Turning 40 is the new reason to go on vacation. For his 40th, my friend Ron (a frequent travel partner of mine!) organized a group trip to Oaxaca, Mexico in southwest Mexico. We wandered, explored, ate, and sampled all the mezcal. I couldn’t recommend it more as a vacation spot! The city of Oaxaca is walkable, accessible, and rich in culture. From local street fare to local artwork to Mesoamerican historical sites, there isn’t anyone who won’t love an Oaxacan travel adventure.
Where To Stay:
Casa De Las Bugambilias: This utterly charming bed and breakfast are one of the most lovely places to stay for a group trip to Oaxaca. Decorated with local art and located just a few blocks from the main part of town, this ten-bedroom abode is your perfect lodging option when embarking on your Oaxacan travel adventure. In addition to cozy rooms, every morning you will enjoy a seated, two-course breakfast indoors or on the venue’s delightful patio. From fresh fruit to fragrant baked bread and local eggs, beans, and plantains, the breakfast alone is reason enough to stay Case de las Bugambilias!
Where To Eat and Drink:
Part of your Oaxacan travel adventure entails indulging in delicious local Mexican food. We experienced both fine dining and affordable options and loved them all. Having the variety is perfect to keep everybody happy during a group trip to Oaxaca.
Origen Oaxaca: For an upscale dinner of local Oaxacan fare, Origen is your spot. We sampled a silky local pumpkin soup, huitlacoche (corn truffle) tostadas, fresh tortillas, mole negro, and even a decadent risotto made with Mexican rice. The service is dynamite, the presentation is gorgeous and I highly recommend the wine pairing.
Criollo: Opened by the famed Enrique Olvera of Pujol, Criollo is a beautiful Oaxacan dining option, with an enchanting outdoor seating area and a creative and delicious tasting menu.
Casa Oaxaca El Restaurante: This was perhaps my favorite restaurant of my group trip to Oaxaca. We dined on the rooftop patio under strung lights, with plenty of delicious tequila and mezcal cocktails. Standout dishes included salsa with tostadas, squash blossoms stuffed with cheese, cactus lasagna, green mole, and rose ice cream.
Street snacks: Oaxaca has a huge street snack culture. As you wander around the city, be sure to stop and grab a tlayuda, a traditional Oaxacan dish made with a crunchy fried tortilla smothered with a spread of refried beans, lettuce, avocado, and Oaxaca cheese, and salsa. You will be addicted after the first one! Other street snack highlights include fresh mango with salt and lime, cucumber juice, and memelas are fried masa cakes made of masa topped with different fresh ingredients like avocado or cheese.
Sabina Sabe: We loved the mezcal cocktails at this adorable bar, which specializes in the use of mezcal. Try the mezcal, cucumber, ginger beer, and hoja de santa (a native Mexican herb) beverage – it was heavenly – or the mezcal bloody mary.
What To Do:
• Walk around the Zocalo: The Zocalo is the main city center, where there are plenty of monuments, food carts, and more importantly patio bars for day drinking. We admired the buildings, listened to local musicians, and sampled tacos, tlayudas, and juices of all different flavors.
• Visit the Museo Nacional de las Culturas: This famous Oaxacan museum is dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of world cultures, and has room after room of international artifacts. The museum is housed in a colonial-era building, and the cactus-filled botanical garden is the perfect backdrop for photos.
• Go Mezcal tasting in Santiago Matatlán: This is a must for your group trip to Oaxaca. We visited the Dainzu mezcal distillery, where we sampled mezcals that had been aged for various amounts of time. Hire a driver to take you – you don’t want to be driving after this adventure!
• Visit the Mercado Tlacolula de Matamoros: This massive Sunday market has all the goods you can imagine. Salsas, fresh juices, candles, plants, cheese, tacos, beer, and everything in between. Take your appetite!
• Explore Mitla the Mesoamerican archaeological site: Mitla was the main religious center of the Zapotec people, a Mesoamerican people of the classic period. The site consists of a series of stone buildings covered with geometric designs, murals, and mosaic fretwork. It is quite the sight to see, even if you aren’t a history buff.
The Verdict
Oaxaca is a foodie lovers’ dream. Visit with friends or a significant other, either way, you will have a memorable (and delicious!) Oaxacan travel adventure. Going on a group trip to Oaxaca with great friends was a great way to ring in a milestone birthday!
