PRIVATE TOUR
Insider’s Guide to Merced Market
For market geeks + street food lovers who want to dive deep into one of Mexico’s oldest and most important markets.
Downtown » Walking tour » 6 stops » 3.5 hrs
Mercado Merced, the crown jewel of the Mexican capital’s public market system, is by any definition, a food-lovers paradise. It’s the historic center of food commerce in Mexico’s capital city and one of the densest and delicious concentrations of regional Mexican cuisine in the republic. And while Modernist architect Enrique del Mora’s 1957 mid-century gem is the most recent iteration to house La Merced, the market and its tianguis—as the sprawling constellation of informal stalls on the surrounding streets are known—have been a presence in this downtown neighborhood for centuries.
A devastating fire on Christmas Eve of 2019 destroyed a large part of market. But nothing stops La Merced. The tight community of vendors were selling their wares among the ruins the very next day. The city government made it a political priority to rebuild La Merced. Within weeks of the fire, construction began based on del Mora’s original designs. The result—Mercado Merced is more amazing than ever.
Join CTH’s Insider’s Guide to Merced Market, where we’ll navigate the mercado’s maze-like stalls as we eat our way through one of Mexico’s oldest and most important markets. From al pastor tacos and French-fry topped campechanos, to squash blossom-filled blue corn quesadillas and chileatole, we’ll dive deep into this region’s very best dishes at one of our favorite places on earth, Mercado Merced.
Click here for public group outings
Price p/person varies depending on the size of the group, continue reading for pricing ↓
Includes:
5 food stops at market stands
a michelada beer cocktail
a mole tasting
a seasonal local fruit tasting
CTH Host (Bilingual)
CTH’s Guide to Mexico City
Severe food allergies and/or strict dietary accommodations cannot be accommodated. Click here to learn about our Dietary Accommodations.
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Booking your Private Insider’s Guide
Click the ‘Request a Private Booking’ button to check availability. You may add extra guests closer to the date, we check for a final headcount two weeks before your trip.
Once you submit a request, our team will confirm the date, if available, and will receive a confirmation email with important details about your outing.
Upon confirmation, your reservation is subject to our Private Bookings Cancellation Policy. To learn more about cancelations, click here.
Price per Guest
2-3 Guests $185 USD per person
4 Guests $150 USD per person
5 Guests $125 USD per person
6 - 7 Guests $110 USD per person
8 + Guests $100 USD per person
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Children (17 and under) $75.00 dlls ea.
Pricing subject to change due to availability or itinerary
SMALL GROUP TRAVEL
A blogger once described CTH’s outings this way: 'It felt like very cool friends were showing us around their town.' That's what CTH is all about.
THE RENDEZVOUS POINT
Our meeting spot is in Mexico City’s Centro Histórico neighborhood. Upon making a reservation, you will immediately receive a confirmation email with the meet up details. The meeting point is easily accessible by public transportation. Mexico City has Uber too.
EAT. EAT. REPEAT.
Over the course of the day, we’ll wander La Merced’s cramped stalls and the maze-like tianguis to visit our favorite food spots and converse with our friends there, many of whom have generation ties to the market.
We’ll also stop to try seasonal fruits and an array of mole pastes from a family of mole makers from San Pedro Actopan, this region’s mole capital. We’ll cap the day off with micheladas at a stand-turned-bar that’s the preferred watering hole of La Merced’s shoppers and workers.
ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END
We’ll end our outing a few blocks from Mexico City’s central square, El Zocalo. There, you can grab an UBER, hop on the metro, or spend the rest of your afternoon exploring the city’s Centro Historico. The Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the ruins of Tenochtitlan and Palacio Nacional, where one of the most important Diego Rivera murals is housed, are all nearby. There are also a couple of great cantinas nearby if you want to grab a midday drink.
PRIVATE OUTINGS
Allow us to craft a one-of-a-kind experience for you.
Whether it’s a birthday, bachelorette/bachelor, a wedding weekend, or just an excuse to get away and explore Mexico with friends, Club Tengo Hambre’s food, wine, craft beer and spirit-centric outings are unforgettable.