OUR OAXACA GUIDE
Oaxaca, Mexico, was just named the No. 1 city in the world, according to Travel + Leisure readers! Their full article is linked below, which includes places throughout Oaxaca, not just in Oaxaca City.
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
CASA OAXACA
One of our favorite restaurants in Oaxaca! It has the most amazing and authentic Oaxacan food with views of the church and central square. Walkable from the hotel, right in town. Reservations recommended. A must visit for lunch or dinner, and we recommend the aquachile!
C/ de la Constitución #104-A, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, México
Tierra del Sol
Our favorite place for an authentic Oaxacan breakfast, but they also offer lunch and dinner too. They have a new indoor cafe, La Atoleria, for those who want something quick. We love the coffee, hot chocolate (a must have with your breakfast), local pastries, and hand-made tortilla dishes. Be sure to try the Cafe de Olla (made with Mexican ground coffee, cinnamon, + raw dark sugar). The rooftop has a view of the botanical gardens across the street. Reservations are recommended for breakfast, but not required. A few blocks from the hotel and right off the central square.
Reforma 411, Ruta Independencia, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
Alfonsina
Alfonsina is located in a family home on the outskirts of Oaxaca where Leon, a cook nicknamed “Moles,” makes some of the best food in Latin America. Leon got his nickname after perfecting his mole dishes while working at Pujol under Enrique Olvera (of Criollo below) after starting his career at Casa Oaxaca (see above). Alfonsina is known for its dish Mole Madre, which is based on the celebratory moles of Oaxaca.
A 30-minute taxi ride south of the city (close to the Oaxaca airport).
C. García Vigil 183, 71232 San Juan Bautista la Raya, Oax., Mexico
BOULENC
A must visit for breakfast or brunch, we recommend going in the morning when the city is waking up and Boulenc has its morning energy. It’s more trendy and casual than Tierra Del Sol, and has a bit more breakfast variety (from eggs to shakshuka to pizza to pancakes, it has it all). It fills up fast and will likely be a wait without reservations, but its worth it! A 5-minute walk from the hotel through town.
C. Porfirio Díaz 207, Ruta Independencia, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
CRIOLLO
Criollo was opened in 2017 by one of the world’s best chefs, Enrique Olvera. It was at this restaurant where we decided to have our wedding in Oaxaca! This is where our Saturday event is being held and we can’t wait to experience it with you.
Francisco I. Madero 129, Santa María del Marquesado, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
SELVA COCKTAIL BAR
While there are many mezcalerias in Oaxaca, we recommend this one for its 1920s art-deco styled bar serving up cocktails featuring ingredients local to Oaxaca. Open up its menu full of various cocktails and sit in one of the patio windows overlooking the city. Located just steps from the hotel.
C. Macedonio Alcalá #403-int. 6, Ruta Independencia, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
WHAT TO SEE
Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca
The Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca sits on 2.32 acres of the former monastic grounds of the Church of Santo Domingo. This ethnobotanical garden, designed by famed Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo, is an example of Oaxaca’s unparalleled biodiversity and is meant to tell the region’s history via its plants. The flora is arranged according to cultural and ecological themes and is named for its interest in exploring the relationship between people and plants.
Reforma Sur n, Ruta Independencia, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
monte alban
We’ll be organizing a private 10am shuttle and English-speaking tour to visit on Thursday, September 22. It’s a 30-minute drive from Quinta Real, and you can see the site in about 1 to 2 hours. We should be back to hotel no later than 1pm. Eric Cavallo (Tania’s brother) is organizing, so please let him know if you’d like to join (eric.j.cavallo@gmail.com)!
Perched atop a 1,300-foot tall plateau, Monte Albán is a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing a well-preserved terraced pyramid and other pre-Columbian cultural artifacts. Much of what you'll explore here was built by the Zapotecs, an Indigenous peoples who are thought to have settled in the region as early as 800 BC. It is the second largest ceremonial site in all of Central America.
Museo Textil de Oaxaca
Oaxaca's textile museum is set in a lovely restored colonial mansion in the city's historical center. The museum celebrates Oaxaca's rich and varied textile traditions and offers an overview of textiles from Oaxaca, Mexico, and the world.
Miguel Hidalgo 917, Centro Histórico, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
HIERVA EL AGUA
Spanish for “the water boils,” the Hierva el Agua is a set of natural travertine rock formations that have formed over thousands of years and resemble cascades of water. The fresh water springs at the top of the cliff are over-saturated with calcium carbonate and other minerals, and as the water falls over the cliffs, the excess minerals create the formations. There are a number of small natural pools, as well as two large artificial pools, all set on the edge of the cliff.
These falls are a 90-minute taxi from the hotel.
MAKERS & ATELIERS
LA CHICHARRA Ceramic Atelier
Local 22, Plaza Casa de Barro, Reforma 703, Centro,
68000 Oaxaca
COLECTIVO 1050 Ceramic Workshop
Xolotl S/N Esquina con Rufino Tamayo,
Centro, 68000 Oaxaca
ESPACIO COMAL Ceramic Workshop
Mártires de Tacubaya 308C, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Centro, Oaxaca
BII DAUU Textile Workshop
A. Iturbide 19, Tecutlan, 70420 Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca
CASA VIVIANA Wax Atelier
Abasolo s/n, Centro, 70420 Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca
TALLER MANOS QUE VEN Ceramic Workshop
Calle Libertad 24, 2da Secc, 71520
San Antonino Castillo Velasco Oaxaca
MUJERES DE BARRO ROJO Ceramic Workshop
Matamoros 18,
70406 San Marcos Tlapazola, Oaxaca