Unfortunately, the only market we managed to visit in Mexico City was the Mercado de San Juan.

Unlike typical city markets, it’s not just locals who come here to buy fruit and vegetables.

It is even nicknamed the ‘chefs’ market’, as restaurants from all over the city come here to buy their ingredients.

It is here that you will find European cheeses, hams, fresh seafood, exotic fruit and ingredients that are almost impossible to find elsewhere in Mexico City.

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Crocodiles, insects and oysters

The Mercado de San Juan is best known for selling unusual ingredients.

At the various stalls, you can find crocodile meat, wild boar, venison, rabbit, edible larvae, grasshoppers or escamoles (ant eggs), which are often referred to as Mexican caviar.

But you don’t have to be an adventurer. Most visitors come here for the fresh oysters, seafood, tapas, cheeses or a glass of wine right at the stalls. The market is also known for the many tastings that the vendors often offer you themselves.

Is it worth a visit?

We think so.

Even if you don’t plan to sample any exotic dishes, the Mercado de San Juan offers a completely different atmosphere to the tourist attractions around the Zócalo.

What’s more, it’s just a few minutes’ walk from Bellas Artes and the historic centre.

Allow around 30 to 60 minutes for your visit. If you decide to sit down at one of the seafood or tapas stalls, you could easily spend the whole of your lunch break here.

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