All about Mercado García Rejón in Mérida (2025 Guide)

Personally, I often associate the word “touristy” with something negative – and I’m sure many people do. But while the Crafts Bazaar is definitely touristy, that’s not a bad thing at all. If you’re looking for a souvenir, this is exactly the place to go.

Mercado García Rejón (Bazar de Artesanías García Rejón) is a market - or rather, a crafts bazaar, featuring a wide variety of stores. It occupies a large corner building at the intersection of Calle 60 and Calle 65, just one block from Plaza Grande.

What to Expect at Crafts Bazaar García Rejón

I always enjoy wandering through the Crafts Bazaar García Rejón when I'm in Mérida. It’s more like a small indoor department store than a traditional market, with little stalls selling all kinds of Yucatecan crafts, textiles, and souvenirs.

What I love most is the variety: handmade hammocks, henequen bags, embroidered sandals, and colorful traditional clothing – all in one easy-to-navigate space.

You'll also spot shelves packed with Mayan calendars, ceramic skulls, wooden masks, painted bowls, local hot sauces, sweets, and bottles of mezcal.

It’s definitely geared toward tourists, but in a good way – if you’re hunting for a souvenir or a small gift, this is the place. You’ll find a bit of everything, which is part of the charm. Just don’t expect a gritty local market vibe; it’s cleaner and more organized.

One highlight for me is the guayaberas – classic linen shirts worn across Central America. Some are even made from henequen fiber. You’ll find both men’s styles and beautifully embroidered versions for women.

Good Prices and a Bit of Bargaining

Prices here tend to be significantly lower than in the stores closer to the central plaza, and you can even negotiate - though generally speaking, bargaining in Mexico isn't quite as common as one might imagine.

Local Dishes You Have to Try

Although this is an arts and crafts market, you will also find a cafe and food stalls where you can enjoy truly delicious Yucatecan delicacies. What kind of Yucatecan delicacies are these? For example cochinita pibil (traditional pork tortas) with horchata (rice milk).

Always important is the relleno negro (very similar to cochinita pibil, the difference being the spices used, as it has a black sauce and this dish is usually cooked in an underground over for 12 hours).

Furthermore, salbutes (fried tortillas topped with pulled meat), lomitos (small pork cubes in tomato sauce), and tamales (a Pre-Columbian dish made from nixtamalized corn dough, steamed in husks or banana leaves) are also popular.

And much more, all at very reasonable prices!

History of the Market

The market hall is located on the shopping street Calle 60 (at the intersection with Calle 65) one block behind the Plaza Grande to the south and has a long history.

Initially, it was a marketplace where vegetables were sold in individual stalls in the square. In 1862 and 1881, reconstruction work took place and today's market hall was built. The main entrance to the market has been in use since 1862.

Image Source (main image): ©Bex Walton, flickr, CC BY 2.0, Link

The picture was modified (image improvements, resized)