La Merced Market

It’s a must see place! It’s one of the most unique bazaars that I’ve ever been and it has been kept as old-school as possible. It’s a madhouse, but it’s functional just when you’re there. Don’t act as an idiot.

Amazing market, go there in the metro and you’ll exit right into the biggest market you’ve ever seen. We got lost in here (literally could not find where we started) and had hours of fun looking at all the different shops. There was a shop for everything. After 2 hours we had only walked through about half. There are food scattered about as well.

Amazing market but not somewhere to go as a tourist. Definitely get a local guide to show you around!

This market is so massive that it's hard to comprehend. Incredibly crowded and tons of fresh produce plus stalls with everything else you can imagine from China. It was like a Temu in real life. I love the culture of everyone eating together at the food areas. There are large tables with many chairs.

La Merced Market is a bustling, vibrant place that can feel overwhelming at first—but it’s absolutely worth the visit. You can find just about everything here: from different candies and chips to fresh vegetables, meats, home supplies, and even beautiful flowers. It’s a one-stop market with endless variety. Despite the crowds, it’s easy to get lost in the energy and explore. If you stumble across a food stall, don’t hesitate—everything I tried was delicious and definitely worth it!

The market has everything you could need to feel at home away from home. I was in Mexico city for a week and I went there to buy my groceries and I got everything I needed and still had more food left at the end of the trip. The prices were great and fair to the sellers/buyers. Would definitely recommend this market which seems like it would never end 🥰

A few disclaimers - be ready for all the over stimulation. Very packed market and can be easy to get lost. Lots of moving parts but a wonderful place for delicious food. Had the best tamales inside!

Amazing experience exploring the market during prime time Saturday. Endless options for food that I estimate would take like 10 trips to try all of. Salsas were for locals — very spicy. Even my Mexican gf was having a hard time. The interesting thing was that I barely saw any foreigners/tourists except maybe 2 or 3 out of the hundred(or thousands) of people I saw. Always felt safe other than the few times I had thoughts that if I was stabbed while deep in a market section and the locals kept their mouth shut I’d just disappear… half joking. Was very interesting seeing how locals and shop owners alike sourcing products. Overall an amazing experience but 4 stars for the confusing layout.

Very big flea market in Mexico City. This market is becoming the must experience location for visit. The area big. The display flower market, fruit, grocery, meat market, clothing, toy, and more. Definitely don't forget about food location. The market have several buildings. You need to organize your self how you enter the market. The market not limited to the building. The side street full of vendors. The visit to here need minimum 3 hours to complete. You need to be aware of the surroundings. Careful about the pick pocket. Wear two layer of dress with inner dress with pocket for your wallet. Make it difficult for the pick pocket. We have lunch here with mixed beef soup. This bowl of soup has many internal organ and meat. Love it. If you want to try the insect, there is some display.

I was a little disappointed in this market because I thought it would be more souvenirs and more food. There are some random carts/stalls selling food but I would say 80% of the stalls just sell clothing or everyday household items. The market itself is pretty huge, spanning a few city blocks. We didn't end up buying anything. They do have fresh produce/meats for sale, so that was fun to look at the different offerings but that was probably the only highlight. There's A LOT of traffic in the area, so if you're planning to take an Uber, plan accordingly. We probably waited 30-40 minutes in total to connect to a driver and for the driver to actually navigate through all the traffic to come and get us. Not worth the visit unless you're staying within walking distance.

This review is specific to the food stall Oasis, which was our single best dining experience in Mexico City. We exited from the metro directly into the chaos of the market, and felt compelled to stop here after seeing someone at a nearby table chowing down on one of the huaraches. The huarache con huevo had that richness which only comes from incredibly fresh ingredients, and indeed, we saw the masa dough being lovingly rolled in the back of the restaurant. Topped with a subtle layer of green salsa, 3 decadently fried eggs, and a smattering of white cheese, what more could one want in life?

Out of the many markets we visited while in CDMX, Mercado de La Merced was my favorite. It's the largest market in the city and opens early with vendors inside and outside selling literally everything from candy to fruit to clothes to toys. There's even an amazing candy corner!

