The Best of Santa Maria de la Ribera

5.0 (35 reviews) Mexico City, Mexico
Duration3h 30m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
Group sizeUp to 8 travelers

Overview

Santa María la Ribera, little known to most travelers, is a beautiful, 19th-century neighborhood of cafés and restaurants, plus traditional shops you’re starting to see less of in Mexico City. On this tour, you’ll visit the best places to eat in the area and you’ll learn the stories of the vendors and entrepreneurs who are shaping the modern character of this close-knit, artsy neighborhood. Some of the tour's highlights include visiting a working tamales factory that offers more than 20 varieties daily, strolling through the local market to see how a traditional city market looks and feels, popping into a neighborhood cooking school and restaurant that helps locals who may want to start their own food businesses. You'll also stop by a pulquería that’s drawn neighborhood residents for more than 100 years.

What's included

  • One agua fresca and one coffee or tea at the end of the tour
  • A generous taste of traditional Mexican pulque
  • One Mexican microbrew or Mezcal
  • As much food as you can eat (enough food for a large breakfast and lunch combined)
  • Transport to/from the meeting and end points of the tour
  • Souvenirs
  • Tip for your guide
  • Additional personal beverages, outside what’s included on the tour itinerary

What to expect

  1. Santa Maria la Ribera
    3h
    Santa María la Ribera was founded in the 1860’s, and it still retains its turn-of-the-century character. On this tour, designed by our expert culinary guide Nico Garcia, you’ll visit a range of local places that highlight just how special this neighborhood is.

    You’ll stop at a neat local garden, where you’ll make your own herb-infused Mexican salt. You’ll visit a working tamales factory that offers more than 20 varieties daily—a place we think supplies the best tamales in the city. Plus you’ll do a quick stroll through the local market, to see how a traditional city market looks and feels.

    You’ll pop into a neighborhood cooking school and restaurant that helps locals who may want to start their own food businesses. And you’ll stop by a hidden pulquería—a place with swinging saloon doors and no sign—that’s drawn neighborhood residents for more than 100 years, each imbibing the fermented Mexican beverage that traces its roots to prehispanic times.

    You’ll also see some of the landmarks that make Santa Maria la Ribera what it is, including a century-old geology museum. As a sweet treat, we’ll also try buñuelos, or crunchy, fried dough topped with sugar syrup.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Please meet us on the southside in front of the steps. Your guide will be wearing a blue Eat Mexico pin for identification.

End point

The tour ends at Estanquillo El 32, a family-run restaurant/store that sells a variety of products like craft beer, artisanal mezcal, coffee, honey, salsas and much more!

Additional information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

5.0 (35)
From
2,150.00 MXN per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
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