All about Gran Plaza Mérida in Mérida, Mexico (2025 Guide)

Gran Plaza Mérida is the third-largest shopping center in the city, offering a mix of fashion stores, jewelry shops, electronics, department stores, restaurants, a supermarket, banks, and more.

Located about a kilometer before Galerias Mérida in the northern part of the city, both malls are close enough to visit on the same trip. That said, we’ve never actually done both in one go – one mall visit is usually enough for us, especially with kids in tow.

But just a few hundred meters away, you’ll also find OfficeMax, Home Depot, and Sam’s Club. That’s really practical – we often combine a quick mall visit with whatever errands we need to run over there.

Opened in 1994, Gran Plaza was one of the first major shopping centers in Mérida and was once the most popular mall in the city. By the way, many locals still remember it as the place to go before the newer malls popped up.

Over time, the newer and larger malls have drawn in more shoppers, leading to some stores relocating. If you stop by the malls from time to time, you’ll notice this one tends to be a lot quieter than the rest.

Fun fact: The mall was home to one of Mérida’s first Cinépolis theaters, later taken over by Cinemex. However, due to growing competition and the impact of the Covid pandemic, the cinema closed in 2021.

Stores and Services at Gran Plaza

Today, Gran Plaza is mostly home to national brands, with over 200 stores in total – many of them on the smaller side, as is typical for Mexican malls.

You’ll find the well-known Mexican supermarket chain Soriana and the department store Sanborns here – both of which I like to stop by, whether it’s to grab some groceries, or browse electronics.

You’ll also find a surprising number of banks here – including HSBC, Santander, Citibanamex, Banorte, Banco Inbursa, and BBVA – which makes it easy to take care of errands while shopping.

Above all, there are many small specialty stores for all kinds of things. And as with many similar large malls, there are two large anchor stores at either end of the mall: Liverpool and Sears (both are Mexican department store chains), offering a wide range of products.

On the Gran Plaza website (under the shopping section), you can find a full list of stores if you want to check whether a specific shop is there.

Food Court Options

When hunger strikes, the food court offers of Gran Plaza Mérida a wide range of options, from vegetarian meals to hearty meat dishes. Here you will find the typical fast food chains, such as Starbucks, KFC, Subway and Burger King.

There are also some local spots like Cáucasa, Doña Gorda, and Flautas, which break up the usual food court vibe. Still, the focus is mostly on fast food – convenient, but a bit too impersonal for my taste. I usually head elsewhere if I’m after something more special.

Kid-Friendly Fun at Gran Plaza

Gran Plaza Mérida also has some fun options for kids, like a trampoline park, a mini shooting range, and Formula 1-style racing.

With our three kids, these are great distractions once they’ve had enough of walking through stores – which happens pretty fast.

Best Times to Avoid Crowds

Weekends are naturally the busiest, especially around the food courts and entertainment areas. If you’re looking for a more relaxed shopping experience, weekdays – particularly early afternoons – are your best bet.

We always come by car, it’s definitely the easiest option. Parking is ample, with space for nearly 2,000 vehicles – we’ve never had trouble finding a spot.

The mall is fully air-conditioned, which makes it a welcome escape from Mérida’s intense summer heat – especially for the kids, who are always happy to cool off indoors for a couple of hours when it gets really hot outside.

Mérida’s Top Shopping Malls

Most of Mérida’s largest malls are in the northern and northeastern parts of the city, areas known for their modern developments and a growing expat community.

Each mall has its own appeal, but if I had to choose just one, La Isla Malltertainment would be my top pick because, in addition to great shopping options, it has a lovely ambiance both indoors and in the outdoor areas.

Here is a quick overview of the five best shopping malls in Mérida.

• Galerías Mérida – This is the biggest mall in Mérida

• La Isla Malltertainment – My favorite mall with great outdoor spaces

• The Harbor Lifestyle Mall – The newest mall (opened in 2019)

• Plaza Altabrisa – Well-established a and has been around for quite some time

• and Gran Plaza Mérida –  Home to mostly national brands

If you're looking to do some shopping in Mérida, these malls are definitely worth a visit.