Oaxaca, Mexico Review: The Pros and Cons

Oaxaca had been whispering my name for a while with stories about creative artists, foodie hot spots, and vibrant colors that beg to be photographed. On paper, this celebrated UNESCO World Heritage site looked like the full package. I was excited to see what all the hype was about.

A Oaxacan street with intricately designed, lavender and white flags (papel picado) fluttering overhead

First Impressions

It started with the heat.

The second we stepped off the plane it was like entering a convection oven. The sun was trying to melt us, but I was trying to be cool about it (pun fully intended). I held out hope that the tarmac was exaggerating things. The moment Tammi said something about the temp, that hope was dashed.

Still, we were determined not to let the heat ruin our adventure. We set off to explore.

A mural of a young woman with a keyhole in her forehead, smiling beneath a halo of words on a bright yellow wall

Enter Expendio Tradición, our first mezcal, our first meal, our first full-body “yes.” By the time the chocolate cake soaked in mezcal syrup hit the table, everything felt right again. Food really does fix things for me. And Oaxaca clearly understood the way to my heart is through my palate.

Two mezcal cocktails on a rustic table, Tammi’s hands in the background, waiting to grab hers.

White fish in a banana leaf with grilled vegetables over a tomato sauce, topped with microgreens

The Pros

A massage therapist providing a traditional mezcal and herb massage — Photo by Copalli Masajes – Oaxaca

Unique Massages

We jumped at the chance to get rubbed down with mezcal and herbs at Copalli Masajes – Oaxaca. If you get an opportunity to try this traditional massage, you won’t regret it.

Foodie Heaven

Oaxaca’s reputation as a foodie destination is 100% deserved. While the heat may have challenged our stamina, the food gave us every reason to rally. We ate like curious queens.

Food Tour Euphoria

Oaxaca Eats: We went in expecting polite bites and a history nugget or two. What we got was full-sized portions of bold, beautiful, mind-blowingly delicious dishes. Get ready for mole, mezcal, grasshoppers (yes, really), and more.

Our guide, Diana, made our day. She introduced us to tejate (a traditional drink that’s literally mixed by hand), crunchy chapulines (aka grasshoppers), several different moles, and more. Part storyteller, part food fairy, she tied it all together with ease.

This tour overdelivers in the best way possible. Not everything was boundary pushing, but all were delightful. Take it hungry, leave satisfied.

Tostadas topped with crunchy Chapulines (grasshoppers), ready for adventurous palates. — Tejate, a Mexican drink that’s literally mixed by hand. Screenshot from “Tlacolula Market, The Oldest & Best In Oaxaca” by The Yarbros on YouTube.

Three mole sauces on a triangular cutting board with the tour guide’s hands mid-explanation — Tejate, a Mexican drink that’s literally mixed by hand. Screenshot from “Tlacolula Market, The Oldest & Best In Oaxaca” by The Yarbros on YouTube.

7 Moles + 7 Mezcales: We wrapped up the week with a mole and mezcal pairings experience at Los Pacos. and I would’ve happily adopted the entire staff. The experience was a journey. Each mole had its own personality, thoughtfully paired with a mezcal. It started out lovely and simple, then just kept building. By the time I got to pairing #4, I asked our host’s mother if I could move in with the family.

But what really made this experience special was the warmth of the people. Meeting the abuelita—who still checks in on the kitchen—was the cherry on top. You’re not just having a meal here; you’re being welcomed into something that feels personal and cultural and full of heart.

Sorry, I was too busy eating to get good photos.

A curated flight of seven mezcales, lined up on a wooden board

The Cons

The Heat 🔥

Constant sweating made exploration feel like a workout I didn’t sign up for. And while the city was lovely, we had to fight the weather just to enjoy it. Honestly, one day the heat won and we opted to stay inside.

Rideshare Wrinkles

We found it inconvenient that OAX used DiDi as it’s rideshare app. Neither of us wanted to download yet another app for a six-day trip. Luckily, most of the places we wanted to go were within walking distance anyway. The few times we needed a ride, it was back to good ol’ fashioned taxis. (Pro tip: ask the price before you get in.)

Michelin Letdown

We only had one partially-disappointing experience with a Michelin-acknowledged restaurant. I had been so excited to finally eat at a Michelin-associated restaurant. Perhaps I built it up too much in my head. Tammi enjoyed her meal and was literally moaning orgasmically as she ate her meal. Meanwhile, my octopus was… Meh. Beautiful but underwhelming.

A beautifully plated octopus dish — a swirl of tentacles and a side of slaw. — Pretty on the plate, Meh in the mouth.

✨Final Thoughts

Oaxaca tried to seduce us into ignoring its scorching temperatures with massages, moles and mezcales. No doubt, Oaxaca stirred up our senses… but our bodies wanted less sweat.

I loved visiting Oaxaca. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I live there? Not unless someone invents wearable air conditioning and magically sends a new housemate to share the dream. (And if you missed the plot twist, here’s the backstory on Tammi and her mid-relocation pivot).

A fallen mezcal popsicle melting on stone steps, with text overlay: “No sense crying over a dropped mezcal popsicle.”

📝 Where is your food city? Drop a comment—I’d love to add a new place to my bucket list.

Oaxaca, Mexico Review: The Pros and Cons

First Impressions