Levadura de Ollo

A restaurant dedicated to the traditional flavours of the Sierra Sur region of Oaxaca. As a young girl, chef Thalía Barrios helped her grandmother in the kitchen learning authentic dishes from the very best. The food here truly honours the flavours of each local ingredient. Once you enter the restaurant you will notice table displays showcasing fresh ingredients, including a rainbow of tomatoes and corn varieties. A nod to local artisans, beautiful handmade ceramics surround you as you dine under the stars.

Los Danzantes

Tucked away in the same building as Selva, you will find this grand dining room surrounded with towering red stone walls and an open-air ceiling. Los Danzantes—named after ancient dancing figures carved into stone at the nearby ruins of Monte Albán—fuses the old with the new, revealing traditional Oaxacan flavours with a contemporary twist. The energy in this room is magnetic and grand. It inspires a “ditch the glass of wine and go for the whole bottle” kinda night!

Adamá

Who knew you could find delicious Israeli cuisine right in the heart of Oaxaca Centro? Open for both lunch and dinner, this easy-going restaurant offers a flavourful array of fresh dishes like falafel, tabouli salad, and labane. It’s a casual space that’s most enjoyable with a small group. You’ll want to try one of everything on the menu so sharing is essential. Even if it’s your first time visiting, you’ll feel right at home. The friendly staff unknowingly create a sense of kinship and ease, and you’ll surely be back for round two.

Tejate at Mercado Benito Juárez

Tejate is a traditional local beverage made using toasted corn, fermented cacao beans, cacao flowers, and pixtle (toasted and ground mamey pits). These ingredients are ground into a paste and then mixed with water and often sugar to taste. It is often served in a traditional cup made out of decorative dried gourds (as pictured below). How does it taste? A bit like a nutty protein shake with a hint of chocolate. It’s nutritious and delicious so make sure you stop into the Benito Juárez Market to locate a vendor.

Labo Fermento

Sure, we’re all hoping to eat as much Mexican food as humanly possible, but sometimes it’s nice to mix it up and have some Asian flavours! This new restaurant is only open for lunch a few days a week, and operates a small shop stocked with spicy fermented goodies, elegant ceramics and to-go drinks, such as Hong Kong-style coffee and homemade kombucha. Their in house motto is el futuro es fermentado (“the future is fermented”) so if you’re a pickling lover this is your spot. Along with fresh noodles, rice dishes and an amazing fermented banana cream pie, they offer a selection of unique natural wines.

Onnno Loncheria

It’s exactly what you want it to be, and need it to be. Perfectly baked bread, hearty sandwiches and even better desserts, all made in-house. Stop here for a North American-style breakfast, or grab an iced coffee to go (add a splash of their creamy coconut milk). If you’re a spice lover, you can purchase a jar of their homemade chilli oil on your way out. Oh, and a cookie—you’ll definitely need a cookie.

Kiyo Café

A daily morning stop in for the extreme coffee lover. This tiny cafe has three small tables and a bar top, while the second half of the room acts as a small shop and gallery space. It is quaint, but filled with beauty. They offer a small selection of very tasty breakfast options, snacks and dessert, all served on stunning ceramic creations. If you see a pink pastry on display that day called “nido de guayaba y queso,” don’t hesitate; just get one.

Memelas Doña Vale

There’s no guarantee that you’ll locate this bright blue food stand within the sprawling Abastos Market, but if you do happen to stumble across it, make sure you have a seat! Somewhere in the middle of this hectic mercado is where Vale Pacheco makes her famous memelas (a small corn tortilla with a pinched rim which can hold a variety of sauces). They’ve even earned her a spot on the Netflix show Street Food. In two huge stone mortars Doña Vale prepares both a dark brown smokey salsa and a red tomato salsa. Ask for a few memelas, with a side of grilled tasajo (beef), or juicy pork ribs.

