Paulina y Jose
Paulina y Jose
Our Guide to Oaxaca
FOOD & DRINK
🥖 BOULENC (Jose's Favorite)
(Bakery/breakfast)
Order the molletes and add salsa macha to do it the Jose way! Paulina loves the granola & matcha-limonada.
You can also try Boulenc Pan y Cafe for a slightly different menu but the same great pastries. This location is in Jalatlaco, an art district where you can walk around and see beautiful murals like the one below! The last time we were in Oaxaca we went to Boulenc restaurants 3x in one visit!
🌽 LEVADURA DE OLLA (Paulina's Favorite)
(Oaxacan Cuisine)
A MUST! Focuses on cuisine from a particular part of Oaxaca, we loved everything we ate! They recently earned a well-deserved Michelin star, so make reservations early as it's a popular spot!
(Bakery/breakfast)
Our great place for an authentic Oaxacan breakfast and great pastries, but they also offer lunch and dinner too. At La Atoleria, you can try Atole, a traditional masa based drink, or the Cafe de Olla (made with Mexican ground coffee, cinnamon, + raw dark sugar)
(Oaxacan Cuisine)
Authentic Oaxacan food with rooftop views of the church and central square. A great spot for lunch or dinner and we recommend the desserts! Make sure to make a reservation.
(Oaxacan Cuisine)
Has always been one of our favorite restaurants and the cocktails are amazing! Received a Michelin star in 2024, and can now be harder to get into, so look into reservations.
WHERE TO SHOP
This is a hidden gem and tiny shop next to the market! This is where Paulina has found the best prices for tablecloths, hand woven pouches, etc. that all come from a village called Santo Tomas Jalieza that specializes in a particular textile style.
👔 VIAJANTE
Really cool guayaberas with hand embroidery!
This shop partners from artisans all over Oaxaca, so you can find a variety of different handmade goods like pottery, linens, and metal work. We recently loaded up on pottery here (see an example below).
From straw bags to detailed alebrijes, this market has the best prices for great Oaxacan crafts and textiles. It is also a food market where you can try a tlayuda, a traditional large scale Oaxacan tostada.
THINGS TO DO
The Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca is an ethnobotanical garden, designed by famed Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo. It is an example of Oaxaca’s unparalleled biodiversity and is meant to tell the region’s history via its plants. They offer a few tours a day through a tour company.
Spanish for “the water boils,” the Hierva el Agua is a set of natural travertine rock formations that have formed over thousands of years and resemble cascades of water. There are a number of small natural pools, as well as two large artificial pools, all set on the edge of the cliff. These falls are a 90-minute taxi from the city center.
Oaxaca's textile museum is set in a lovely restored colonial mansion in the city's historical center. The museum celebrates Oaxaca's rich and varied textile traditions and offers an overview of textiles from Oaxaca, Mexico, and the world.
