Delicious local breakfast at Casa Carmen Morelos in Oaxaca Mexico

6 Day Oaxaca Itinerary from a Foodie Traveler

by Nichole | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 | Mexico Itinerary

My husband and I fell hard for Oaxaca. I first learned of this Mexican state after watching Chef Rick Bayliss learn how to make mole in Oaxaca. It quickly became top on our list of foodie cities to check out. We started our trip with 7 amazing days in Mexico City. Then we flew to Oaxaca and had 6 days to explore including local markets, mezcal tastings, cooking classes, top cocktail bars, Michelin-starred restaurants, hikes, and amazing shopping. Yep, we did it all and plan trips down to the hour. Here’s my exact Oaxaca foodie itinerary from an ultra-planner!

* Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are from first-hand experience that I feel will deliver value to you! Thank you for your continued support.

FOLLOW & SHARE WITH A FRIEND!

Enjoying unique cocktails at Selva in Oaxaca Mexico

\

Day 1: Travel Day + Selva + Los Danzantes

Breakfast at our favorite Mexico City hotel followed by a 12:10 pm flight from Mexico City (MEX) to Oaxaca (OAX). Arrived at 1:35 pm.

Our Oaxaca hotel arranged airport transport with a friendly driver.

2:30 pm: Checked in and were ready to explore an hour later. First stop was to check out the beautiful Santo Domingo church followed by a delicious pick-me-up latte at Cafeto & Baristas. Quaint coffee shop with great specialty coffee and friendly service.

6 pm: Enjoyed some of the most unique cocktails I’ve ever had at Selva! Killer view over the street if you can be seated on the balcony.

7:30 pm Dinner: Romantic dinner at Los Danzantes, who just received 1 Michelin star. Order the Mole Appetizer to try 5 moles!

Overnight: Casa Carmen Morelos (book the Sin Ti Nunca room)

\

Day 2: Mezcal Tasting + Casa Oaxaca

8:30 am: Delicious hearty Oaxacan breakfast at our hotel (you’ll need it before the mezcal tour!). Order the house specialty, chilaquiles.

9 am – 4:30 pm: Super fun day! We went on a mezcal tour with Mezcal Educational Tours. We visited 3 distilleries, tried pulque, and had the chance to meet the local palenqueros. Very local experience. Highly recommended and was one of our favorite Oaxacan activities!

Local lunch on the tour

7 pm: Dinner at Casa Oaxaca El Restaurante, which is run by famous Chef Alejandro Ruiz. He helped put Oaxacan cuisine on the map. Great Mexican wine selection. Request to sit on the rooftop for great views! Wonderful ambiance.

Overnight: Casa Carmen Morelos

Grinding some of our mole ingredients on a metate in Oaxaca

\

Day 3: Cooking with Mimi + Bar Crawl + Tacos

9:15 am: Delicious local breakfast at our hotel.

10 am – 3:30 pm: Do not miss the best cooking class in Oaxaca with the incredibly engaging and witty Chef Mimi. You’ll learn to make salsa, mole, tamales, and tortillas! And a little mezcal to go around, which makes for a super fun time.

4:30 pm: We were in a food coma after all that food, so we stopped at Sagrado Filemón for an expertly made latte to perk back up.

7 pm: Went on a fun bar crawl. First up was more mezcal tastings at El Cortijo Mezcaleria. Very educational and super friendly staff. If you don’t take a mezcal tour, this is another great way to learn about it.

8:30 pm Cocktails/Dinner: Kept the good times going and stopped in for expertly made cocktails and tacos at El Techo. Perfect pairing.

Overnight: Casa Carmen Morelos

Walking around the pools at Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca Mexico

\

Day 4: Hierve el Agua + Cocktails

7 am – 4:30 pm: Early start and a long day, but it will be worth it. We booked an incredible tour to visit Hierve el Agua, run by the adorable couple Lupita & Beto. These petrified waterfalls are stunning. The tour also included a local lunch at the Tllacolula Market, an Oaxacan rug weaving demonstration, and a delicious ice cream stop.

