Mercado Nativitas

The Mercado Nativitas is the main neighborhood market eastern Narvarte, and the surrounding neighborhoods on Eje Central. Importantly, across the avenue is the original settlement of Santa María Tepetlalzingo. It’s one of the ten original settlements in Benito Juárez. Today, it part of the colonia Niños Heroes de Chapultepec which dates from the early 20th century.

It’s the old town that lends its name to the market. The parish church, nearly visible from the front of the market, is Santa María de la Natividad Tepetlalzingo. In fact, Metro Nativitas, and the Colonia Nativitas, are roughly a 20-minute walk down the diagonal avenue Cumbres de Maltrata. The ancient island fishing village was probably smaller than this area. Still it gives an idea of the relative density of the population of the ancient Valley of Mexico. The Mercado de la Postal is a little closer at about 8-minutes walk.  But the popular Narvarte Metros, Eugenia and Etiopia are each about an 18-minute walk across the neighborhood.

Today’s Mercado Nativitas serves residents from all of these areas. Smaller eateries and independent businesses offer ready-cooked meals. And they make up the obvious choice for travelers. Food is fresh, cause cooks never have a reason to store food. It’s also better for you and supports smaller businesses and farmers from across the region.

• We put together a quick guide to eating at the market, here.