Sunday in Mexico City’s La Lagunilla
If you are looking for something to do on a Sunday in Mexico City, there are few places that capture the essence of Mexico City better than, La Lagunilla.
What is Lagunilla?
Lagunilla is a Tianguis in El Barrio de Lagunilla in Mexico City. Tianguis are street markets. The word Tianguis is not Spanish. It is uniquely Mexican and it comes from the Aztec language that predates the Spanish Conquest.
Tianguis are both functional and cultural. Functionally tianguis are where Mexicans go to buy food and to buy household items as well. I really should write an entire blog post about Tianguis because there is so much cool stuff that goes on there.
Some tianguis focus more on Food, some more on functional clothes, some more on vintage clothes, antiques and art, some focus more on affordable home goods.
Living in Mexico City is a game of keeping track of which Tianguis you need and when they take place. If you need to buy a basket, you need to go to such and such Tianguis on a Saturday and you will find all the baskets you can imagine.
The Tianguis at La Lagunilla is probably the most noutorious Tianguis in Mexico City. It is the least functional and the most cultural. It is the coolest one in town and for that reason, many people make the long trip across the city to come to La Lagunilla to be with friends and have a great time.
What do you do at La Lagunilla
La Lagunilla is a prefered Sunday destination to go to with friends after sleeping in on a Sunday. You can eat, drink beers (Micheladas), shop to your hearts content, and people watch. There are some improvised green areas with trees to sit under and relax.
After you walk around in La Lagunilla I have some follow activities in the neighborhood to complete your afternoon.
What time Does Lagunilla Open
The lagunilla cultural street market takes place on Sundays only. People begin setting up between 9 and 10AM but things don’t get busy with people watching until 1 or 2 in the afternoon.
When I am going to shop I like to get there around 1:00 in the afternoon so I can avoid the crowds and so that nobody beats me to the good stuff.
Most will arrive between 2:00 and 3:00.
The worst part of La Lagunilla is that it closes at 6PM sharp. So that really doesn’t allow for much time if you’re getting there at 2 or 3, but that’s the way it is.
If you ask me, 6:00 PM is way too early for them to close. It is so absurd when that time arrives and dozens of neighborhood cops begin shewing hundreds of people out.
What to wear to lagunilla?
People dress to impress at La Lagunilla. But anything goes. It will probably be hot when you get there so you’ll be tempted to wear short sleeves. If you’re going in the summer it’s a good idea to bring an umbrella or raincoat because you’ll be there at the time of day when summer rain showers are most likely.
How do I get to La Lagunilla
Metro: Exit the metro at the Lagunilla/Garibaldi Station. Important!!! There is another station called Lagunilla. Make sure you get off at the Lagunilla/Garibaldi station. This is important. The other station is not safe. This is not a mistake you want to make.
Uber: Take Uber to Jardin de Lagunilla. This is the best place to start your Lagunilla Experience
The Market Tianguis
The Tianguis Lagunilla is a street market that takes place on Sundays in Barrio Lagunilla in Mexico City.
Most of the Market is Located on Calle Comonfort between the Monument of Cuitláhuac and Eje 1.
Clothes
Vintage fashions are big in Mexico City. I write about Calle Colima in Roma Norte, as being a reliable vintage vintage destination, 7 days a week, but La Lagunilla is the most famous destination for Thrifters and Vintage Lovers.
The clothes are so fun and very inexpensive.
The spirit of entrepreneurship is alive at La Lagunilla. Sometimes I think this spirit has been lost in the United States, where clothes have long been purchased in Malls and through Amazon.com.
At Lagunilla you can form relationships with your favorite clothes buyers and sellers. Usually these people share your taste in more than fashion and you can become friends.
This is why Lagunilla is a social destination as well as a commercial one.
Antiques
Even if you’re not an antiques buff, I guarantee you’ll love the cool stuff on display here at this Tianguis.
Jewelry makes for great souvenirs and if you’re an expat living in Mexico, you’ll find so much cool stuff to personalize your apartment.
Food
There is so much food at La Lagunilla. Some of it is very Mexican and a lot of it is more experimental.
As I mentioned in the vintage clothing section, Lagunilla is a place for creative entrepreneurs to find their fans.
So many creative concepts pop up here. Some have staying power and others don’t.
Micheladas
So if you haven’t discovered Micheladas yet, they are beer with tomato juice and other liquid seasonings such as Worstschire Sauce, lime juice, and other local seasonings. They are served in large cups with a sweet, sticky, chili sauce surrounding the rim, that is then covered in candied sesame seeds.
Most gringos gasp when they hear the ingredients. I was skeptical at first but I later found that they are a refreshing way to enjoy a hot day.
For most people, Lagunilla and Micheladas go hand in hand.
Community
More than any other tianguis in Mexico City, Lagunilla is about community. the majority of people here come to feel a part of something. It is a wonderful way to connect to Mexico City or learn about it if you are new.
Tepito
Barrio Lagunilla has a famous next door neighbor, el barrio Tepito. Tepito is notoriously the most dangerous barrio in Mexico City. Some locals do not go to La Lagunilla becasue of its proximity to Tepito.
I argue that most go becasue of its proximity to Tepito. Mexico City is proud of its grit. Even the Mexicans who are not from the barrio enjoy coming to Lagunilla, on Sundays, where you can be so close to Tepito yet still in a relatively safe environment with lots of people surrounding you.
A trip to La Lagunilla is a counter cultural experience that you will never forget. Being so close to Tepito is part of it all.
Park by Monumento a Cuitláhuac
This isn’t really a park as much as it is a traffic circle. All of la Lagunilla is very improvised but it comes together beautifully and gives a very counter cultural vibe.
Very Mexico City!
INBA Galería José María Velasco
This gallery is located on the border of La Lagunilla and Tepito. Still squarely in the safer part of town, on Sundays.
They feature urban artists from the neighborhood and also a large proportion of queer artists.
It’s always a treat to see what they have on display.
INBA is a federal government organization that supports the arts in Mexico. It is very well funded and does an enormous amount of programming in Mexico City.
INBA is probably one of the principal reasons Mexico City is a global cultural destination. Although tourism is really not on their radar. INBA is genuinely interested in promoting the arts and supporting local artists for the benefit of Mexico. Nada mas.
Tlateloco
Tlateloco is a famous planned community that was built in the 1960s. It was built beside of an archeological ruin of one of the largest temples of ancient Tenochitlán.
Plaza de Las Tres Culturas
Together the ancient component, the Spanish Church, and the residential planned community make up La Plaza de las Tres Culturas.
This plaza is a lively plaza where people gather and hang out on Sundays. It is a great stop after La Lagunilla.
I think Tlateloco and La Lagunilla go well together. Tlateloco is a site with a lot of Mexican History. Most noutorious was the massacre before the 1968 olympics. This historical event is documented well in the Netflix Series Un Extraño Amigo. The series is a short miniseries and it documents the events leading up to the massacre, as well as the culture of Mexico City in this time period.
This series is great to watch before your trip to Mexico City, or after.
The ancient temple was torn down and reconstructed into a massive Catholic Church and convent that still stand today.
Jardin de Santiago
A beautiful park on the way from La Lagunilla to Tlateloco.
