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Market · Mérida, Mérida
Mercado Principal de Mérida
Mérida's large market, on three floors: fruits, vegetables and Andean cheeses, glazed sweets called abrillantados, crafts in wool, leather and wood and, on the top floor, typical-food restaurants offering pisca andina and trout.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Mercado Principal de Mérida
The Mercado Principal of Mérida is the place to discover the food and crafts of the Venezuelan Andes in one building. It's located on the west side of the center, on avenida Las Américas, and is arranged on three floors around a central atrium.
On the ground floor are the stalls selling fruits, vegetables, herbs, Andean cheeses, coffee and flowers, with products that come down from the mountain slopes: strawberries, blackberries, potatoes of many colors, garlic and chives. The sweets have their own section: the abrillantados, small colorful figures made from milk and sugar, fig and guava sweets, and milk-based sweets.
The middle floor is the crafts floor: wool ponchos and hats, blankets, leather goods, baskets, ceramics, wooden saint figures and souvenirs. It's a good place to buy the warm clothing that will be useful on the cable car and in the páramo.
On the top floor are the popular restaurants, with long communal tables and Andean cooking: pisca andina (potato soup with milk, egg and cilantro), fried or garlic trout, wheat arepas, pastelitos and mountain fruit juices.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours, including lunch on the top floor.
Best time
In the morning, when the stalls are full and the products are fresh, or at lunchtime. The market usually closes in the mid-afternoon and has reduced hours on Sundays; check before you go.
How to get there
It's on avenida Las Américas, in the west of Mérida's center, about 1.5 km from Plaza Bolívar, a few minutes by taxi or a walk through downtown.
Tip
Have lunch on the top floor and try the pisca andina. Buy abrillantados sweets on the ground floor to take away and, if you don't already have one, a wool hat or poncho to take up on the cable car.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Mercado Principal de Mérida
What to buy at the Mercado Principal?
Glazed and fruit sweets, Andean cheeses, coffee, ponchos and wool hats, leather goods and wooden saint figures.
Can you have lunch at the market?
Yes, on the upper floor there are popular Andean eateries serving pisca andina, trout and wheat arepas.
Is the market open every day?
Generally, yes, with reduced hours on Sundays and closing mid-afternoon. Check before you go.