The Crea Furniture Market: Mercado de Artesanías Vasco de Quiroga

_

The Crea Furniture Market is on the edge of the Bosque de Tlalpan, and conveniently along a stretch of Insurgentes Sur. Inconveniently, it’s officially called the Mercado de muebles Vasco de Quiroga but everyone calls it the “Mercado Crea” or the “Tianguis de Crea.” “Crea” was a public arts and crafts program in the 1980s that, here, began making furniture so good that it soon left the program entirely and the name stuck.

Now, for international visitors, you may think you’re not in the market for furniture. It’s too big and difficult to ship and these are understandable concerns. But like any big furniture retailer, the 134 (or so) vendors within the market know that they can do just as well dealing in smaller items, decorative crafts, and artisan works.

It’s an eyeful. And for anyone with an interest in woodworking, interior design and decorating, and in crafts in general is in for a major treat. Mexico City’s home decor market can be divided easily this way:

Home Decor in Mexico City

1. Crea Market – where everything is new and much is handmade.
2. Portales Market – (link) the used furniture market, of which much began at Crea.
3. La Lagunilla Market(s) – (link) where the City’s dealers in the oldest (and most expensive) antiquities have been for generations. These shops compete only with the fine furniture dealers in the west of the city, along Altavista (just north of San Ángel), and in the Polanco, Las Lomas, and Santa Fe neighborhoods.

The Crea Market is for everyone else. Those without a ton of money get super-high-quality furniture and a lot more for seriously rock bottom prices. Don’t be put off by the flashiest and first things you see. There are real works of art in there. Like any good art, it’ll start showing you more and more as you and your eyes get acclimated.

The market just a short walk from the entrance to the Bosque de Tlalpan, and the Casa de la Cultura de Tlalpan which hosts, on Sundays, the Tlalpan Alternative Market. While it makes for a great Sunday, the furniture market is open daily.

Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.