The true authenticity of Mexican cuisine is found here from bad to good. This place has it all. I walked all over here and I was surprised by how many different types of products and produce are here. The tacos here are delicious and can't be beat! The fruit juices are tasty also. Ok, when it comes to taking photos of the stuff here don't take photos of the meats area the gentleman get angry and say no! Which in California its breaking many health codes hahaha. Always watch behind you because people are working moving products around and they rush by so be cautious.

A HUGE mercado with tons of vendors! Definitely pack light and be aware of your belongings. We did some research ahead of time on Mexico/Mexico City cuisine and checked out this mercado to find all the delicacies. My boyfriend and I decided to order one thing at each vendor and snack on it, so we could try multiple things throughout our time there. We snacked on a pollo quesadilla (which we learned doesn't always come with cheese!), pambazo, taco with fries, jamaica, and horchata. We wanted to try pancita too but we were a bit full. Everything was delicious, all the vendors were so friendly and it was fun to be able to watch them make the food and eat it right then and there. We didn't shop for souvenirs, it wasn't much of a market for tourists. We saw tons of locals and hardly any visitors so it was a great experience to see what a local market is like during the weekend! Everything was so cheap, we spent less than $15 for all of the snacks! Can't wait to go back!

One of the largest outdoor markets in Mexico, City. Wide selection of goods for reasonable prices. Whatever you are looking for, you can find here. Just make sure you have a good amount of time to get lost and wander this great market.

This insane market has everything required to make any and all kinds of Mexican cuisine. From the noplaes vendors who don't want their pictures taken, to fifty different kinds of mole, it is all found here. We loved being here, but in all honesty, it wouldn't have meant nearly as much to me without our guide. We booked the Merced tour via Eat Mexico, and our guide Sofia was absolutely amazing. From taking us to the Market on the subway (which was the only time we rode the subway), to her personal relationships with all the vendors we visited, without her we would have just been wandering through the market. With Sofia, I got to try about ten different kinds of mole, I ate crickets and ants, I ate beef head and tacos with McDonald's french fries on them. Without a guide, it would have just been a feast for the eyes - still cool and interesting, but I actually learned so much and felt like I was more than just a tourist.

Incredibly large market filled with tons of food, clothing, etc. unfortunately we went right as everything was shutting down, but we were lucky enough to grab ourselves a few bites. This market is probably incredible during the earlier hours. Even so, I was quite impressed at how gigantic it was and how full of life it was upon shutting down. Go early and be ready to walk around an endless number of stalls!

Go to the fika bakery! We had amazing dark bread, perfect coffee and sublime lemon poppy seed cake! We'll go back tomorrow to try other treats. The carrot cake looked amazing. This is a new place and I'm sure it'll do well as the food is so good.

One of the highlights of my Mexico City trip. Went with an Eat Mexico tour. Ate things I have never eaten before, seen things I've never seen before. So many varieties of local food, dried peppers, fried bugs. Learned so much. Such a cool cultural experience. Not many tourists go there, and I get why. It's huge, you'd get lost. But it was so cool. We only covered a very small part of the market and that part was huge. The food they prepare is so delicious, ate so much, the produce is incredible, so much and it goes on and on and on. The size of this market, I can't even describe and as the day progressed it got pretty packed. And the layout makes no sense so I am glad we were there with a local. The people we met in the market were all very nice. Looking forward to seeing more of it when next time I am in Mexico City.

