In addition to fine dining options, here are some wonderful casual Mexican restaurants and a growing number of ethnic neighborhood spots to try while in town. I always add to my list each time I am back in town. I am now there close to four months each year. As a reminder, I have never been compensated for any meals and that if I have a bad experience at a restaurant, I do not list it on the website.
My top recommendations include:
Néctar is located at the Camino Silvestre store at Correo 43. Prior to COVID-19 it was one of my go-to places for tea and cookies in the afternoon along with lunch on their attractive outdoor patio. It then closed and recently reopened in October 2024. I was so excited to hear the news and went back for lunch. It has the same atmosphere and staff along with a newly updated menu and a new indoor dining room. They feature a vegan and vegeterian meu of breakfast dishes, soups, salads and sandwiches. The food is just as good as it was before. I loved the Néctar salad, the carrot ginger soup, a tasty blueberry scone and some cookies. Their peach flavored black tea is always the best. I can’t wait to go back. They are open from Wednesday through Sunday for breakfast and lunch.
Silveyra’s Restaurant: I first visited this new restaurant in my neighborhood after hearing about it on Facebook. I learned that Keli and her husband Ruben Silveyra moved to San Miguel from Kansas City, MO, where they were both in the restaurant business, and decided to open a restaurant featuring American cuisine in the lower level of their house in Ojo de Agua. I went and learned that she also grew up in my hometown of St. Joseph, Mo. I really enjoyed my omelette with toast and hashbrowns and my friend the Boca Feliz breakfast sandwich. In addition to a breakfast menu, they offer sandwiches for lunch. I enjoyed it so much that I went back and loved the pulled pork sandwich! It was better than many that I have had in Kansas City which is known for its BBQ. After reading about their new sandwich, the Ruben’s Reuben, I had to try it. It was really tasty! In June 2022, they moved to a new location, that is easier to get to, at San Antonio #2. They had an expanded menu and their new dessert offerings are excellent.
On April 14, 2024 hey found a new location Salida a Celaya #47 and reopened on Mother’s Day in May. They are now open for dinner as well. It has a nice outdoor patio, indoor dining room with colorful murals and an upstairs rooftop terrace.
I had been wanting to go to Gigi’s Cafe after reading excellent reviews. Orignially located on Insurgentes, they closed in April 2024 and moved in June 2024 to a new location in Col. San Antonio at Orizaba 16. This is a small, colorful neighborhood cafe open for breakfast and lunch. They also have coffee and tea drinks. I met a friend there to celebrate her birthday and enjoyed the smoked salmon bagel sandwich, while she loved the avocado toast. The staff is very nice and attentive plus the other diners, were fun to talk to. I always love supported small, local businesses. They will be offering more seating downstairs in the future.
Located north of Gigi’s is a great new find. Located in the six room Casa Camelia boutique hotel, the Art Garden Café is a colorful restaurant with a lovely outdoor patio. They are open for daily for breakfast and lunch. I was please to have joined a group for Sunday brunch. The menu has a lot of options including omeletes, avocado toast and bagel sandwiches. The lox and bagel sandwhich was a great choice along with a latte. I recommend that you visit it while you are in town. You might also check out the room.
Another excellent restaurant, CIEN 24, is located at Umarán 124. Opened in 2020, it is a small, local cafe open for breakfast and lunch. The breakfast menu was large with many great dishes. I had the avocado toast with smoked salmon along with side salad. It was really excellent as was the service. I highly recommend the experience. It is a great spot when the crowds are large in Centro.
Another new find is Jacques, a small, casual neighborhood restaurant located north of the Biblioteca at Del Pueblito 3A. They have a large menu of breakfast and brunch items, bowls, pita sandwiches, salads, juices, smoothies and coffee drinks along with beer and wine. I loved my lunch on the rooftop terrace where I had a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. I will definitely go back. The owners were delightful.
