San Luis Potosi is rich in culture, gastronomy and principally in fine handicrafts. Upon arrival in this wonderful city you encounter myriad stores and shopping centers. Carranza Avenue is famous as the main commercial thoroughfare in this city; on this large and bustling avenue you will find handicrafts houses where the typical regional products are sold, as well as leather articles, music instruments, pottery and baskets of the Huasteca region, cotton textiles, wooden accessories, jewelry, ironworks and the shawls of Santa Maria de Rio.
We can't talk about handicrafts without mentioning embroidered shoulder bags or the colorful "quexquemitl" which are an essential part of the traditional dress of the Huasteca woman. They are made with worsted yarn forming images that show different mythical characters of their culture. Depending on the color that predominates in her clothes, you can identify the marriage status of a woman.
Costanzo Chocolates
Since 1935, Costanzo Chocolates have won the heart of the San Luis Potosi people and its visitors too. The factory is located in the historic center and is managed by its owner Luis Costanzo, although you will find a lot of outlets throughout the city. They currently offer over 150 kinds of products using the best and the most modern machinery. Taste the famous "tornillos," "duquesas," "princesas," jellies and cinnamon-flavored nuts and others delights.
FONART
If we talk about handicrafts, the leading and the most traditional place where you will be able to buy something to your complete satisfaction is the FONART Store (National Foundation for Handicrafts Promotion by their acronym in Spanish) that is located in the Plaza San Francisco. The building was originally part of the Convent of San Francisco; nowadays it has a special design to show at the public the best handicrafts of the city and also of the country.
La Casa del Artesano (The House of the Craftsman)
Just a few blocks from Hidalgo Garden is La Casa del Artesano (the house of the craftsman). In this picturesque house can find some artisan examples of each state of Mexico; it has different areas where the culture of the many regions of Mexico is represented by their typical handicrafts of each place. You can shop while learning about the Mexican culture.
Hidalgo Market
The Hidalgo Market is a colossal building where you will find restaurants that offer the typical San Luis Potosi cuisine, as well as a wide variety of handicrafts like baskets, straw ornaments, and the finest shawls with designs that have won national competitions.
Republica Market
It is one of the most important and traditional markets in San Luis Potosi city, where you will find nice handicrafts and the delicious regional sweets that have made this state famous this state, such as the pulque muffin and cheese of the cactus fruit.
Plaza Sendero
This magnificent commercial complex is a symbol of the San Luis Potosi people which has a wide variety of stores where you can buy all kind of clothes, shoes, leather goods, and fine jewelry. But in addition to merchandise, Plaza Sendero offers banks and movie theaters with the latest films, as well as a beautiful merry-go-round full of colors and lights. It is ideal for the little ones.
Plaza Tangamanga
In this modern mall are a great variety of boutiques, design and departmental stores, fast food, as well as a cinema complex and electronic games area for the children, all of which make of this mall a very crowded place, especially on weekends.