It’s such a bad feeling when you go to a place, try to find the perfect souvenir and it ends up being a made in China trinket, que chafa. To avoid this mishap when you visit Mexico City this guide on where to shop the best Mexican souvenirs in Mexico City will help you fin real handcrafts and Mexican pieces of art to decorate your home and remind you of your great time in this beautiful country. You can also not go wrong with just checking out Masaryk street or the boutiques in Colonia Roma.
Mexico is an incredibly diverse country with a rich history everywhere you look, each place has its own crafting heritage for example Olinalá from Guerrero and pottery from Guanajuato. Some of my recommendations are for traditional handcrafted art, beautiful and part of Mexico’s unique heritage history. Others are for contemporary uses of traditional techniques in modern fashion and objects. If you want some silver, a day trip to nearby Taxco could satisfy this need.
Which Traditional Mexican Art As Souvenirs
Some of my favorite traditional Mexican crafts are:
Textiles
There are many textile traditions as well as embroidery all throughout Mexico. Some of my favorite come from Oaxaca and Chiapas, but new Mexican designers have started incorporating these traditional textile into modern designs.
Black Clay from Oaxaca
In the hills of San Bartolo Coyotepec, artisans collect clay from deep within the earth. Hands work, and knead it, then let dry. Each work is polished and baked multiple times, taking the artisans anywhere from 20 to 40 days to create each piece.
Alebrijes from Oaxaca
These mythical beasts of mixed animals and incredible colors are made from papier-mâché, but some artisans like Manuel Jimenez and Maria Sabina combined the wood carving traditions of the Mixtec-Zapotec cultures of carving magical opal wood shaping them into the colorful alebrijes.
Ceramics
Pottery has been part of human history for survival, but there are also beautiful pieces made for decoration by incredible artisan hands. In Tarandacuao, Guanajuato is one of Mexico’s finest ceramics master artists. If you walk through their workshop, you can smell the “secret” of ceramic artists: combining pulque and water. Other amazing ceramics come from Mata Ortiz near Paquimé, Chihuahua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The real art comes from the painting of each piece where each artist is guided by their imagination in the way they mix colors, forms and textures, each unrepeatable.
Copper from Michoacán
In Santa Clara del Cobre children learn to chisel and hammer in school and workshop school prepares the next generation of masters of copper. Functional art perfectly describes each piece of finished copper, with its reddish hue, metallic finish, and painted designs, whether they be pots, vases, cups, trays or jewelry, sometimes even a bathtub. The process takes several months from gathering the raw material by extracting it or collecting waste to the finished product.
Other Materials
I also love onyx pieces and papier-mâché art. One of my favorite dolls that always reminds me of Mexico are made of fabric with a long colorful skirt and braids. You can find rag doll called muñeca Lele from the Otomí word for baby, on the streets directly from the Mexican women that make them.
Mexican Design
Some designers have incorporated Mexican motifs, colors, and quality with amazing design for everything from home interiors to high end bridal gowns.
Where to Buy Mexican Traditional Souvenirs in Mexico City
FONART
This is definitely one of the most reliable places to buy genuine and high quality artisanal products in Mexico. It is a chain of stores owned by the government to support the different styles of folk art of different indigenous communities from all over Mexico. There is no negotiating the price, but buying here you are supporting dying cultural traditions as well as the conservation of high quality handcrafted art in Mexico. FONART holds yearly competitions of different crafts and if you ask, you can even get a peak at the winners to see true Mexican art.
You can buy some of these handcrafts from street stalls and tianguis, but honestly the quality of FONART is better. I love the tree of life and alebrijes, as well as the copper objects from Michoacán. Look around, there are even traditional Mexican embroidered shirts. The big corporations buy the best Mexican souvenirs in Mexico at FONART, especially competition winner pieces to display in there headquarters.
Address: Paseo de la Reforma 116, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, Ciudad de México, México
MAP
The Museo de Arte Popular or MAP has amazing folk art on display and for sale in its on-site store. They have jewelry, accessories, home decor, toys, clothes, and collectors pieces. I even found some tequila shot glasses made of barro negro and skull beer tarro.
Address:
Tienda MAP Centro- Calle Revillagigedo 11, Colonia Centro, Alcaldía Cuauhtémoc C.P. 06050, Ciudad de México
Tienda MAP Polanco- Aristóteles 8, Polanco, Polanco IV Sección, Miguel Hidalgo, 11550 Ciudad de México, CDMX.
Secretaria de Turismo
Mexico’s Secretaria de Turismo holds regular exhibits of Mexico’s products in its lobby. I got my favorite plates from a design pop-up of Mexican brands held by the Ministry of Tourism. This space called Punto México was created to give the visitor the opportunity to travel around the whole country and has exhibitions by state or topic, so you can even get Mezcal, Tequila and other liquors or foods depending on the state. It is definitely one of the best places to buy Mexican souvenirs in Mexico City.
Address: Av. Pdte. Masaryk 172, Polanco, Lomas de Chapultepec, Miguel Hidalgo, 11580 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Mercado de Artesanías Ciudadela
The Mercado de Artesanías la Ciudadela is a very famous place where to get Mexican artisan crafts. You have a lot of options and tend to be cheaper than the art available in the other stores though you won’t find museum quality pieces. Nevertheless, it is a great place to get Mexican textiles, embroidered shirts, Mexican blankets, morrales (bags), and so much more. Definitely check it out!
