An amazing maze of stalls filled with foods and goods. And of course, Doña Vale’s spot. So good. Saw the episode on Netflix and had to stop by. The food and hot chocolate are the best I’ve had in Oaxaca. Maybe in all of Mexico. Going here for breakfast every day until I leave. So many people are saying this Mercado is “dangerous” but it’s not at all. I kind of like the rumor though. Makes it so that only the worthy, and those who have courage, enjoy Doña Vale’s amazing creations. But the truth is, the market is fine, at least in the mornings.

The reviews on the Central de Abastos are very biased & inaccurate. Unless you're a foreigner that prefers only curated experiences, then there is absolutely nothing about Central de Abastos that should even be remotely scary or cause concern. Anyone coming dressed in their finest, flashing cash & jewelry, whether local or foreigner, will attract attention like they would in any similar market or crowded commercial area anywhere in the world. The market is teeming with fresh produce, meat as well as a variety of products which both locals and tourists would appreciate. The main audience for the merchants are locals and the prices on offer reflect that. Definitely go for a visit. Be mindful of your surroundings. And enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of a public market in Oaxaca.

This is an intense Marketplace. It is the place where locals go for many things and where you can experience a genuine version of life. There's every possible thing under the sun for sale and the people there work very hard and it is interesting to see this. I have to recommend this as a must see if you happen to be visiting Oaxaca. It is easy enough to get to. And there are many taxis and it is better to go almost in the evening so that the sun is not welding down upon you. We were there for a couple of hours and really only did not even scratch the surface.

Massive, magical and mad market. I loved walking around and getting lost in all the sights, sounds and smells and trying random food and buying random things. I went relatively early during the day on a weekday so it wasn't very crowded but was very lively. If you're looking for a clean, slick market with nice signs and where everything makes sense, you're in the wrong place. If you're ready to give yourself in to a fun experience and see lots of hardworking and beautiful people along the way, this is the place. I see some people have been robbed here, and that's sad and awful, and an unfortunate hazard of any crowded market pretty much anywhere in the world. Just speaking for myself, I felt very safe - just try your best to blend in and not look like a super obvious tourist

The place is huge way too much to see in just a day, even with the covid-19 the place was still plenty busy and at least 90% of the people were in their Mass properly.

Not sure how to rate this. 5 stars for what it is, 4 stars for the experience as a tourist. I wouldn't call this a tourist area. The area of town itself is very local and the market can be sketchy. Parking is paid in the lot. There's no running water in the market, so I wouldn't suggest eating at the small comedors. Those painted yellow chickens you walked past, those are in the stew and tacos. That said, there are great deals on local cheeses, moles, breads and tortillas. It's way more local and less artisanal. There are leathers, belts shoes and clothes, but at more reasonable prices. Most businesses are not haggling, the price is the price.

Great selection. Bought what is arguably the best hammock in the world. Also found an excellent handcrafted leather scabbard for my machete. Got my machete sharpened while I grabbed a bunch of food. Unfortunately was also the victim of a pick pocket, nothing serious, just a few pesos and a key chain.

This is a huge authentic local market. However if you are expecting, cleanliness, organized sign posted areas etc, then this isn't for you. Without doubt there were times where I didn't feel 100% safe, however be sensible. Don't have your phone on display, don't look like a lost tourist, walk with purpose and you will be fine!

Great big market but not too organized like others. Also many similar stalls placed together so lacks competition. Fresher fruits on the outside of the mercado. Parking is easy but tons of construction. We were trying to find Dona Vela but her stall wasn’t opened. We hope she is doing today.

This is purely based on my experience and not the market itself. Please be careful here. I walked over from Centro and noticed the area did seem a bit sketchy. Before I even walked into the market, I felt someone pull my ears from behind and when I turned around a man was running away. He had pulled off my small gold hoop earrings which weren’t flashy at all. The entire experience left me shaken and I ran out of that area ASAP without stepping foot into the actual market.

Huge market place. Real local experience if this is what you are looking for.

A MUST VISIT shopping center for all things local. Whether delicious authentic Oaxacan food to sit down and eat, grocery items like fresh fruits & vegetables, meat, baked goods, moles, edible insects (try it) or items like baskets, rugs, shoes, souvenir's and so much more, you're going to find it here! This is where locals shop. It gets super crowded so go early in the day when it is less crowded and well lit. I hear at night it can be darkish, so probably better to visit during the day. Also bring pesos instead of other currency because most only take cash in pesos and are not set up for credit cards. As always follow common sense safety by keeping wallets tucked inside clothing and hold your packs in front of you instead of in back which is easy for common thieves to pilfer from.

Greatest market in town, can litteraly find anything you need for a cheap price! Dont bring valuables with you tho !

It is a huge market with most items divided into departments. Great food to be found everywhere

Love walking around and finding people who love their product. Like any Abastos you need to be aware of your surroundings, but we had no issues and loved our time exploring, buying and eating.

It's an adventure. You'll find just about anything but it takes exploring. There are sections for food, plastic, clay, leather, furniture, plastic and more. The ground is uneven and often wet. Unless you're experienced with the food stalls, don't recommend you eat here.

This market was way better than the ones in the city center. Bigger, more selection, better prices and cleaner. Not sure why this place has such low reviews.

FROM A TOURISTS PERSPECTIVE: walked here from Zocalo to get some famous memelas. The walk slowly gets sketchier and sketchier, to the point where I honestly didn't feel totally safe at the market. Trying to find Dona Valle's stall was pretty difficult in this maze-like market, especially because every time i pulled out my cell phone to double check directions I felt a million pair of eyes on me instantly. It wound up being unexpectedly closed when we got there, so overall NOT worth it. For locals, it seemed like it would be a great place to pick up fresh fruit and meat, but for tourists I would recommend skipping this one.

After reading several scary reviews, I was extremely wary of coming here but I really wanted to try Doña Vale's memelas and to see how this market differed (if any) from the other markets downtown. I walked to the market on a Monday morning, dressed average, travelled light, kept everything in my front pockets, and was always discrete about pulling out my phone (whether to take photos or look up directions). In the end, I had a positive experience and really enjoyed the market. I found quality, harder-to-find chilis at a great price. The overall selection is amazing and the prices are very good. Stay aware and be safe!

This market is 6x the size of Benito Juárez/20 de noviembre and basically all local people—no tourists other than us. The prices were lower as well. Getting there as well as finding your way in the market is a lot, though I think it was worth it. I felt nervous at times but I’m glad that we went, it was a worthwhile experience and very stimulating. The reviews here saying it is super sketchy are not in line with what I experienced.