Casa Antigua
Casa Antigua, in the former home of Mazatlán's first bishop, sells crafts from throughout Mexico in all price ranges and mediums—silver, ceramics, black clay, and papier-mâché.
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Zona Dorada is chockablock with shops, particularly along Avenidas Camarón Sábalo and Playa las Gaviotas. The area is essentially one big tourist trap, with busloads of cruise-ship passengers and package-tour travelers being dropped off every few minutes. That said, if you're looking for souvenirs, beachwear, delightfully tacky seashell art, and jewelry, you won't have to walk but a few blocks in this area to accomplish all your shopping. Be wary when purchasing jewelry in Mazatlán; stories of tourists paying $800 or more for a ring here only to have it appraised at $300 (or less) at home are all too common. Always demand certificates of authenticity for all pieces.
The Centro Histórico has fewer shops, but it does have a handful of galleries that sell high-quality crafts that are much more interesting than what you'll find in the Golden Zone. Note that bargaining isn't the norm in shops, no matter where you are in the city, but it's worth a try in markets.
Casa Antigua, in the former home of Mazatlán's first bishop, sells crafts from throughout Mexico in all price ranges and mediums—silver, ceramics, black clay, and papier-mâché.
Casa Etnika sells a funky mélange of non-kitschy Mexican and world crafts, from jewelry to carved wood statuettes to nature photography of Sinaloa State. Some items are made from recycled materials.
Casa Maya has silver and gold jewelry; silver tea sets, platters, and urns; and Talavera place settings.
Mexican artist Elina Chauvet sells unique beaded necklaces and bracelets, casual beachwear, Guerrero masks, and embroidered cotton clothing. She's also a renowned painter who sells works by other artists alongside her own.
La Querencia is a colorful cavern of Latin American art, clothing, and furniture—from the playful to the sublime and with prices to match.
The Mercado Central Pino Suárez is a gigantic, turn-of-the-20th-century art nouveau structure between Calles Juárez, Ocampo, Serdán, and Leandro Valle. It's open daily and filled with produce, meat, fish, and bustle. The first few rows parallel to Calle Juárez have shell necklaces, huaraches (Mexican sandals), cowhide children's shoes, T-shirts, and gauzy dresses. Then comes the produce and grocery section, and finally the butcher stalls with the inevitable pigs' heads.
The stylish work at Nidart includes leather masks, ceramic sculptures, contemporary black-and-white photos, and other Mexican arts and crafts. Sometimes you can watch artisans in open workshops; it's normally open Monday through Saturday between 10 and 2 only.
Rubio Jewelers carries fine gold, silver, and platinum jewelry. It's also Mazatlán's exclusive distributor of Sergio Bustamante's whimsical ceramic and bronze sculptures.