Mercado Bugambilia

Photos: Alcaldía Cuauhtémoc

The Mercado Bugambilia is often thought of as the other public market in Santa María La Ribera. In fact, the Bugambilia market dates to nearly as early as the Dalia Market, and the rest of the neighborhood in the late 19th century. For most of that time, it was a mere street tianguis although it was nearly always in about the same place. The permanent quarters we see today date from about 1947, a good ten years before the boom in Mexico City public markets construction.

In a complicated corner of Santa María, it’s not difficult to imagine that it was once of much more importance to the western end of Tlatelolco. The San Miguel Arcángel church is just across this nearly impassable stretch of Insurgentes Norte. The church atrium stretched nearly to the edge of the market when Tlatelolco was a train yard, and the community in Santa María worked the trains and the factories to the north.

Named for the street outside, the Mercado Bugambilia still attracts lunch-time enthusiasts. That’s because a couple of comida corrida-type fondas here still compete to sell the area’s most affordable and thoughtful lunches. Food is always fresh, and it’s better for you than what you’ll get from fixed restaurants and eateries.

Though it appears on maps of the earliest maps of the City (prior to 1943, there were only some 23), the Bugambilia Market is not often cited for its lengthy history. Still, it’s a classic neighborhood market, and something of a community center.

Hours: daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.