South of Jacques is the new location of Bastardo Restaurante & Beer Garden which opened at Hidalgo 66 in February 2024. It is under the same ownership as Salvajes Brasserie at Hidalgo 92. I had been to the the original location outside of town on the way to Dolores Hidalgo. I prefer the new location as it has a a lovely, casual and family friendly outdoor garden and you don’t have to take a taxi or drive as it is a short walk from the Jardin. If you do want to drive there is a parking lot next door.
On my first visit I had the veggie burger which was by far the best one I have ever had. It was made with sweet potatoes, beans, farro, caramelized onions and cheddar cheese! I topped it off with a yummy lavendar ice cream for dessert. My friends raved about the burgers and roasted tomato soup.
In the new location I had to try the burger. So I had the Juicy Lucy Burger which was stuffed with cheese. It was excellant as were the fries. My friends loved the classic cesar salad, the burgers, the beet salad and the beef tartar. I went back in October 2024 on Halloween with a group of friends and loved having the veggie burger again along with the beet salad with ricotta cheese and the pan-roasted caulifower. I recommend that you try it. It was a beautiful night in the outdoor garden.
Opened in January 2023 at Aldama 43 is Mestiza Cocina Ancestral. Located in the back garden of a group of stores, this is a small restaurant opened by George Tovar and his business partner Javier. You feel like you are eating in a secret garden. Open for breakfast and lunch they offer Mexican dishes as well as other favorites. With many new restaurants opening in town geared to tourists, they wanted to attract locals with reasonable prices.
I went for the first time after reading about it on Facebook, and enjoyed my brunch on a lovely Sunday. I had the eggs Florentine benedict with smoked salmon and a salad. There were several other items that I wanted to try as well. I went back on Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos in 2024 and enjoyed meeting Javier, seeing the altar to his father and eating the Huevos motuleños which is one of my favorite Mexican breakfast/brunch dishes. The pan de muertos with jamaica jam was also great. I always enjoy trying new places and supporting local businesses!
Popular San Miguel chef J.J. Castañeda had closed his restaurant Mesa Marrakesh at Mercado Carmen a while back and went to another spot. He then recently reopened Mesa Marrakesh at a new location at Refugio Norte #1 in Col. San Antonion. Here he serves traditional Moroccan dishes including salads, kebabs, desserts and more. I enjoyed the lamb kebabs and the baba ghanoush with pita bread. My friends liked their dishes as well. It is a very tiny spot with only three tables downstairs and a few on the rooftop, so make sure to book your reservation in advance.
In March 2024 I first went to DELIQ at Margarito Ledesma #6A in Colonia Guadalupe. This is a casual spot that has an large menu of sandwiches, salads, quiche, soups, pastries, desserts and breakfast dishes. I was very impressed with the vibe and the quality of the food. I had a very tasty Cubana sandwich with a quinoa salad. They also have a deli case with prepared foods for sale. Since I went for the first time, they moved to Centro at Codo 30. It has a similar menu and deli case along with a few inside tables and a nice outside patio in the rear with additional seating. I went in November 2024 and enjoyed an omelette and a latte with friends. I definitely want to go back for another sandwich or torta.
Make sure to check out La Brioche at Mesones 57 at the corner of Relox. This new restaurant, that opened in June 2023, features French International cuisine from Chef Jose Antonio Villanueva, who worked for Chef Donnie Masterton at The Restaurant. They have a menu of classic French dishes from crepes, eggs benedicts, tartines, salads, sandwiches, coffee and pastries. La Brioche also makes all their own breads and pastries. I enjoyed a traditional French baguette sandwich with brie cheese, serrano ham and arugula. They also have a larger menu for dinner with salads, soups, appetizers , mains and desserts.
When one of my favorites was full for lunch, I walked into the colorful Marluz cafe at Relox #33. I was attracted to the traditional menu and attractive outdoor patio. I ran into a new local friend and enjoyed a very tasty omelette for my meal with her. The owners, a young Mexican couple, were really delightful. I enjoyed the experience. I was concerned that they closed but just walked by and was told that they were closed for some maintenance, but now open. I look forward to going back for another great meal.
