Mercado San Juan is a massive, traditional Mexican market that's rapidly become one of the best places in the city to find gourmet and exotic foods. That means that in addition to traditional offerings, you'll be able to find meat from uncommon animals and imported products from Europe and the Americas.

Don't hesitate to bring the whole family along to enjoy this fascinating market where casual shoppers and foodies alike will find fun. Chefs especially tend to love this market, thanks to the diverse selection of fresh goods. It can take hours to explore it all, with most people staying about 2 or 3.

Mercado San Juan in Mexico City - one of the highlights of 10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Mexico City and 10 Best Markets in Mexico City (Read all about Mexico City here)

Foto de ProtoplasmaKid (CC BY-SA 4.0) modificada

What are the highlights of Mercado San Juan in Mexico City?

The products on offer are the central feature of Mercado San Juan. Standard meats like beef and chicken are available in excess, of course, but you'll also find cuts of more exotic meats, such as iguana, deer, rabbit, and crocodile. You can even find some truly strange selections, such as lion meat from animals raised in Zumpango.

An exotic allure permeates more of the market than just the butcher shops. You'll find imported caviar as well, with the price tag you'd expect considering the quality and source. Cheese specialities are common throughout, with fresh goat manchego, gruyere, Roquefort, and Parmigiano-Reggiano all available.

What else is good to know about Mercado San Juan in Mexico City?

Before you visit Mercado San Juan, there are some factors you need to know. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes when you visit. The market itself is massive and contained within 2 buildings that are a block apart, so there's going to be a lot of walking.

When you visit this market, you may want to take time to explore some of the other nearby attractions, too. It's in the Centro District, so the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Museo Franz Mayer, and Museo de Arte Popular are just a short walk north around Alameda Central, the oldest park in town.

Mercado San Juan in Mexico City

Ubicación: 2ᵃ Calle de Ernesto Pugibet 21, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Horarios: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm