Santa Ana Market — Local services in Mérida

Came on a Sunday around 11am. Easy to find a parking spot right outside for free (not considering the tip for the gentleman). It was a bit overwhelming once the waiters began to yell very aggress for us to check out their menu and competing against each other. But it stopped as soon as I chose one of the many outstretched menus held out at us.

The waiter was very helpful and friendly. We chose FRUTI-LUNCH. The menu had a great variety plus nice fresh drinks. We ordered the tacos cochinita, panuchos cochinita, empanadas con carne y queso and one tamal. To drink, we ordered one litre each of mango agua fresca and a mix of mango and pineapple aguafresca. Every order was good and tasty and we were satisfied (2 adults and 2 children) for a total of $505pesos. I thought that was pretty good! We had a few people approach us at our table while waiting for our food and we welcomed it as we actually were interested in the items. One was selling hammocks, another handmade pine fans and another handmade bracelets. They were a bit pushy but budged easily and quickly on the prices. We got a beautiful hammock ($650 pesos) and a fan that smells so nice and is very pretty($100pesos). Sorry about the half eaten food photos, we couldn’t help but dig in before I got some snaps in!

That’s first part of our experience was great. The second was disappointing as we expected the place to be full of vendors but most were closed with only about five open.

And the bathroom visit was not great either. We had to pay $5pesos pp to use the washroom and they give you a little bit of paper and there are no toilet seats. So once I used the paper for my young one to sit on, there wasn’t enough for her #2! But we figured it out with some leftover napkins in my bag.

If I know that it gets busier on another day with all the vendors open, I would give it...

Very few people mention the fact that there is a market indoors here, open every day from 7 am until 2 pm, with produce stalls, a meat vendor, a tortillería (makes fresh corn tortillas, and also sells eggs), and several other stalls that sell miscellaneous spices, hot sauces, juices, etc. When I stay in the neighborhood just south of the restaurants on Calle 47, I come here for my fresh fruits and vegetables. It's easy to miss the entrances, but you should check it out. The marchantes are friendly, the quality is good, the variety is limited but typical. It's a small version of what you find at the Mercado de Santiago (my favorite market) or the wonderful, massive central market (Lucas de Gálvez). Given the scarcity of produce and grocery stores east and southeast of Santa Ana, this was a real...

Along most streets after 7:00 pm these energetic people pedal through if there is nice weather or not. The fresh goodies are worth running to the door for. The (pan) bread absolutely wonderful, soft, often oven warm and very economical. No need to go to the market and walk home in the heat.

Not usually delivered on Sunday or Monday nights in some zones. When you catch the delivery person ask what nights are available. Once they know you are interested they will often slow and honk the hand operated bicycle horn louder.

Please attempt to enjoy this home delivery service it is worth the effort.

For 12 years we have enjoyed many of the delivery people in a multitude of housing locations throughout...