San Miguel de Allende has a long history of charming foreigners and, particularly, those with creative inclinations, dating back to the 1960s when American and European artists and writers were drawn in droves to the city’s blossoming art scene. Now, the sunny Mexican city continues to welcomes new residents, and its appeal has anything but worn off on travelers. Along its cobblestone streets, you’ll find not only intriguing art galleries and up-and-coming designers, set amid frozen-in-time colonial-era buildings, but also rooftop bars and cafés designed for living life a little bit slower. No wonder our readers vote for San Miguel de Allende, year after year, as a top small city in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Time moves differently on the streets of San Miguel—this is the kind of place you can simply be in.
To help you find your way to the ever-evolving city’s latest and greatest, we’ve handpicked this list of editor-approved spots to eat, stay, and play on your next weekend getaway to San Miguel. Consider pairing your trip with a visit to nearby Mexico City or Guadalajara—a laidback retreat after working your way through a bigger, bustling city—or stick around for a long, lazy weekend dedicated to San Miguel alone.
How to get to San Miguel de Allende
Fly into Querétaro International Airport or Guanajuato International Airport, each of which are roughly an hour and a half away by car (hotels can arrange transfers). You can also travel by car from Mexico City, which is a four-and-a-half-hour drive, or Guadalajara which takes the same amount of time.
Inside colorful interior design showroom Mestiz, which exhibits contemporary designers from around the city
Pepe Molina
What to do in San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel is one of those walkable cities where you just want to soak up the rosy, well-preserved architecture, sit for long, leisurely meals, and browse shops and galleries (expect to leave with your suitcase much heavier than it was when you arrived). Consider the pink Parroquia de San Miguel Archangel church the heart of things—processions, fireworks, and local celebrations often play out at its feet. From there, explore markets like the Mercado Ignacio Ramírez, where you can see slices of local life (and scoop up gorgeous ceramics), and the artisan shops selling glassware and linens that fan out in every direction. For more variety, head to Fabrica La Aurora, an art and design center housing the city’s most impression collection of galleries, workshops, and ateliers. Mestiz, whose colorful interior designs have become the visual blueprint for the city’s current wave of contemporary designers now has their showroom here, which can be visited on weekends or booked by appointment via IG DM. There is also the Hilo Negro studio (recognizable for their painted tiles that play off of the Mexican card game, Loteria), and antique shops like Cantadora Cantera y Antigüedades with everything from religious niches to dish ware to gigantic cowhide rugs. For more antiquities, La Calaca art gallery—an impressive collection of Mexican folk art—is the place to spend big on truly special items gathered from throughout the country.
For wearable designs, head into some of the city’s new concept houses like Doce 18, which gathers an impressive collection of contemporary Mexican fashion, home, and accessory designers in the historic Casa Cohen (there’s also an on-site restaurant, rooftop bar, Casa Dragones tasting room, and several bookable suites that make up Casa Arca on top). Suki Palomina has her beloved hat atelier just a few streets away, where you can get a distinctly San Miguel felt or straw hat custom-made in your size and style. Monserrat Messeguer has high-end cowboy boots and Northern Mexican-inspired denim and tees in her outpost. But just walking through the city center, you won’t be able to avoid bumping into countless boutiques to leave your pesos in.
A stroll through shady Parque Benito Juárez is the perfect antidote to extra-hot days in May and June, but with more time you can get out of the city proper to El Charco del Ingenio, a nature preserve and botanical garden packed with cacti and native plans. Consider making a greater excursion of it with an afternoon of wine tasting in the city surrounds at Dos Buhos or Tres Raíces, two local wineries that demonstrate the diversity of Mexican winemaking.
