Mercado Lázaro Cárdenas

Sometimes known as the Del Valle Market, the Mercado Lázaro Cárdenas opened in 1956. Today’s market is a long way off, with the standard variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and prepared foods. But it’s also moved in the direction of the wider neighborhood, and always needing to compete, recent additions are far more gourmet. The Cafe Passmar does a fair amount of trade in the coffee and expresso business, but international visitors will also get their share of truly fine fondas.

Look for daily menus, “comida corrida,” and expect a fair amount of truly exceptional food.  The market organizes a Grand Christmas Bazaar every December. Sales of piñatas, hay for the Nativity, and fruit for the traditional punch join plenty of Christmas trees.

The Mercado Lázaro Cárdenas serves the broader Del Valle neighborhood as well as most of what’s sometimes called “Narvalle,” including Narvarte Poiente, and could even be extended to include Nápoles just on the other side of Avenida Insurgentes.

Check in before lunch time and carefully inspect what people are eating at the most popular (crowded) fondas, and you’ll experience a memorable lunch, and still have time to pick up some fruit or similar fare for tonight and even for tomorrow morning.