Pino Suarez Mazatlan Market — Attraction in Sinaloa

Mazatlan has bragging rights for sure when comes to their Mercado. By far, Jose Maria Pino Suarez has the largest and the best prices in town for clothing, shoes and headgear next to Puerto Vallarta This place has been my favorite place to shop for almost anything. All here: fresh fruits, fruit drinks, vegetables and meats. This 2 level mercado also has little restaurants upstairs. Don’t expect fancy, but inexpensive and good food. During summer time, the place can get stuffy. Bathrooms are available too.

My personal favorite is the seafood cart guy outside of the Mercado. Ceviche tacos for 18 pesos! If you need your seafood fix, make it over to his cart. You may come back for more the next day! You will find his cart right across the street corner of Panama restaurant and the cathedral. My advice, make sure you make it out early if you’re planning to eat at the street carts as vendors only make food for the day, until it’s all sold out.

There are plenty of taco carts in and outside of the mercado, they are all over. My personal favorite are the hole in the wall taco stands (approximately 3 next to each other) outside of the mercado. Home made cooking, also inexpensive. Gotta try at least one, especially if you’re hungry. Can’t go wrong with tacos.

Lastly, when you’re thirsty, you must try their fresh fruit drinks (“frescas”) at the corners of the mercado. Tropico will definitely quench your thirst after all that walking and shopping.

If you don’t like shopping but your family and friends do, you can always sit and wait at the town square “plazita” a block away or sit inside the church and pray. You don’t have to be catholic to pray 😌

Pino Suarez...

Main market in the historic part of Mazatlán. It takes up a full city block. Their are many small stands and shops lining the outside; these range from juice stands and quick food stands to shops with tourist related goods. The ice cream shop at southwest corner is very good. The lower level of the western 1/3 inside, is mostly places with clothing, leather goods, and tourist related items. Over that, on the upper level are ten or so restaurants; try some for breakfast or a seafood lunch. The center 1/3 and eastern 1/3 inside, are packed with many fresh fruit and vegetable shops. There are also dairy and eggs shops. Meat and chicken shops are mostly on northern side, with fish stands all clustered in the northeast part. If you are staying in Mazatlán for more than a month, try as many different shops as you can. You will soon discover your favorite in each category. Most of the shop owners are helpful with tourists and expatriates whose Spanish is not great, but please be respectful...

Every city has to have a good local market and the main market in Mazatlan or Pino Suarez Market is the market to go to. Lots of action inside and out. Of course lots of fruit and vegetables. Meat, seafood and dry goods. And if you want to shop for that trinket or shirt to take home it is the place to go and you can have fun negotiating a little on the price. Also on the second floor there are washrooms and small restaurants serving very inexpensive Sinaloan meals which I would highly recommend you try. There are other smaller food counters downstairs and outside on the street. All safe and great to sit with some locals and order something you wouldn't ordinarily order. Put on your big smile and try your Spanish while ordering your lunch. The only reason I don't give it five stars is there is no place to get a beer or wine with lunch....