I love markets, and I especially love Mercados in Mexico City. And this is the mother of all mercados. If you don't like crowds and narrow corridors, or prefer sterile restaurants, you will not like la Merced. If you want to experience the pulse of Mexico City, try some of the best soups, tacos, and snacks, stock up on cheap produce, sample moles and spices, then La Merced is a must visit. Seriously, some of the best fruits and tacos I've ever tasted came from La Merced vendors. And because of the size, prices are often the best around. La Merced is organized chaos because there is a method to the madness, though outside it may not appear so. In the large buildings, similar merchants are generally together - food vendors along one wall, shoes and clothing together, etc. There are large sections for flowers and party supplies, livestock (Live goat? Check. Puppies? Check. Piglets? Check. Iguana? Check.), religious stuff, dry produce (beans, spices, moles), snacks, meats -- any part of any edible animal really -- household supplies... I could go on all day. If you are at all curious about local culture, go here. It's worth the crowds (heaviest on Saturday and Sunday). Take the subway, but not on a weekend or at rush hour unless you're comfortable in tight crowds. Don't take a taxi - you'll be stuck in slow moving traffic mixed with pedestrians browsing stalls the radiate outward from the official market. Now excuse me while I daydream about my next visit to La Merced.

Very unsanitary. Eat at your own risk. The cheapest food you can find in Mexico City. The items for sale are NOT artisan made. So if you are looking for something genuine visit other markets.

Probably the biggest market in the world, I have never seen bigger! It is truly immense, if you are looking for really great tacos, you have an overwhelming selection of places to go here, but once you have found one you like, stop immediately and sit down, or you may literally never find it again! I'm serious the market is that huge! Do not recommend this to the casual tourist looking for a comfy AC shopping experience, it is raw, crowded, definitely a local shopping place, but if you are like me, and want to jump into the local culture, this is a one stop cultural extravaganza.

This huge and historic market is mind-blowing! This place is gigantic! Stall, after stall, after aisle, after aisle, after row... you get the picture. This is one of the largest public markets I've ever been to. There is some method to the madness- order in chaos where things tend to be grouped together based on what they're selling, but not always. Shoes and clothes seem to be lumped together, and you might suddenly find yourself in cookware land. The food area is interesting, with piles of produce, and all the stuff the locals eat. If you want to feel like a Chilango, this is the place- the food is authentic, and the deals are hot! There aren't nearly enough restrooms in this place, and they charge a fee to get in. They could also stand to have a bit of a map for the place, or some landmarks throughout the market, so you can get oriented. My favorite part of the mercado is the Fiesta land- where they sell bulk pinatas of every shape, party supplies, like masks and tiaras, and cake decorations. Ole! The metro station spills directly into the market, so you're just in the thick of it as soon as you leave the station turn styles. It seems that everything here is negotiable, and I think that they expect you to haggle on the prices. Bring cash- most places won't take your credit cards. I can't imagine trying to park here- good luck with that... This market connects with the Sonora Market, which is across the street- use the footbridge to cross the busy street!

Crazy place. So big its overwhelming. I was going to go myself but last minute booked a guide and good thing I did. Not only would I have gotten lost but it is pretty much a locals only place. To find the best stuff you need someone who not only speaks the language but also knows the lay of the land and has relationships with vendors there. It also can get a little sketchy if you are not a local. Several Mexicans said they don't even go there but I never felt unsafe at anytime. We only went to the food section which alone was a few football fields big. Anything and everything you want. And the best street food ever. I wish I could shop here weekly.

I guess I'm one of the few that didn't enjoy this mercado. The place was an absolute disaster for me. Maybe I'm a spoiled freaking American but I found this market gross and at times scary. Gross. There were raw meats on display for all to enjoy....including the flies. Flies are gross so when they are on food I tend to stay away. No one seemed to care that flies were feasting on the raw chicken glistening in the heat. that ruined this entire market for me. The size of this market is astronomical! It's very difficult to find what you want because theu seem to have all their products divided in sections. Just like your local grocery store. For example, we stumbled on this huge section that sells JUST PIÑATAS. So if you're in the market for a piñata then you have 6-10 eager peeps to choose from.....all clustered together. Careful in the surrounding streets. Very shady people walking around asking for money. One even kept tapping at my wallet. Keep your valubles safe and walk fast. Plenty of "working girls" on the streets surrounding the market as well....quite sad but they were literally one after the other.

