Day-by-day eating plans for Oaxaca: weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.
Day-by-day plans
Oaxaca weekend: moles, mezcal and the Andador
- ★ 4.8
- 2 days
- First-time visitor, 2 days
A weekend built around the seven moles, the Pasillo de Humo at Mercado 20 de Noviembre, the Andador's mezcalerias and a Sunday market run.
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Day 1Saturday: markets, moles and the Andador
- Morning
- Mercado Sanchez Pascuas at 08:00. Tejate from the comedor counters and tamales oaxaquenos at Yolis. Walk south past Santo Domingo to Boulenc for a second coffee and pastries.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Las Quince Letras on Abasolo (book at 14:00). Duo de moles with chicken (negro and amarillo). Walk the Andador to Mezcaloteca by appointment for a 4-mezcal tasting flight.
- Evening
- Dinner at Tierra del Sol on Reforma at 20:00; rooftop comal for tetelas and chichilo. After 22:30 walk to Tlayudas Libres on Calle de Los Libres for a wood-grilled nightcap tlayuda.
StopsMercado Sanchez PascuasBoulencLas Quince LetrasMezcalotecaTierra del SolTlayudas Libres
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Day 2Sunday: market, mole and a slow evening
- Morning
- Mercado de Abastos at 09:00 (or Tlacolula tianguis if you have a car). Memelas Dona Vale, mole-paste row, fresh quesillo. Back to Centro by 12:00.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Itanoni on Belisario Dominguez at 13:30 (take a taxi). Memelas with squash blossom and a tetela with mole amarillo; criollo-corn atole.
- Evening
- Sundowner at Sabina Sabe on Cinco de Mayo at 18:30 (mezcal cocktails). Dinner at Casa Oaxaca on Constitucion at 20:30; rooftop table for tableside guacamole and mole negro.
StopsCentral de Abastos (Mercado de Abastos)Memelas Dona ValeItanoni Flor del MaizCasa Oaxaca el Restaurante
Oaxaca three days: tasting menus and palenques
- ★ 4.9
- 3 days
- Experienced food traveller, 3 days
Three days of Oaxaca's most ambitious kitchens (Levadura de Olla, Origen, Pitiona) with a day-trip to Santiago Matatlan's mezcal palenques on day two.
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Day 1Day 1: arrival, Origen, Sabina Sabe
- Morning
- Settle in. Brunch at Boulenc on Porfirio Diaz from 10:00, sourdough toast and chilaquiles. Walk Santo Domingo and the Andador to acclimatise.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Casa Oaxaca el Restaurante on Constitucion at 14:00; mole negro on the rooftop. Walk to Mezcaloteca by appointment at 16:00 for the educational flight.
- Evening
- Dinner at Origen on Benito Juarez at 20:30; tasting menu with mezcal pairing. Walk to Sabina Sabe for a final mezcal nightcap.
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Day 2Day 2: mezcal palenques and Hierve el Agua
- Morning
- Pickup at 09:00 with The Mezcal Journey or A Chef's Tour van. Highway 190 east to Santiago Matatlan; first palenque visit by 11:00.
- Afternoon
- Lunch in Mitla town. Second palenque at 14:30. Hierve el Agua at 16:00 for the petrified-waterfall pools and Comedor Citlaly for tlayudas.
- Evening
- Back in Oaxaca by 19:30. Dinner at El Destilado on Cinco de Mayo at 20:00; tasting menu with mezcal and Mexican-sake pairing.
StopsEl Destilado
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Day 3Day 3: Levadura de Olla and the Andador close
- Morning
- Slow start at Muss Cafe on Hidalgo at 09:30. Walk Garcia Vigil up to the Mercado de Abastos for the mole-paste row at 11:00.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Levadura de Olla on Garcia Vigil at 14:00; the Sierra Sur tasting menu (book six weeks ahead). Slow walk back to hotel.
- Evening
- Aperitivo at Selva on Macedonio Alcala at 19:00 (Oaxacan-ingredient cocktails). Dinner at Pitiona on Allende at 21:00; tasting menu with pairings.
StopsMuss CafeCentral de Abastos (Mercado de Abastos)Levadura de OllaSelva Oaxaca Cocktail BarPitiona Cocina de Autor
Oaxaca for vegans: three days of plant-based cooking
- ★ 4.6
- 3 days
- Vegan, 3 days
Three days of vegan and plant-based Oaxaca cooking, anchored at Hierba Dulce, Nanita, Santa Hierba and Boulenc, with a Teotitlan day trip.
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Day 1Day 1: Centro and Boulenc
- Morning
- Breakfast at Boulenc on Porfirio Diaz at 09:00 (vegan-marked tostados and gluten-free pancakes). Walk Santo Domingo and the chocolate row on Mina.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Hierba Dulce on Porfirio Diaz at 14:00 (fully vegan Oaxacan, the namesake-herb tisanes). Walk to Mercado Benito Juarez for tejate and chocolate.
- Evening
- Dinner at Comala on Pino Suarez at 20:00 (mole verde with vegetables, memelas with frijol). Mezcal cocktail in the courtyard.
StopsBoulencHierba DulceTejate vendors at Mercado Benito JuarezComala
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Day 2Day 2: Jalatlaco and a vegan brunch
- Morning
- Brunch at Santa Hierba on Cinco de Mayo Jalatlaco at 10:00 (rooftop courtyard, plant-based plates). Walk the murals of Jalatlaco.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Nanita on Ninos Heroes at 14:00 (vegan chilaquiles and pozole verde). Coffee at Muss Cafe on Hidalgo at 16:30.
- Evening
- Dinner at Itanoni on Belisario Dominguez at 19:30 (criollo-corn memelas with squash blossom, frijol and hierba santa, all vegetarian).
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Day 3Day 3: Teotitlan del Valle and a final mezcal
- Morning
- Taxi to Teotitlan del Valle at 09:00. Zapotec weaving demo and a vegan-friendly Tlamanalli plant lunch (vegetable mole amarillo).
- Afternoon
- Back in Oaxaca by 15:30. Slow afternoon at Suculenta on Porfirio Diaz inside the Boulenc courtyard for fermentos, conservas and a seasonal mushroom plate.
- Evening
- Final dinner at Boulenc on Porfirio Diaz at 20:00; mushroom banh mi and gluten-free pancakes. Mezcal-and-friends nightcap at La Popular on Garcia Vigil.
Book food experiences in Oaxaca
Plan the trip
Making a trip of these plans? Where to stay in Oaxaca, what to book ahead, and a car for the day trips. Prices and availability open on each partner's site.
- Zen HotelsPlaces to stay in Oaxaca · from USD 60 a nightSee stays
- LateRoomsPlaces to stay in OaxacaSee stays
- ExpediaPlaces to stay in OaxacaSee stays
- GoWithGuideTickets and tours to book aheadSee tickets
- VIP CarsCar hire for the day tripsSee cars