ECO TRAVELS IN MEXICO

Survey Says: Best of Oaxaca

MEXICO FORUM

Planeta.com conducted the 'Best of Oaxaca Survey' from October 2005-March 2006. There were 49 respondents.

PHOTO GALLERY: Oaxaca City Museums

THE BEST OF OAXACA

While 'best of' tends to be an overworked phrase -- 'lo mejor' prefaces up to a third of Oaxaca City businesses" -- this survey offered travelers and locals an opportunity to discuss the nuances of Oaxaca.

From piedrazos to tlayudas, the survey addressed specialized niches which makes Oaxaca unique.

Among the faves -- the Zocalo as a great place for live music, Noticias for a daily newspaper and Casa de Mezcal as the city's best cantina.

La Merced and 20 de Noviembre tied for best market.

There was no clear 'winner' for best mezcal, but most respondents agreed that the best tlayudas are available on Libres street.

Best place for a hot chocolate? Mayordomo, where the beverage is available hot or cold and you can buy a variety of chocolates.

The city's best view comes from Cerro Fortin's El Mirador and Observatorio.

ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE

Planeta.com will conduct a follow-up survey later in 2006.

Best place for live music? Mejor lugar para musica en vivo?

Zocalo - 59.5%
Nueva Babel - 14.3%
Tentacion - 11.9%
Other: Azucar, Temple - 7.7%

Best cantina?

Casa del Mezcal - 44.8%
Farola - 31%
Camino al Cielo - 13.8%
Other: La Suite, Titanic - 10.3%

Best market? Mejor mercado?

20 de Noviembre - 23.8%
La Merced - 23.8%
Pochote - 9.5%
Abastos - 21.4%
Other: Ocotlan, Tlacolula - 7.1%

Best piedrazo?

Corner of Alcalà y Matamoros - 32.5%
Conzatti Park - 15%
Outside the Trinidad de las Huertas Church - 25%
Popeyes - 10%
Olguita - 10%
Other: Any little miscelánea south Oaxaca - 7.5%

Best place for a hot chocolate? Mejor lugar para tomar un chocolate caliente?

Mayordomo Store - 41.9%
Benito Juárez Market - 23.3%
La Merced Market - 20.9%
Zocalo - 4.7%
Other: Cafe Alex, La Soledad - 14.3%

Best mezcal brand?

Other: Casa Oaxaca, Los Ancestros, Tobala, Oro de Oaxaca, Rey Zapoteco, Sinai - 37.1%
Alypus - 2.9%
Matateco - 11.4%
Danzantes - 22.9%
De la Vega - 5.7%
Santa Catarina de Minas - 20%

Best tlayuda?

Libres, entre Murguía y Morelos - 47.5%
Etla Market - 25%
Tule Market - 10%
Other: Doña Marta in Ocotlan in front of the Mercado, Zocalo, El Rosario - 17.5%

Best newspaper? Mejor diario?

Noticias - 59.6%
Imparcial - 25.5%
Other: None of the above, Marca - 14.9%

Best view of Oaxaca City? Mejor vista de la ciudad?

El Mirador (Cerro Fortin) - 31.3%
El Observatorio (Cerro Fortin) - 14.6%
Monte Albán - 25%
Hotel Victoria - 8.3%
San Felipe Mountain - 12.5%
Other: Top floor of Santo Domingo Cultural Center - 4.2%

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