Tierra Del Sol

Where can you go to enjoy some sun on a rooftop patio, views of the Santo Domingo Church, a cold cocktail and Mixtec cuisine? Right here! Equipped with a bakery downstairs, this a great place for a quick stop-in or a lengthy evening meal under the stars. Open for lunch and dinner, they offer a nice selection of authentic local cuisine with a contemporary finish, serving up delicious dishes like grilled octopus, or a wedge salad garnished with crispy chapulines (grasshopper).

Selva Cocktail Bar

It’s like stepping into a speakeasy bar right in the middle of Manhattan! Selva quickly became one of our frequent evening stop-ins, and if you taste any one of their cocktails you’ll understand why. Combining exceptional mixology with local Oaxacan flavours, each sip is filled with a unique experience. The enchanting space creates a cozy environment while you sit under a fantastic hand-painted feature wall. What better way to end your day?

Crudo

You’ll need to book reservations very far in advance if you’re hoping to get a seat at this quaint restaurant. Crudo only seats five people along its small Japanese-style dining bar, for three seating times per day. Oaxaca-born chef, Ricardo Arellano, faces the group and prepares each single-bite course throughout the entire degustation experience. He explains each course once it has been presented to you on your plate. Each morsel will surprise your tastebuds, as the Japanese-inspired bites result in local Oaxacan flavours. It is not always what you expect, if anything it’s better. To complete the experience Crudo offers a wide selection of both local and Japanese-produced sakes.

Go-To Street Taco Stand

Just a few blocks away from the Zocalo Oaxaca (the central square in front of the Catedral Metropolotana de Oaxaca), you will find a street called Miguel Hidalgo lined with food stalls and street vendors. On the corner intersection of Miguel Hidalgo and 20 de Noviembre, there’s a street taco stand with table seating. There are a few taco stalls here, but what later became known as the “go-to street taco stand” is the one that opens after 4:00pm with plastic colourful stools and striped table cloths in yellow, orange and red. Look for a teenage boy with high energy hollering at you to come try their tacos!

Criollo

Make sure you enter this dining experience on an empty stomach, because you are in for a set menu with multiple courses, paired with cocktails and wine. The setting is majestic, allowing for indoor-outdoor seating with draping fabric curtains blowing calmly in the breeze. On chilly evenings they light small coal fire pits next to the outdoor tables, giving this space a rustic feel. Chef Luis Arellano builds the ever-changing menu based on the availability of seasonal ingredients, and pulls inspiration from the various cooking techniques of Oaxacan cuisine. Criollo honours ingredients that range from the regions coast, to the valley, to the mountains.

El Destilado

A top recommendation for all-around amazing food and cocktails. The space is casual, yet the dishes are refined. El Destilado offers a set menu, complimented with Mezcal pairings for each course (so you’ll absolutely have a good time). Upstairs on the hidden patio you will find a small Mezcal bar if you’re just stopping in for a quick drink. Make sure you book in advance as you won’t want to miss this meal.

Pan Con Madre

This is simply a bakery, and they are just doing it all right. Pop in to pick up some amazing sourdough bread, and flaky french pastries. There is nothing else to say…this place is perfection.

Boulenc

Honestly, it was unexpected to come across so many good bakeries in the Mexican city of Oaxaca, but here we have it! Yet another restaurant (and bakery) known for it’s delicious baked goods. Busy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you should expect a typical 20-minute wait to dine here. This casual spot offers wood-fired pizzas, salads, and a big American-style cheeseburger. But the best part about this place is the tiny cocktail bar hidden away in the second room. Lastly, you will find their bakery to the left, a small general shop to the right, and even a bed and breakfast located right upstairs.

Mezcalogia

A small candle-lit bar that offers live music usually from 9:00pm onwards. Here, you can experience a wide selection of local Mezcal tasting, along with delicious cocktails and craft beers. Arrive early to catch one of the high-top tables before the nighttime crowd rolls in.

Oaxaca Collection

Discover our collection of curated items from Oaxaca. Each piece has been hand-selected in Mexico by Tajmi for you to enjoy at home.