All about The Harbor Lifestyle Mall in Mérida, Mexico

The Harbor Lifestyle Mall in the north end of the city on the Periferico is the newest of the larger shopping malls in Mérida (the mall opened in 2019.).

It is very modern and the exterior with lakes (therefore "The Harbor"), fountains and a lush vegetation is a beautiful place to stroll around. You are allowed to take pets into the mall. If you have a dog, you can take your friend for a walk in the spacious air-conditioned building.

Just a quick note about dogs: You'll also find a huge Petco here. In case you're not familiar, it's a specialty store for pet supplies. It offers items like pet food, toys, accessories, grooming products, and much more for dogs, cats, birds, fish, and other pets.

Similar to La Isla Mérida Malltertainment (perhaps it served as inspiration), there's also a zipline that offers a unique experience, taking you across the lake if you're feeling adventurous and not afraid of water.

On the third weekend of every month, the shopping center holds the X-hibit Bazaar, featuring local crafts and handmade products spread throughout the mall. It's an excellent opportunity to show your support for local businesses.

Shopping options

The Harbour offers beauty, fashion, accessories, technology and more. If you're in the mood for some funky new shoes, you might want to check out Steve Madden. It should sparkle? Then Swarovski might be worth a visit. Abikay also offers jewelry.

Beach House is a clothing and fashion accessories store for the beach. Camasha is a clothing store from Yukatika with contemporary and elegant designs. Nice handmade hats and accessories can be found at Epifania.

Charly is another Mexican company dedicated to shoes, clothing and sports accessories. The retail anchor is Gran Chapur, and the mall also features a Cinépolis cinema.

For foodies

The Harbor Lifestyle Mall houses Porfirio's, acording to TripAdvisor (and other) one of the best restaurants in Mérida (however, we haven't tried it ourselves yet). Additional upscale dining choices include Tatemar and Maya de Asia.

And a tip for sweet tooths: Besides Santa Helados, the ice cream at Amorino in the mall is among the best in Mérida. If you're into ice cream and at the mall, it's a must-visit spot.

For kids

If you have kids, The Harbor is definitely worth recommending. Apart from the delicious ice cream at Amorino, there are a couple of nice play areas and, among other things, a climbing wall.

But...

The Harbor is relatively new and the surrounding residential area is still being developed, so some stores are still empty and the mall currently lacks a certain "soul". It's not the busiest mall and because it has a very spacious architecture, this is particularly noticeable.

Ultimately, it was likely a combination of unfortunate factors that led to this. Apart from the construction aspect, the timing was also less than ideal as it opened shortly after La Isla, which quickly became one of, if not the most popular mall in the north of Mérida.

The COVID-19 pandemic naturally also contributed to it. But perhaps the mall just needs some time. Construction continues unabated in the north of Mérida, and the neighborhood is growing rapidly. The influx of new residents will also bring new shoppers.