Puebla is a central Mexican state anchored by Puebla de Zaragoza, a UNESCO World Heritage colonial capital famous for baroque Talavera-tiled churches, the birthplace of mole poblano, and the site of the 1862 Battle of Puebla that gave rise to Cinco de Mayo. Just west of the capital, the town of Cholula holds the Great Pyramid of Tlachihualtepetl, the largest pyramid by volume on Earth, while the twin volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl dominate the state's western skyline.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Puebla through its food.
Mole Cooking Class and Market Tour
Includes: Hands-on preparation of mole poblano from raw ingredients to finished sauce · Guided shopping walk through Mercado de Sabores Poblanos · Tamale tasting included along the market route · Full sit-down meal with the group's own finished mole · Small-group format with bilingual instruction
Puebla Extraordinary Culinary Tour
Includes: Five-hour walking tour through Centro Histórico's markets and street food stalls · Cemita sandwich and tacos árabes tastings included · Historical commentary on Puebla's Spanish, Indigenous, and Arab culinary influences · Visits to working markets where Poblano cooks source ingredients · Small-group format with an English-speaking local guide
Culinary Experience Puebla Cooking Class
Includes: Guided market tour near Mercado El Alto with ingredient history and folklore · Hands-on preparation of mole poblano plus chalupas or pipián · Balance of a slow-cooked sauce dish and quicker antojito-style items · Shared meal with all dishes prepared during the class · Take-home recipe notes for each dish
Mesones Sacristía Cooking School Mole Class
Includes: Cooking class hosted at the Mesones Sacristía hotel's teaching kitchen · Guided market walk to shop for mole ingredients before cooking begins · Full mole poblano preparation led by a hotel chef · Sit-down meal in the hotel dining room with the finished dish · Located in the historic Callejón de los Sapos antiques district
Chef Alonso Hernandez Private Cooking Class
Includes: Private, small-group format led directly by Chef Alonso Hernandez · English-language instruction throughout · Market or ingredient-sourcing walkthrough included before cooking · Hands-on preparation from raw ingredients to final plating · Multi-course meal served at the close of the session
Banyan Tree Puebla Chiles en Nogada Cooking Class
Includes: Seasonal class dedicated entirely to chiles en nogada (August-September) · Step-by-step preparation of the walnut-cream nogada sauce · Chile stuffing and pomegranate-parsley garnish technique · Tasting of the finished dish included · Hosted in Banyan Tree Puebla's hotel kitchen in Barrio del Alto
Cholula, Chipilo and Atlixco Gastro and History Tour
Includes: Single-day tour covering three towns: Cholula, Chipilo, and Atlixco · Street food tastings in Cholula near its market and pyramid site · Stop related to Chipilo's Italian-immigrant dairy and cheese traditions · Colonial architecture and regional dishes in Atlixco · Round-trip transportation included between all three towns
Cholula Market and Pre-Hispanic Food Experience
Includes: Guided walk through Mercado Municipal Cosme del Razo in San Pedro Cholula · Tastings of dishes and ingredients with pre-Hispanic roots · Explanation of corn, chile, and cacao traditions in regional cooking · Small-group format led by a Puebla-based independent chef · Booked directly through Airbnb Experiences rather than a large operator
Puebla and Cholula Full-Day Culture and Food Tour
Includes: Full-day tour combining Cholula's Great Pyramid with Puebla's historic center · Multiple street food and restaurant tastings across both cities · Round-trip transportation between Puebla and Cholula included · English-speaking guide with historical commentary on both sites · Departs from the Zócalo at Portal Hidalgo in Centro Histórico
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Book tours and cooking classes at least a few days in advance — small-group experiences sell out quickly.
Come hungry — most food tours include 5-8 tastings.
Bring cash for unscheduled stops the guide may recommend.