4:45 pm: Strolled through the colorful town of Jalatlaco which used to be a Zapotec village and is now home to talented artisans.

5:30 pm: Another delicious latte pick-me-up at Cafeto Cacao.

7:30 pm: Enjoyed tlayudas in a charming courtyard at the appropriately named, Tlayudas Las Ánimas.

8:15 pm: More amazing unique cocktails at Sabina Sabe.

Overnight: Casa Carmen Morelos

Mole Trilogy at Las Quince Letras in Oaxaca

\

Day 5: Two Michelin Restaurants + Shopping

10:30 am: Another fantastic local breakfast at our hotel.

11:30 am: We had a nice leisurely day to stroll through the beautiful city center. I purchased a really cool print by a local artist at this art studio, a gorgeous handmade embroidered dress, and handcrafted ceramic espresso cups. The Oaxacan artisans are exceptional!

1 pm: Lunch at Las Quince Letras. They were awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand award! Tortillas are made by hand on the large comal in the restaurant’s center. Enjoyed a tart at the bakery, Boulenc, after.

6:30 pm: Pre-dinner cocktails (and a little more mezcal) at Mezcalogia.

7:30 pm: A fantastic meal on our final night at Levadura de Olla Restaurante, which just received 1-Michelin star!

Overnight: Casa Carmen Morelos

Enfrijoladas at breakfast at Casa Carmen Morelos in Oaxaca

\

Day 6: Fly Home

10 am: Leisurely breakfast at the hotel.

11:30 am: Arranged transport to the airport through the hotel.

2 pm: Flight back home.

\

Who Will Love This Oaxaca Itinerary

Foodies
City walkers
Art enthusiasts
Cocktail bar + mezcal lovers
Coffee geeks
Nature lovers

\

Best Time to Visit Oaxaca

If you look at this temperature and precipitation chart, the best time to visit Oaxaca is October/November. Temps are cooler and there’s much less rain. I’m not sure why U.S. News states April – May is the best time because that time period has more rain and is very hot.

We went at the end of November to maximize our PTO days around Thanksgiving and had fantastic comfortable weather. Remember the Day of the Dead is November 1st and 2nd, so expect a lot of crowds around that time. Plan accordingly.

\

Hotel

Casa Carmen Morelos (5 nights). Wonderful hotel!

Here are the best boutique hotels for couples in Oaxaca if you want more options.

CHECK BEST PRICE

\

Airlines

American Airlines

We flew with American Airlines connecting through Dallas from Oaxaca to home in the U.S. Total flight time + layover was 7 hours.
We flew from Mexico City (MEX) to Oaxaca (OAX) with Aeromexico. Flight time was 1 hr. 25 min.

\

How to Get Around

There is no way I would drive in Oaxaca City.

We walked everywhere in Oaxaca City. Transport to/from the airport was arranged through the hotel. No Uber.

\

Tours

Making Mole with Mimi Cooking Class

BOOK HERE

Hierve el Agua Tour

BOOK HERE

\

Dinner & Cocktail Reservations

Los Danzantes

BOOK HERE

Casa Oaxaca El Restaurante

BOOK HERE

Las Quince Letras

BOOK HERE

Levadura de Olla Restaurante

BOOK HERE

Selva Oaxaca Cocktail Bar

BOOK HERE

\

What I Would Have Changed

Oaxaca has so many incredible restaurants and mezcalerias! It was really hard to choose. We may have overdone it, but we loved every minute. You could certainly cut things out of this itinerary to make it more leisurely.

We love great food, but we also love getting outdoors. There was one bike tour I wish we had done on the last full day, but then I would have had to give up the fun shopping stroll.

I would have loved to have found more time for shopping. There are just so many shops selling beautiful Oaxacan textiles, pottery, and paintings. Next time I want to visit some of the art studios in Jalatlaco and stop in the Tienda Alebrijes Blas to purchase a brightly colored wood-crafted Mexican spirit animal.

I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky DIY discerning travel friend who dives deep—Google Page 20 deep—to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.

My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.

Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions—I’d love to hear from you!