Into the belly of La Merced

Eat, drink pulque and get lost in La Merced, Mexico City’s wildest market, with a guide who lived there for years. Max 6 people.

Into the belly of La Merced — Pulque, street bites & Mexico City’s wildest market

I lived in La Merced for years. This isn’t a polished food tour, it’s the neighborhood the way I learned it: loud, chaotic, generous and completely alive.

We meet at the Zócalo and walk toward La Merced, eating as we go: fried fish, a stop at a beautiful tostador de café with coffee from all over Mexico (have a cup, or take a kilo home), a taste of prehispanic protein. Then the fresh pulque, brought in from the countryside on a truck that only shows up Thursday to Sunday, we'll taste it standing on a corner no guidebook will ever send you to.

From there, we can have a variety of quesadillas and then you choose: We wander through the market halls and loop back toward the Zócalo, ending at a little-known church where the bones of Hernán Cortés are kept, hidden behind the altar. Or, if you booked the extended version, we go all the way through La Merced to Mercado de Sonora, the “witchcraft market.” Either way, if you’re still up for it, we can close the day at one of my favorite old bars downtown.

Good to know

• About 4 hours (6–7 hours with the Sonora extension)
• Small group, max 6 · English, Spanish, Italian or French
• Tastings included; extra coffee or extra drinks are on you
• The exact meeting point near the Zócalo is sent by email after booking
• Bring cash, comfortable shoes, and leave the fancy jewelry at home
• 18+ for the pulque
• Private groups or other dates: message me through the organizer contact button

WhatsApp: +52 55 1194 5866