayoGreat place to get appetizers or dinner and drinks in the center of Oaxaca. Cool casual atmosphere with really tasty Mexican fusion cuisine and a great variety of cocktails.
High end dining in a elegant but casual environment. Fusion Oaxacan cuisine. Close to my house.
45 locals recommend
Origen
820 Miguel HidalgoHigh end dining in a elegant but casual environment. Fusion Oaxacan cuisine. Close to my house.
Cafébre
108 C. de Manuel BravoBest coffee in town.
Best most amazing baked goods, sourdough bread in Oaxaca. Also a great breakfast and brunch and even lunch spot. Fantastic funky setting.
132 locals recommend
Boulenc
207 C. Porfirio DíazBest most amazing baked goods, sourdough bread in Oaxaca. Also a great breakfast and brunch and even lunch spot. Fantastic funky setting.
Great Mexican food with yummy fresh ingredients and a daily lunch special for around 100 pesos. Try their Pulque (fermented agave sap) if they have it and you go in for that kind of thing. Nice space in an old Oaxacan house with a small outside eating area and lots of inside seating.
17 locals recommend
Cabuche
1017 Miguel HidalgoGreat Mexican food with yummy fresh ingredients and a daily lunch special for around 100 pesos. Try their Pulque (fermented agave sap) if they have it and you go in for that kind of thing. Nice space in an old Oaxacan house with a small outside eating area and lots of inside seating.
Many different food stalls, juice bar and coffee places all in one big space. You can also get some organic produce and products here.
25 locals recommend
The Rayón Pochote Organic Market
411 RayónMany different food stalls, juice bar and coffee places all in one big space. You can also get some organic produce and products here.
Fresh Mexi-fusion cuisine with lots of sweet garnishes and fresh vegetables. The menu is smallish and they usually have a daily lunch special. Cute as a button little space with only a few tables (6?). Super friendly owners and wait people..
7 locals recommend
Casa Taviche
1111 Miguel HidalgoFresh Mexi-fusion cuisine with lots of sweet garnishes and fresh vegetables. The menu is smallish and they usually have a daily lunch special. Cute as a button little space with only a few tables (6?). Super friendly owners and wait people..
Parks & Nature
You have to sign up to go on a tour given in English, Spanish or French on certain hours and days. This is a beautiful garden designed by a Oaxacan artist and landscape architect in which only native plants have been planted. All of them have been and/or still are used by the indigenous people's of Oaxaca.
162 locals recommend
Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca
Sur n ReformaYou have to sign up to go on a tour given in English, Spanish or French on certain hours and days. This is a beautiful garden designed by a Oaxacan artist and landscape architect in which only native plants have been planted. All of them have been and/or still are used by the indigenous people's of Oaxaca.
Small pre-hispanic ruin which is open to the public and set in a very quiet and not often visited site. Great place to walk and enjoy nature. A ways out of the city.
33 locals recommend
Yagul
Small pre-hispanic ruin which is open to the public and set in a very quiet and not often visited site. Great place to walk and enjoy nature. A ways out of the city.
Great place to jog, walk a dog and/or people watch. Sometimes big craft fairs and mezcal expos happen there.
101 locals recommend
El Llano
Great place to jog, walk a dog and/or people watch. Sometimes big craft fairs and mezcal expos happen there.
Shopping
Close to my place and full of vendors selling just about everything. You can get fresh fruits and vegetables there as well as mezcal, Oaxacan cheese, fresh juice, hot chocolate and piñatas. Regional treats and breads, textiles and traditional clothing, and crafts from the region also in abundance.
Mercado de Abastos
Local 26 Mercado de AbastosClose to my place and full of vendors selling just about everything. You can get fresh fruits and vegetables there as well as mezcal, Oaxacan cheese, fresh juice, hot chocolate and piñatas. Regional treats and breads, textiles and traditional clothing, and crafts from the region also in abundance.
Full of crafts from Oaxaca's many regions and ethnic groups at very reasonable prices.
62 locals recommend
Mercado de Artesanías
20 Cam. NacionalFull of crafts from Oaxaca's many regions and ethnic groups at very reasonable prices.
Essentials
Good selection of basic groceries including fruits and veggies. Also close by to my house.
Comercial Meraz - Bustamante
304 Calle de Carlos María BustamanteGood selection of basic groceries including fruits and veggies. Also close by to my house.