Mexicaltzingo, Guadalajara: A Neighborhood Guide

Mexicaltzingo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhoods in Guadalajara, a 10-minute walk from the Historic Center and 5 minutes by car from Zona Chapultepec. It is residential and quiet at night, with specialty coffee shops, craft workshops and its own market, and it offers the best balance of location and price in the city.

Street in the Mexicaltzingo neighborhood, Guadalajara

Mexicaltzingo is a historic neighborhood just south of downtown Guadalajara. The name comes from Nahuatl and the settlement predates the modern city, which makes it one of the oldest neighborhoods still lived in. Unlike other historic districts, it never turned into a tourist area, so it kept its own life.

Where it is and how far everything is

DestinationDistanceHow
Historic Center and Cathedral10 minutesWalking
Zona Chapultepec5 minutesBy car
San Juan de Dios Market10 minutesBy car
Tlaquepaque15 minutesBy car
International Airport (GDL)20 minutesBy car, ~$200 MXN in an Uber
Tequila (Pueblo Mágico)1 hourBy car

What it feels like

It is a residential neighborhood: people who live there, walk the dog, go to the market. At night it is quiet for the simplest reason, which is that the people who live there go to bed. That is a different silence from an empty commercial district, and it is exactly the one you want if you work in the morning or if you are staying more than a few days.

Facades in the Mexicaltzingo neighborhood, Guadalajara
Mexicaltzingo mixes traditional architecture with a newer scene of coffee shops and workshops.

What is in the neighborhood

  • Mexicaltzingo Market: a neighborhood market with food stalls, fruit and local Tapatío cooking.
  • Specialty coffee shops: a small but serious scene, without tourist-zone prices.
  • Craft workshops: carpentry, ironwork and trades still practiced on the street.
  • Restored Porfirian architecture mixed in with old tenement houses.
  • Comida corrida diners: the set lunch menu runs about $80 to $130 MXN.

Why stay here

Guadalajara is a metro area of roughly five million people and it sprawls. Where you sleep decides how much of your day you spend in a car. Mexicaltzingo puts the Historic Center within walking distance and Chapultepec five minutes away, at residential prices instead of tourist-zone prices. That is the whole advantage, and it is a big one.

Nora is at C. Mexicaltzingo 1182, in the heart of the neighborhood.

See rooms and availability

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Nora?
Nora is at C. Mexicaltzingo 1182, Mexicaltzingo, 44180 Guadalajara, Jalisco. It is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, a 10-minute walk from the Historic Center and a 5-minute drive from Chapultepec.
What is the Mexicaltzingo neighborhood like?
Mexicaltzingo is a quiet residential and historic neighborhood with tree-lined streets, specialty coffee shops, artisan workshops and local businesses. It is not a crowded tourist zone or a heavy nightlife area, which makes it comfortable for long stays and for working. As in any large city, take the usual precautions at night.
What is near Nora?
The Historic Center and Guadalajara Cathedral are a 10-minute walk away. Chapultepec, with its restaurants and bars, is a 5-minute drive. Tlaquepaque is 15 minutes away and the town of Tequila about an hour. In the neighborhood itself you will find the Mexicaltzingo Market, coffee shops and local Tapatío eateries.
How do I get here from Guadalajara airport?
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL) is about a 20-minute drive away. An Uber or DiDi costs around $200 MXN. Authorized taxis are also available at the terminal.

Updated