Come hungry!
We travel the world in search of food and adventure, and live life bite by delicious bite. The lure of amazing food is what first brought us to San Miguel and the richness and authenticity of the cuisine we experienced here played a huge rule in our decision to have our wedding in SMA. SMA has it all, from high-brow, modern fine dining to low-brow late night tacos and everything in between. Below are some recommendations for a culinary adventure of your own!
Street Food & Markets
Local, authentic and absolutely delicious foods can be found on almost every corner of San Miguel de Allende. With David being the reigning King of Street Food, we had to start this section with some of the best spots to hit if you're feeling adventurous!
Taco Corner
The corner of Ancha de San Antonio (the old highway that runs through Centro) and Nemesio Diez (also called Paseo del Parque, the street that leads from the highway to Benito Juarez Park) has long been known to locals as Taco Corner. Various vendors park their mobile kitchens here throughout the day. In the mornings, the corner also welcomes flower vendors selling freshly cut lilies, daffodils, sunflowers and carnations. Food sellers come and go throughout the day, and in the heat of afternoon the corner often goes quiet. But come nightfall, a taco vendor known as El Deudas almost always shows up. You can smell the sizzling carne asada and beef tongue from a block away. |
La Michoacana
Lots of flavors of traditional Mexican cream-based popsicles. Can you really go wrong with paletas? We don't think so, and this was one of our favorite stops for a cool treat during the hot days. Mesones 44, Zona Centro 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato Mexico |
Mercado Ignacio Ramierez
In the northeastern fringe of Centro, adjacent to the arts and crafts fair, is the city’s oldest green market, Ignacio Ramirez Mercado, where locals come to buy produce from local farmers, meat from local butchers, and freshly pressed tortillas. Deep inside this bazaar, toward the back, you’ll find a collection of food stalls, each with only a handful of seats. Two in particular stand out: Los Farolitos, which makes wonderful Milanese tortas, and Fonda Doña Reyes (which encompasses the adjacent Birrieria 71), where Mrs. Reyes serves incredible roasted goat and chicken soup. Ask her to show you her secret salsas. On your way out, notice the churro vendors on the sidewalk. These churros cost pennies apiece, and they’re almost as good as the $2 churros served at the famed San Augustin cafe down the street. |
Tortilan
One block from the mercado, across the street from Jesus of Nazareth, is a hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop called Tortitlan. There are a couple of other locations, but this is the newest branch. It offers three dozen Mexican sandwiches, and it’s difficult to discern the differences among many of them. Ancha de San Antonio 43, Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto., Mexico |
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Elote (Corn)
You’ll see corn venders everywhere. Around the jardin, they sell the typical boiled corn that’s dusted with cheese and chili powder. However, walk a few blocks southwest to the corner of Pila de Seca (also known as Cuadrante) and Zacateros (also known as Ancha de San Antonio). Here you will always find the same old woman sitting on the curb, fanning a charcoal grill, which is always loaded with corn that slowly morphs from yellow to black as it cooks. It doesn’t need cheese or chili powder. It’s perfect just the way it is. |
Nieve Artesanal
It hasn’t always been the case, but these days there’s an ice cream vendor on every corner. Many of them are good, but my favorite, and one of the oldest, is on Calle Insurgentes where Insurgentes becomes Pepe Llanos, one block northwest of the big Jesus of Nazareth Church. The ice cream is churned by hand every day. Except for the most basic flavors like vanilla, chocolate or strawberry, the selection changes constantly to include surprises like tuna (the sweet red fruit of prickly pear cactus), tamarind, goat-milk caramel and even tequila. |
Restaurants
San Miguel has something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a foodie experience run by one of Mexico's best chefs, or chocolate con churros served by a former soap star, you can find it in Centro!