Address: Balderas S/N, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06040 Cuauhtémoc, CDMX, Mexico
Boutiques for more modern options
Carla Fernandez
High end Mexican designer with amazing clothes incorporating traditional textiles and embroidery in a very modern and chic way. Her mission on her page says the brand is “dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the textile legacy of indigenous and mestizo communities of Mexico.”
Address: Álvaro Obregón 200, Colonia Roma, 06700 Mexico City; and Marsella 72, Juárez, 06600 Mexico City.
La Hamaca y el Rebozo
This baby goods store handcrafts rebozos (baby carrying shawls), hamacas and baby clothes. They work closely with artisans in Campeche, Michoacán, Chihuahua, Puebla, Hidalgo, Merida, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Chiapas bringing traditional crafts into unique and modern creations.
Address: Amsterdam 171-PB, Hipodromo Condesa, 06100 CDMX.
Note: Closed on Saturdays.
taller Lu’um
This interior design store has amazing pieces by Mexican designers working closely with communities of artisans. They have statement pieces that are unique and would look amazing in your home!
Gabino Barreda 104, San Rafael,
06470 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Malte Taller
You know the amazing pewter tableware I found through the Secretaría de Turismo? It is made by none other than Malte Taller, an amazing collection by two sisters is a modern on the camping plates, cups, and cutlery you would take. These look amazing in a modern home and kitchen. I absolutely love mine!
Address: Mercado Roma, Queretaro 225, 06700 Ciudad de México, Roma Norte, Mexico
Where to Buy Food Souvenirs Mexico City
Food and alcohol are always a great option and some of the best Mexican souvenirs in Mexico City! Mexican food is one of my favorite foods in the world and a UNESCO Cultural Heritage, so taking back a bit of this heaven home is a great souvenir. Tequila and mezcal make great gifts or just for yourself. I never leave Mexico without some bars of traditional Mexican chocolate and Mexican snacks. These are my favorite shops to buy something great to enjoy back home.
Palacio de Hierro
Palacio de Hierro is a high end department store in Mexico. If you’re looking where to buy the best Mexican souvenirs in Mexico City, look no further than the “Palacio de los Palacios”, or the newly renovated Palacio de Hierro in Polanco. The entrance is filled with small high end boutiques that seem like a mall by itself but the food court is AMAZING! The food section has an extensive alcohol selection of lots of Mezcal and Tequila options, both the normal worldwide known, as well as more high quality products like Casa Dragones tequila or Pierde Almas mezcal. They have tastings often so don’t be shy. You can also find great Mexican wines here!
Address: Av. Moliere 222, Polanco, CdMx
Que Bo!
This incredible chocolatería by the master chocolatier Josera Castillo sells truffles, desserts, and chocolate pieces. Josera is recognized internationally for his amazing creations that are both colorful and aesthetically pleasing, as well as delicious! This is a great present or souvenir from the land where Cacao comes from.
They have a couple of locations.
Centro Histórico: Isabel la Católica 30 locales 15-16
Polanco: Julio Verne 104, local B
Mercado Roma: Querétaro 225, Col. Roma Norte, CDMX
Coyoacán: Cuauhtémoc 180, Col. Del Carmen Coyoacán, CDMX
Estado Natural
This, unlike the others, is a by the bulk company that sells everything from flour and monkfruit to snacks. Trust me on this one and get some snacks from an eco-friendly company. My absolute favorite are guayaba con chile (a bit spicy but so worth it), pasas con chocolate (chocolate covered raisins), and churritos con sal y limón. You can also buy some real Mexican vanilla to take home as a Mexican souvenir!
I regret only taking a couple of these to Rome, I finished them the first 3 days home and I am craving some spicy guayaba.
Check out these two out of 7 locations.
Roma Norte: Sinaloa 61D
Polanco: Isaac Newton 133
Dulcería de Celaya
If what you are craving is Mexican traditional candies – and not the modern chili ones – head over to this candy shop opened in 1874. They have all the basics plus seasonal specials like sugar skulls. My favorites are buñuelos, mazapán, ate, obleas con cajeta, and their chocolate! Yum!
The original location is in Centro Histórico (Cinco de Mayo 39) but they also have a new store in Colonia Roma (Orizaba 37).
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Thanks for sharing this! It’s a very interesting and informative list. In love with the Mexican motifs and the mention of local snacks, it left me craving to visit this country. Totally agree that the charm of souvenirs is only in the locally made products.
Yes, I always have some locally made souvenir from my travels adorning my home, but I love having parts of Mexico with me.
I LOVE all of the colourful homewares! They are totally my style and would fit in really well in my home!
I loven them too!!
So many great tips for souvenirs in Mexico City – thanks for the list!
Glad to help!
I am glad I stumbled into your post, it gives very useful information on where to go to buy ethical souvenirs that promote the local economy and cultural practices. It is always better to get an idea of where to go, rather than to run around on the last day of your visit and not finding what you are after. While Mexico City isn’t currently on my short term bucket list, I will definitely happen at some point and then I will make sure I come back here.
I understand, Mexico City is not always on people’s minds, but there is so much to see and do!