This is a truly remarkable market, unlike anything I've ever visited. I went with a tour through Eat Local Mexico (which I highly recommend!) and even though La Merced indeed just had a fire, the market was still in full swing. It's insanely massive (almost defying description) and it's full of the most incredible food: fruits and vegetables, meat, dried chiles, candy, etc. It's just absolutely mesmerizing and seems to be the heart of Mexico City. And sure, it's not like markets in America in terms of how food is prepared and displayed. But you don't come to Mexico City expecting to see what you know: you come to Mexico City to see its full street food glory. I ate everything from the markets that day and I didn't get sick, not even a little. So don't miss out on La Merced. It's a magnificent place and it needs people to visit it. Do follow basic common sense: take Uber or metro there (don't walk) and keep a close eye on your stuff. But don't let that stop you from getting to know the soul of Mexican cooking.

A Must visit if you are in Mexico City. Skip the other smaller/touristy markets and go here...The Food Stalls, The Produce, The Meat everything is fabulous and affordable and gives you a great front seat look at the proud culture of this country. Eat as much Tacos as you can !!!

Not the biggest market in Mexico City but the most chaotic. From top chefs to housewives, everyone comes here looking for fresher or cheaper everything , from produce to meat, from piñatas to party hats or hand made ceramic plates, anything Mexican ( or Chinese for that matter) you will find it here . Don't miss the Sonora market just 10 minutes from Merced market

Honestly unless you need basic stuff or shop for cheap clothing etc (they have everything here from silk flowers to shoes to massive huge bags of cheetos), I'd pass because it's a zoo and there's not much that a visiting tourist needs there. There's plenty of other traveling tourists markets. This one is more for the locals and in Central downtown and don't go on Sundays - omg! Hoards of people wall to wall and I wouldn't eat there if you're trying to not get some funky stomach bug while there. Line 1 on the metro - 85 cents for metro subway ride- packed cars and women get groped by creepy men all the time. I can bear witness to that.

An article to read for a walk through. Get your bearings! It can be confusing!!!! https://mexiconewsdaily.com/mexicolife/the-massive-mercado-de-la-merced/

When I first read about this market, I couldn't believe it. The space is huge and offers you to get everything you can need. I took the subway which lead me directly next to the market. Then, you enter in a gigantic space full of everything, a real maze! The best market in the WORLD open to public ! In Asia, Africa, South America, I didn't found the same freshness in the food area (yet ?), fruits and veggies evrywhere from the floor to the ceiling. Could not resist to buy fresh watermelon, etc I even was able to see how they prepapre the cactus (Nopales). and the sellers are friendly with foreigners :) Price are very competitive, a must-do in Mexico D.F. One of my (many) favorite time in Mexico.

Huge. Not sure where this begins and Tepito begins. I would recommend doing a tour here bc its just too big. Also i would do the tour at the start of your vacation so you will get recs for your entire trip. That being said, it's a must-go.

This is as everyone has stated the mac daddy of all Mercados, I visited on a Thursday right after the holiday season and arrived early. I was there with a local photography tour guide for a 4 hrs walk about. He and I were both able to communicate in Spanish and the vendors were usually open to having their pictures taken and telling us about what the were selling. The market is huge and yes it can be sketchy (my guide wanted to stick to the open passage ways and avoid going into the smaller interior alleyway) just like any crowded place anywhere in the world. The place gets really busy as the day progresses, so be sure you know where your goods are, be respectful, and mindful to get out of the way and you will be very welcomed. If you want to find any manner of goods this is the place. I am already planning my next trip in April.

This place is one of the wonders of the Market world. The covered section is four blocks long, but vendors bleed out from every side. You can find things like dentists, sides of beef, miles of produce, pet stores, clothing markets, food vendors. Basically everything - it's like a disorganized, organic, living and breathing Wal-Mart supercenter that you can never find the end. If you don't like crowds, stay away. It's a complete rat race of people and the tight walking spaces and endless stalls make it seem like a maze. It's worth seeing if you are a market person.

Pone of the best places in Mexico City where you could really se and feel like a local. This market is endless! It has everything! Vegetables, fruit, food, clothing...it is a visual enriching experience. Don't miss it!