Thanks to local friends, I found Andrea’s Italian Restaurant at Cjon. de Loreto #40. This is a small, Italian restaurant that has a menu of salads, starters, pastas and entrees. The owner Andreas moved to San Miguel after having a restaurant in Dallas, TX. I was impressed witht the quality of the food and enjoyed the caprese salad, the fried calamari and the mussels served in a tomato sauce. My friends enjoyed their salads and pasta dishes. I will definitely go back again. I would recommend that you call to make a reservation in advance.
I was always a big fan of Café MuRo for breakfast/lunch when it was located on Loreto. I had not been until recently to their new location at San Gabriel #1 in El Obraje. It is a bright restaurant with outdoor patio seating. They have a large breakfast and lunch menu with many items to choose from. I highly recommend the eggs benedict with smoked salmon. They also serve excellent coffee drinks as well as pastries. It is a good place to enjoy a meal when centro is crowded on weekend. They also offer to pay money to cover some of your taxi costs. The staff and owners are very friendly and helpful.
I had a great meal with local friends at Restaurante Bennu. They are known for their handmade pizzas, salads and other vegetable dishes. I loved the house salad made with nuts, dried fruits along with a carrot and mandarin orange dressing. My choice of the Las Cabras pizza made with a butternut squash sauce, pear, balamic vinaigrette, goat cheese and greens was another great choice. My friends also loved the margarita pizza. The prosciutto pizza also looked excellent. They also have a large wine and cocktail menu.
It is located in a small attractively designed space at Jesús 20, which it shares with the small design shop Roma Quince. The owner Pablo Mil is delightful and works very hard to make sure everyone enjoys the experience. He has worked in a number of restaurant kitchens from Oaxaca to Copenhagen.
At the suggestion of local friends I went for lunch at the new location of Asian Orient Express. It is now located in the interior courtyard of Salida a Celaya #6. I rarely go to Asian places in town, but was very glad that I went. I really enjoyed the springs rolls, the cheese and crab wontons and the shrimp pad Thai. It has a colorful space with an outdoor patio. The service was also very good. I will definitely go back.
Upstairs from Asian Orient Express in the old Lima space, is the recently opened Mulata Cuban Fusion Cuisine. I read about it and made point to go since I am a big fan of Cuba food after vising there twice. The mojito was excellent and I enjoyed the grilled tuna sandwich. The are located on the second floor with a nice outdoor patio.
A little further south is Bulls BBQ House at Salida a Celaya 64. Opened in June 2023, this a great new addition to San Miguel. They have a large menu of sandwiches, salads, sides, bbq chicken and ribs along with burgers. I went for lunch and had a great pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw. I was very impressed with the food and service. The chef learned the craft while working in Austin, TX.
Bulls is now part of a growing restaurant block. Next door is Ancestro, a new restaurant that recently opened in November, 2023. Chefs Diana Almanza Figueroa and Jonathan Navarrete Sánchez have experience in Mexico as well as abroad for Michelin star chefs and in World and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. I went with a friend to celebrate her birthday and enjoyed their breakfast menu on the first day it was offered. The avocado toast with mushrooms and greens along with a squash blossom quesadilla were great choices. The pork quesadilla was also excellent. I highly recommend it. I am excited to go back and try some of their tacos and other dishes. I went back for brunch and had a tasty, traditional huitlacoche quesadilla. They serve their breakfast menu until 2pm and the serve from their lunch menu until 5pm. Since I was first there, they have a lovely outdoor patio in the rear which is perfect additional to the space. Salida de Celaya 26.
Next door is Sophie Fine Bakery. Opened in October 2023, they have a nice selection of pastries, cookies and beautiful hand decorated cakes. The butter cake was excellent. They also offer coffee and other drinks. It is a great spot if you want buy a cake to celebrate a special occasion. I went back again and enjoy my latte and a wonderful apple tart. I saw that they have a menu of breakfast sandwiches made with crossants or rustic bread which I want to go back and try.
