Eating & Drinking in Oaxaca

While we encourage you to try our chef Soledad's wonderful meals, we know visitors want to sample the city's many good restaurants.  Here are some particular favorites:

La Biznaga Inventive and modern Mexican fusion slow food cuisine.  

Casa Oaxaca  Exceptional and world reknowned traditional Oaxacan cuisine

Marco Polo Seafood Restaurant The best seafood in Oaxaca

Zandunga Authentic cuisine from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec outside the city, here they serve up delicious dishes in an atmosphere that perfectly marries modern and traditional aesthetics. 

La Jícara Stellar library/restaurant/cultural center in Oaxaca's center offering a rotating seasonal menu and the over-the-top "orgasmo de chocolate" cake.

Itanoni  All natural tortilla-shop-turned-cafe serving fantastic Oaxacan snacks made exclusively with gmo-free local heirloom corn.

Los Danzantes Traditional Oaxacan with modern twists with an extensive collection of mezcales.

Azucena Zapoteca Traditional Zapotec food inspired by the vibrant cuisine of the pueblos surrounding Oaxaca. About 30 minutes outside the city en route to Ocotlan.

Caldo de Piedra Worth a stop on your way back to the city to try the prehispanic dish made with a rich broth and fish cooked by a piping hot stone.

Vegetarian Oaxaca

Vegetarian and Veg-friendly Restaurants and Natural Foods Stores

Flor de Loto Fresh regional and vegetarian cuisine with a very reasonably priced menu del dia. 

El Manantial  Vegetarian-friendly restaurant with delicious daily offerings.

For overviews of restaurants, try

Rick Bayless's Oaxaca Suggestions The reknowned Chicago chef and Mexican cuisine guru shares some of his favorite spots in the city. 

Trip Advisor's Reviews of Oaxaca Restaurants

Fodor's Guide to Oaxaca Restaurants

Food and Wine Magazine's Favorite Oaxaca Restaurants

Mezcal Tasting

Mezcaleria Los Amantes A very small but charming space exclusively dedicated to the spiritual and celebrated regional spirit. Perfect for tasting.

Cooking Schools

Seasons of My Heart is highly recommended for a day-long market visit and cooking lesson to learn about and experience  Oaxacan cuisine in a beautiful country setting.

Casa de los Sabores  Experienced chef, and owner of La Olla Pilar Cabrera offer you the opportunity to learn hands-on about the complex cuisine of Oaxaca.

Alma de Mi Tierra Native Oaxaqueña Nora Valencia leads you through a day of menu shopping, preparing, and savoring a traditional meal in a natural and genial setting.

Casa Crespo This Oaxacan restaurant and cooking school offers daily 4 hour classes across the way from Santo Domingo Cathedral.

  Guides & Transportation

Nicolas Garcia is our guide and driver of choice.  He speaks excellent English and is knowledgeable and friendly. He can be reached by email at nichoaxgarcia@yahoo.com.mx 

We can easily arrange excursions with Nicholas, or any other guides and drivers, after you arrive.

Rolan Tours Recommended tour guides in Oaxaca

Fine Art Galleries

Oaxaca's fine arts are in full blossom.  Here are some of the best galleries.

Galería Arte de Oaxaca

Galería La Mano Mágica

Indigo Arts Gallery

Gallería Quetzalli

Guide to Oaxaca Galleries

Folk Art Shops



There are many excellent shops in the city, not to mention art found  the villages where weavings, woodcarvings and ceramics are made.  Casa Colonial's map and our advice is really all you need, but take a look at MARO's web site for fine high-end folk art in the city.

Casa Santiago Our old friends the Santiago family in Teotitlan are among  the best weavers of the famous wool tapestry rugs.

 Cultural Events

 Oaxaca has a marvelous bookstore with a wide selection of books in English about Oaxaca and Mexico. 

Amate Books 

The Oaxaca Calendar web site includes an excellent monthly listing of cultural and artistic events in town, not to mention baseball!  

The Oaxaca Lending Library is a wonderful resource, with its 30,000 books in English, community bulletin board, and friendly atmosphere.

Other Activities

Take a special horseback ride through the Oaxacan mountains with Mary Jane Gagnier.

  Museums

Casa de la Ciudad 

Henestrosa Library

Santo Domingo Cultural Center 

Francisco de Burgoa Library

Centro Fotografico Manuel Alvarez Bravo

Institute of Graphic Art

Oaxaca Contemporary Art Museum Free on Sundays!

Oaxaca Stamp Collecting Museum  Free Entry!

Institute of Historic Organs

Oaxaca Textile Museum 

Saint Augustine Arts Center

Spanish Language Schools

Many of our guests take Spanish language classes, for a week or a month...here's a start on finding the right school for you.

Oaxaca International Spanish Language School

Spanish School Association of Oaxaca

Instituto Cultural Oaxaca

Becari Language School

Amigos del Sol Language School

Ecotourism

Planeta's guide to responsible tourism in Oaxaca

Ecotourism in the Sierra Norte region of Oaxaca

Tour a mountain village with Fundación en Vía and all the profits go to the women they grant microfinance loans.

Roque Santiago is an excellent guide for birdwatching, hiking, riding and biking, and for trips into the Sierra Juarez. Email: roque_antonio740@hotmail.com