This place is huge!!!! Without a doubt you will be able to find a gift to bring back to any of your…read moreloved ones. Walking around was already a touristy attraction in itself. Find some artisanal goods here and be overwhelmed by the pressure of having options.

Can I tell you how badly I wanted to sit down at Mercado Hidalgo, a giant el cóctel de camarones in…read morefront of me, along with 100's of bottles of hot sauce? A modicum of caution kept me from doing so and only decreased my enjoyment of the place marginally. Mercado Hidalgo is that bustling market that sells pretty much every sort of (Mexico-adjacent) food one can imagine as well as a wide assortment of other things. It's picturesque, stimulating, and colorful and I'm not sure we have anything equivalent in the US. All the more reason to visit. I walked out with Mexican candy (a safe bet) and a brain full of images of this large place knowing that I'll settle - a bit sadly - for a state-side Shrimp Cocktail now that I'm back at home.

If a tourist center like San Miguel de Allende gathers its prototypical souvenir purveyors in one…read morespot, this would be the way to do it. The downside is that so many of the shops feel quite redundant that it's easy to bypass businesses when you know you'll see another shop selling basically the same things... magnets, masks, coasters, ashtrays, Virgin Mary plaques, you name it (Photo 8). There are two covered blocks of vendors after which we found ourselves in Mercado Ignacio Ramírez, a more open space featuring fresh produce, flower stalls, and fast local food stalls. It would've been more tempting to us if we didn't already have lunch at Jacques nearby (review: https://yelp.to/1eEKC6YG8X). Our walkthrough of the market was more of an Instagram op, which was just fine. RELATED - Exploring San Miguel de Allende? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/JAQyLB4YqU

It's kind of a must-see when in SMdA, and definitely worth the visit. It's huge, spanning a couple…read moreof blocks, but tbh, so much of the arts and crafts are really similar. It's a great place to shop for souvenirs and the people working the stalls are super friendly. There are a couple of good restaurants nearby and some require a wait, so the Mercado is a great place to walk around before your meal. Highly recommended for local color.