Next foor is another new spot, Café Queria Brunch & Tacos. They have a menu of coffee and espresso drinks, cold brew and smoothies. They also have a menu of tacos, tortas and brunch items. There is nice inside cafe and a nice outside patio in the rear. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I enjoyed a latte and a yummy almond croissant with chocolate which they get from Maple down the street. I went back again for a latte and enjoyed talking to the staff. Salida de Celaya 26C.
Another Asian food recommendation is Sakura at Cardo #2. This Japanese restaurant has a menu of sushi, rolls, ramen, main dishes and desserts. I just went based on recommendations by two local friends. I enjoyed smoked tuna teriyaki with rice and vegetables and a combination of desserts. They have a small dining room and outdoor terrace.
A block north of Sakura is a casual Mexican spot where I just went to for the first time with a friend who loves the place. Victoria’s Comida Mexicana is located at Callejon de la Bayoneta #35 at Ancha San Antonio. They are known for their pozole and other dishes from fajitas, enchaladas, tostadas and flautas. I enjoyed the shrimp fajitas that I ate with corn tortillas and guacamole. I particularly enjoyed meeting the owners Maria and Tomas.
In 2023 I went to Restaurante la Martina at Sollano #21 for the first time. It has been opened for three years. It has a large breakfast and lunch menu featuring omelettes, pancakes, pizzas, pastas and salads. I enjoyed my smoked salmon omelette and my friend her spinach and goat cheese omelette. It has a small but nice covered outdoor patio. I highly recommend it. It is a family-friendly spot as well.
Another new find, thanks to a local friend, is Hierba Santa Cocina Del Sur. It is located in Hacienda la Aurora, a small collection of stores and boutiques, consignment shops, artist studios and galleries at Calz de La Aurora # 48-A near Fabrica la Aurora. Open for breakfast and lunch, the menu changes at noon from breakfast to lunch items. I opted for the breakfast menu before the change and loved the very fresh and beautifully presented eggs benedict. I just back to try the huevos motuleños and enjoyed the dish. The owners are a married couple from Acapulco who previously worked here at Nomada.
A short walk away is another new casual spot, Clásico San Miguel, that opened in 2021 at Calz de La Luz #43. It is open for breakfast and lunch and for dinner later in the week. I read about it and it was on my list to try. So I suggested to some friends that we go for lunch. It is a colorful, small cafe with a few tables on the outdoor patio. I enjoyed an omelette served with avocado and beans and a latte. The staff was very friendly.
Polp S.M.A. Gastrobar: Polp means octopus in Catalan. The Catalan reference is a nod to the time that, San Miguel born, chef and co-owner Patricio Fuentes Alvarez spent in Barcelona, working at the Michelin-starred Restaurante Hofmann. Patricio and his partner, Jose Pablo Diez, have created a small but great menu of Spanish-style tapas along with wines and cocktails. I enjoyed the typical Spanish omelette and the great scallops served on a perfect cauliflower cream. My friend really enjoyed the mushroom risotto. I just went back and enjoyed it for the second time. It is a small spot at Relox #3 just north of the Jardin.
After reading about the recently expanded Inside Cafe at Insurgentes #66, I had to try it. I went for lunch and really enjoyed the experience. The delightful owners are Teu Campbell from New Zealand and David Barajas from San Miguel. They opened it just as a coffee shop, but have expanded to a rooftop restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. They feature a menu of breakfast and lunch items including sandwiches and salads. I thought the grilled cheese sandwich was one of the best I have had anywhere! I had to go back and have it again. It was so good. They recently added a second upstairs terrace for more seating. I was back and loved the grilled cheese pulled pork sandwich with bbq sauce.
