# Things to do in McAllen — Plan your visit to The Mercado District A place to go in McAllen, Texas. The Mercado District is McAllen's indoor destination to eat, drink, shop and catch live music: 15+ local restaurants, a bar with draft beer and wine, 120+ local shops and weekend events under one air-conditioned roof at 4400 N 23rd St. Free entry, free parking. Local press calls it the place that "isn't the mall" for friends, family or a date. ## Good for - A night out with friends: order from several kitchens, share one table, grab a drink at the bar and catch a live band. - Date night in McAllen: dinner, drinks and live music without leaving the building. Open until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. - Family day: indoor and air-conditioned, stroller-friendly aisles, casual shared seating, kid-friendly menus and weekend activities. - Visiting McAllen or the Rio Grande Valley: local food, local shops and local music in one stop, whatever the weather. ## Things to do in McAllen - Eat: 15+ local McAllen restaurants: tacos, sushi, wood-fired pizza, gyros, Texas gastropub, empanadas, desserts and coffee. - Drink: a bar with draft beer and wine, steps from every kitchen. - Live music: local McAllen bands every weekend, plus food festivals and seasonal markets. - Shop: 120+ local shops from McAllen and the RGV: gifts, apparel, jewelry, home goods, toys and beauty services. - Events: community events in McAllen year-round. Most are free to attend. ## Pick your night ### 01. Friday night with friends Several kitchens, one table, one band. Groups, Friday and Saturday until 11 PM. 1. 6:30 — Grab a table under the string lights. Everyone orders from a different kitchen: tacos, sushi, wood-fired pizza, gyros. 2. 8:00 — The band goes on at the LIVE stage. Stay at your table or move up front. 3. 9:30 — Draft beer or wine from the bar. Your drink can go with you anywhere inside. ### 02. Date night, no driving around Dinner, drinks and a show in one stop. Couples, weekends. 1. 7:00 — Pick a kitchen you have not tried yet (there are 15+) and share plates. 2. 8:00 — Live music, a slow walk past the local shops, a photo under the neon. 3. 10:00 — Dessert and coffee before the doors close at 11. ### 03. Sunday with the family Air-conditioned, stroller-friendly, kid-approved menus. Families, Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM. 1. 12:00 — Lunch with something for everyone: pizza and tacos for the kids, sushi or a Texas gastropub plate for you. 2. 1:30 — Walk the shops: toys, gifts, sweets and local makers. 3. 3:00 — Live music or a weekend event while the kids burn off energy. ### 04. First time in McAllen The local scene, all under one roof. Visitors, Winter Texans, Rio Grande Valley day trips. 1. Eat like a local: 15+ independent Texas kitchens in one dining hall. 2. Shop local: 120+ small businesses, from boutiques to beauty suites. 3. Catch a live band on the weekend. Free entry, free parking, easy to find on N 23rd St. ## What's inside - Eat: 15+ independent kitchens around one shared dining hall: tacos, sushi, wood-fired pizza, gyros, Texas gastropub, empanadas, pho, desserts and coffee. - Drink: a bar with draft beer and wine. Take your drink with you anywhere inside. - Live: local bands on the LIVE stage every weekend, plus festivals like the Mercado Foodie Fest through the year. - Shop: 120+ local businesses: boutiques, gifts, jewelry, toys, home goods and beauty suites. - Chill: fully indoors and air-conditioned. String lights, red chairs, shared tables, stroller-friendly aisles. - Free: free entry. Free parking in the surrounding lot. Open Tuesday to Sunday. ## Plan your visit - Address: 4400 N 23rd St, McAllen, TX 78504 - Phone: (956) 540-7438 - Hours: Monday closed. Tuesday–Thursday 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM. Friday–Saturday 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM. Sunday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM. - Parking: free on-site parking in the surrounding lot at 4400 N 23rd St, McAllen, TX. - Indoors: fully indoors and air-conditioned. - Cost: free entry. Some special events may sell tickets separately. - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercadodistrict/ ## Frequently asked questions ### Is The Mercado District a mall? No. The Mercado District is an indoor destination in McAllen where 15+ local restaurants, a bar, 120+ local shops and a live music stage share one air-conditioned building. Think of it as a food hall, hangout spot and event venue rather than a shopping mall. ### What is there to do at The Mercado District? Eat from more than 15 local kitchens (tacos, sushi, wood-fired pizza, gyros, Texas gastropub, empanadas and more), have a drink at the bar, catch live music on weekends, browse 120+ local shops and beauty services, and join community events like food festivals and seasonal markets. ### Is The Mercado District a good place to hang out with friends in McAllen? Yes. Seating is shared, so a group can order from several restaurants and sit together. Add drinks from the bar, which you can carry anywhere inside, and a live band on Friday or Saturday night, and it works as a full night out under one roof. ### Is The Mercado District good for a date night in McAllen? Yes. Dinner from any of the restaurants, drinks at the bar and live music on weekends, all indoors and air-conditioned. It is open until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. ### Is The Mercado District family-friendly? Can I bring kids? Yes. The building is indoors and air-conditioned, aisles are stroller-friendly, seating is shared and casual, menus range from pizza to tacos, and weekend events often include family activities. Sundays are open 11 AM to 6 PM. ### When is there live music at The Mercado District? Local bands play every weekend on the LIVE stage. Check the events page for this week's lineup and any weekday shows. ### Is The Mercado District indoors, and is there free parking? Yes to both. Everything is inside one air-conditioned building at 4400 N 23rd St, McAllen, TX 78504, and there is free on-site parking in the surrounding lot. ### What are the hours, and does it cost anything to visit? Entry is free. Hours are Tuesday to Thursday 11 AM to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 11 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM, closed on Monday. Some special events may sell tickets separately. ## Related pages - [This week's events](https://www.themercadodistrict.com/events) - [Restaurants and shops](https://www.themercadodistrict.com/stands-virtuales) - [Hours and location](https://www.themercadodistrict.com/hours) - [About us](https://www.themercadodistrict.com/about)