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 SHOPPING
Marketing is an age-old tradition and definitely an experience not to be missed
in Oaxaca. Mercado Benito Juarez southwest of the zocalo has most
of the village crafts along with fruits, vegetables, clothing, leather goods and
jewelry. Alcala Street north of Independencia is a pedestrianized
shopping street for Mexican and Oaxacan crafts. The New Market is a
huge marketplace located by the second class bus staion. A lot of vendors
from the surrounding Indian villages come loaded with their products to sell
here. The 20 de Noviembre market sells mostly food, but it also has
several small restaurants that serve some low budget but hearty stews and
steaming tortillas among other things. Mercado de Artesanias is a
sprawling market on the corner of Zaragoza that collects the finest wares from
nearby villages and the rest of the state. San Bartolo Coyotepec is
famous for its brilliant ornamental black pottery as well as green-glazed
pottery. Demonstrations of primitive pottery techniques are offered
weekly. For quality wood carvings, head to Arrazola. Ocotlan is
a Friday market whose specialties include hand-woven reed baskets and a prolific
sampling of crafts from throughout the region. Plaza Mezcal is a
place to go if you're planning to buy mezcal-the regional drink equivalent to
tequila.
DINING
Oaxaca is dubbed "The Land of the Seven Mole" for many rich mole
(thick sauce) of which the region is renowned for. Those who have tasted
Oaxacan food concur that the traditional cuisine here is exceptionally
exquisite, if not the best in Mexico. Several street stalls and
restaurants readily serve up what's best in their menus with the delightful
home-grown and locally produced ingredients. For hearty traditional meals,
stop by El Naranjo for its acclaimed Oaxacan specialties, El
Refectorio in a romantic courtyard of the Camino Real Hotel, Cathedral
Restaurant for its specialties, products of renditions of the local cuisine,
or El Asador Vasco which overlooks the Zocalo and serves up popular
Spanish Basque cuisine and delicious mole. El Biche Pobre north of
Independencia is a long-standing name serving generous portions of local
favorites, whereas Doña Elpidia invokes an atmosphere of a family
dining room. El Meson also provides impressive buffet at an
unbeatable price. For out-of-state flavors, El Che serves up
wonderful Argentinean dishes, whereas Pizza Rustica and Pizza Nostrana
rank among the best Italian restaurants in town. French cuisine is Chayotes'
specialty, and you can practice your chopsticks skill with Chinese dishes at
Muralla or Casa Blanca. Del Jardin Cafe Bar on the Zocalo is
also a neat place perfect for an early morning chocolate or cafe mocha while
watching the world goes by.
NIGHTLIFE
Known primarily for being a cultural city, nightlife in Oaxaca may not be as
outrageous and wild as in hard-partying Cancun or the Cozumel. However,
there is enough color and diversity to the nighttime entertainment in Oaxaca
than one might anticipate. For example, the central plaza has several bars
that can accommodate your mood with each place's unique atmosphere, music and
decor. Hard-beat live rock music are offered nightly at Azucar, La
Divina, and La Historia. For tantalizing salsa, visit Candela,
La Tentacion or Salon Central. Sometimes these places do
provide Mambo and tasteful Merengue music as well. Bar Sagrario has
a variety of bands where the acoustic guitar duos play trova contemporanea on
most nights. If you feel like sweating the night away on the dance floor,
prepare for the pulse-racing beats and frolic ambience at Eng and El
Patio Grande. Freebar also has a DJ. If you prefer your night a
little more quiet but classy, there is a piano bar at Hipotests Cafe and
sweet, melancholic jazz and blues at El Piano y El Sofa.
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