Mercado del Carmen: Zacateros #45. This casual food hall in San Miguel has a very attractive contemporary design. It features Mexican and international cuisine with a number of vendors selling beer, cocktails and more. There has been some recent turnover and closings of some of the restaurants. El Tupinada in the front has Spanish cuisine and live music on their rooftop patio.
Chikitana recently moved from Mercado Del Carmen to Calz de La Aurora 51. I enjoyed lunch, in their first location at Hernandez Macias #68 with new friends who are buying a house in San Miguel. They feature a menu of Asian cuisine. I enjoyed the coconut fried rice with shrimp and chicken, plus a tostado with grilled pineapple, plantains and a tamarind salsa. Chef/owner Aleysha Serrato Garfias, is from Mexico, but lived in Berkeley, CA for several years. Here she loved trying Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese restaurants with her friends. When she opened the new restaurant in San Miguel, she wanted to focus on the Asian cuisine she loved.
I was anxious to go back and try the new location, and went in November 2023, two weeks after it opened. I enjoyed the lovely outdoor patio and seeing Aleysha and meeting their chef from Japan. I had a shrimp fried rice dish and miso soup. I hope you will go and check it out. While there make sure to visit the art galleries and shops in the same complex.
Bananas, a casual diner-style restaurant at Salida a Celaya #6, features salads, soups, asta, pizza, tacos, burgers and sandwiches. I went for the first time for lunch. I had a perfect salad with grilled shrimp and tasty piece of key lime pie! The service was excellent and the atmosphere fun.
I went several times to Lima, a casual Peruvian restaurant, when they were upstairs above Bananas. They feature ceviches, shared plates and other Peruvian specialties. I went with local friends at the recommendation of others. I had a tasty rice dish with shrimp, octupus and squid. They have a lovely outdoor terrace and feature live music during the week. I then went back again and had the rice dish with shrimp.
They moved downstairs to a building nearby at Salida a Celaya 10C in the fall of 2023. I went to the new location for lunch before an art class nearby. They are now open for breakfast, with many menu offerings, as well as lunch and dinner. They have a small indoor space and large outdoor terrace. I enjoyed my huevos motuleños which is made with fried eggs on tortillas with black beans and cheese along with ham, peas, plantains and a tomato sauce.
Across the street is another new find, Raíces SMA. This is a small restaurant with outdoor patio dining that is open for breakfast and lunch. On my list of places to try, I went recently with a local friend and really liked the experience. The food and the presentation of the food was really excellent. I had an tasty omelette and fruit bowl. They have a large number of egg dishes along with traditional Mexican choices.
I went back for the second time and enjoyed another great omelette for lunch. My friend raved ab0ut the pork enchiladas, which I enjoyed tasting. The food presentation is really excellent.
A little further south is Mario’s Mariscos at Salida a Celaya #81. This is a casual seafood restaurant that is popular with the locals. The owner Mario Cabrales spent a lot of his life in Mazatlan before moving to San Miguel. The menu consists of many items including seafood tacos, oysters, ceviche, octopus, lobster tails, shrimp and scallops. I really enjoyed my grilled scallop entree which came with a salad, coconut rice and scallops in a white wine sauce. I really enjoyed the colorful atmosphere and the food! I went back again and enjoyed the shrimp and octopus or pulpo tacos for lunch.
I was glad to have been introduced to Francesco’s Restaurante Italiano y Pizzeria. This is casual Italian restaurant at Zacateros #85. I went with local friends on a busy Saturday evening in town. I loved the warm atmosphere and thought the food was very good. I enjoyed the pasta with seafood or linguini al frutti di mare with clams, mussels, shrimp, and calamari in a tasty marinara sauce. They have an extensive menu of salads, starters, pastas, pizza, soups along with seafood and chicken entrees.
Also fun for Italian food is the casual Denver’s Los Olivos Restaurante at 20 de Enero Sur 44 in Col. San Antonio. Their menu features appetizers like bruschetta plus pasta, salads and mains like chicken parmesan. I enjoyed my salmon and pasta entree along with red wine. They have indoor dining along with outdoor dining in their garden in the back. I went with local friends who introduced me to Denver who worked for several restaurants in the Chicago area prior to moving to San Miguel.
