Mercado San Pedro Zacatenco

The Mercado San Pedro Zacatenco is, perhaps surprisingly, a rather upscale neighborhood market. In the ancient town of Zacatenco, even some long-time City residents are surprised that there’s as much here as there is. The town is most famous perhaps, for having donated much of its territory to the giant National Polytechnic University (IPN), just to the west. And for most Mexico City residents, Zacatenco will always mean, simply, that campus.

But the town of San Pedro is a lot more sedate. Commuting students will hardly stop here, and its colonial era history as a satelite of the Basilica is largely forgotten. But don’t let that stop you. As the commercial and, to some extent cultural, center of the town, the market is a lively place.

Vendors here always include a number of eateries. Some of these have been specializing in famous dishes going back decades. For international travelers, it will be a welcome relief from street food and restaurant food. Meals are more affordable and, perhaps obviously, healthier too. Prepared food is, after all, cooked using the freshest possible ingredients. You’re supporting small businesses and even farmer.

The Mercado San Pedro Zacatenco is perhaps an 8-minute walk from the San Pedro Apóstol church. The very center of town is somewhere between these two important points.  It’s roughly equidistant to the eastern edge of the IPN Zacatenco campus.