Moxi
Those looking for serious, high-end cooking in San Miguel can’t do much better than Moxi. Run by Enrique Olvera, one of the country’s foremost chefs and owner of the Mexico City restaurant Pujol, Moxi’s kitchen specializes in innovative and artfully presented takes on Mexican classics. Dishes change with the seasons and include confit leg of suckling pig with almond mole sauce and tamarind puree, and beef carpaccio with rocket and buttermilk. Housed in the boutique Hotel Matilda, Moxi’s dining room is casual but elegant and boasts an impressive art collection. Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico +52 415 152 0883 |
Cafe Rama
Next to the Rosewood Hotel just outside the center of town, Cafe Rama is another popular spot with San Miguel’s visitors and resident expats. With mismatched furniture and the contemporary art on the walls (much of which is for sale) it’s heading in the direction of trendy, but the food remains reasonably priced. Good coffee, a wide selection of teas, and classics such as eggs Florentine make it an excellent option for breakfast, while the evening menus offer something to suit all tastes. Open until midnight, Cafe Rama also keeps a well-stocked bar with a long list of cocktails to choose from. Calle Nueva 7, Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, +52 415 154 9655 |
Cafetería San Agustín
An obligatory stop for breakfast or a late night snack, Cafetería San Agustín is something of an institution in San Miguel. Popular with visitors from elsewhere in Mexico on account of its owner, former Mexican soap opera star Margarita Gralia, its similarly renowned for its churros con chocolate. With its lively coffee-house atmosphere and views of the Iglesia de San Francisco, it’s an excellent place to linger provided there isn’t a lengthy queue. A range of different chocolates are on offer, from dark and rich to sweet. If you’re in the mood for something savory, enchiladas and other Mexican favorites are also available. San Francisco 21, Zona Centro, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, +52 415 154 9102 |
Hecho en Mexico
Popular with members of San Miguel’s expat community and with good reason, Hecho en Mexico offers a varied menu which ranges from well-executed Mexican staples, including Veracruz-style grilled talapia and stuffed poblano chilies, to burgers and club sandwiches. The restaurant’s elegant courtyard, with its flowering trellises, is a further draw. So too are performances from Cuban-born violinist Pedro Cartas and his quartet who take to the stage on Friday and Saturday evenings between 7.30 and 10pm. If you’re overwhelmed by the choice try the arrachera, chargrilled flank steak marinated with limejuice, chilies and spices. It’s a Mexican classic, and remains the most popular dish on the menu. Ancha de San Anotnio 8, San Miguel de Allende, GuanaJuato, Mexico, +52 415 154 6383 |
MuRo Cafe
Consistently among San Miguel’s top rated restaurants, MuRo is regularly praised for the warmth of its staff. Breakfast is a highlight and the extensive menu runs from huevos a la mexicana (Mexican-style eggs with onion, green pepper and tomato) to pastries and French toast. Lunchtime offerings include burritos, tortilla soups, salads, and seasonal specials such as chiles en nogada, poblano chilies stuffed with ground meat and served with pomegranate seeds and a cream sauce. A wide variety of freshly made juices are on offer too and there is regularly live music in the tranquil fern-fringed courtyard at lunchtimes. Loreto 10-B, Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico , +52 415 152 6341 |
The Restaurant
This was the original fine dining restaurant in San Miguel that changed the culture of locavorism and set the town on a new path. Donnie Masterton is still one of the area’s best chefs. The chic, somewhat Moorish, ultra-urban-hacienda décor is still among the prettiest in Mexico. The duck taquitos and the veal cheeks in adobo will have you thinking about Mexican cuisine in a new light. Sollano 16, Centro, San Miguel de Allende 37700. Gto, Mexico +52 415.154.7862 |
Great Rooftops
SMA sunsets are truly magical. Lots of bars and restaurants in Centro have rooftop dining or terraces overlooking the square. On our visit, we spent each evening having sunset cocktails at one of San Miguel's fantastic rooftop restaurants. It's a great way to enjoy the view and relax in one of Mexico's prettiest cities.
La Posadita
La Posadita boasts one of the best restaurant locations in San Miguel. The views from its charming roof terrace, with the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel on one side and the surrounding hills and mountains just visible from the other, are a major part of its draw. Homely service accompanies the generous portions of Mexican fare which includes fajitas, stuffed chilies, and cochinita pibil Yucatan-style shredded pork marinated with orange juice. Pozole, a homely broth beloved across Mexico and a cornerstone of the country’s food culture, is regularly available at weekends and well worth trying. Margaritas from the bar, including a tamarind-flavored twist on the classic recipe, are expertly made and uniformly well received, making La Posadita the perfect spot to unwind after a day’s sight-seeing. Cento, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, GTO, Mexico, +52 415 154 8862 |
Hotel El Palomar
In addition to 360-degree cityscapes, the rooftop of the chic new Hotel El Palomar boasts breathtaking views of the mountains, canyons, and valleys in the distance. You can take it all in from the comfort of assorted lounges peppered throughout the space, while a pair of draped pavilions offer protection from the elements. There are excellent homemade sandwiches and a selection of cocktails, wines, and spirits. This is also listed as an option on our Accomodations page. The rooms at this hotel are as lovely as the rooftop views! |
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La Azotea
Situated atop a former stable belonging to Ignacio José de Allende y Unzaga—the revolutionary after whom the city is named—La Azotea boasts views over three important churches: the golden dome of Las Monjas to the west, San Francisco to the north, and the pink castle of La Parroquia to the east. The food’s as good as the view; standout menu items include the signature tacos, chipotle-covered shrimp, and fried leek ribbons on a jicama “tortilla.” |
Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar
On the rooftop of the beautiful Rosewood Hotel, you’ll find a stylish space that offers spectacular views over San Miguel. Though any time of day is good for a visit, the space is best experienced at sunset: the setting sun lights up the quilted pattern of the adobe buildings beneath. The menu offers Mexican-Asian fusion cuisine served alongside creative cocktails, such as mezcal paired with cucumber juice and chili powder. |