Other favorites include:
Lavanda Cafe: Formerly located at Hernandez Macias 87 at the corner of Umaran, this is great spot for breakfast and lunch with a large number of egg dishes from omelets, eggs benedict and huevos rancheros. I also love the lavender latte! I have to go every time I am back in town. In November 2023 they moved permanently to their other location north of the Jardin at Loreto 48 A near the Mercado de Artesanías.
I tried the new location 10 days after the move and again had a great lavender latte and a lavender cookie. They have a coffee shop on the first floor, a small dining room on the second and a rooftop terrace on the third. They said that the lines can be long for breakfast but are not as long for lunch. You might avoid the weekend and go during the week as well.
Another good coice is the colorful Bistro San Miguel at Hernandez Macias #74. I went for brunch at the recommendation of local friends and really enjoyed on the rooftop. It opened in 2020.
In the courtyard of the building next to Bistro San Miguel is Restaurante La Parroquia at Hernandez Macias #72. Opened in December, 2021, they took over the space which had been occupied by one of my favorite restaurants in the past, Cafe Contento. They have a breakfast and lunch menu. I opted for the lunch menu and enjoyed my ham and cheese baguette sandwich and a side salad. I also liked the space and the staff. After you eat, stop down the hall and buy some great pastries, bread or cookies from Panaderia La Buena Vida, one of the best in town.
Around the corner from Bistro San Miguel is Bugambilia Restaurante Bar, which has been a popular spot for Mexican food since 1945. Having not been a number of years, I recently went for lunch/brunch at their new location at Canal 9. I really enjoyed their quiet, outdoor patio in the rear. The omelette with flor de calabaza (squash blossoms) and goat cheese was very tasty.
Tacos Don Felix, Juan de San Miguel #15, Col. San Rafael, 152 5719: This local’s favorite started as a food cart on Ave. Independencia. Today it is a very attractive, traditional Mexican restaurant with outdoor spaces and great food. They still have tacos but have wonderful beef and fish entrees as well. I was recently there for brunch before a theater event at the nearby San Miguel Playhouse and enjoyed the experience and seeing the owners Felix and his wife Gloria again. This a great spot if you are attending a production at the Playhouse which is a short walk from the restaurant.
A fun, casual spot is El Manantial at Barranca 78. El Manantial was founded in 1920 as a men’s bar or cantina. The restaurant has great ceviches, tostados and fish tacos. This is now high on my list of small casual spaces in town. The decor is traditional with a contemporary flair. There are amazing new black and white murals that were completed in the last few years.
After wanting to go back after a couple years, I went back in November 2024 for dinner with friends. I had some great shrimp tacos and a perfect ginger margarita made with mezcal. On Monday’s if you buy one taco you get another one for free. Or since my shrimp tacos had two, they added a third.
El Manatial had been called La Sirena Gorda. After a management split, La Sirena Gorda relocated to Hernandez Macias 85 just down from the Jardin. They recently moved closer to the Jardin in the former Mama Mia space at Umaran #8. I enjoyed the seafood menu with a friend at the former location and will now to try their new spot.
Rincon de Don Thomas, at Portal de Guadalupe No 2, is a good place to grab a quick lunch with friends. It is always a good place for traditional Mexican specialties.
In the Colonia San Antonio neighborhood, I always enjoy El Buen Cafe at San Jorge 26. This is a great spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Attending a ceramics class a block away, I enjoyed eating there four times for lunch. Kris Rudolph is a very good chef and offers cooking classes next door. She also does food tours in Europe.
El Rinconcito: This is a fun restaurant in a home in Colonia San Antonio at Refugio Norte 7. There is both indoor and outdoor seating and a great traditional Mexican menu with reasonable prices. I went back again and enjoyed their trout entree, one of their specialties, and a piece of key lime pie.
Near El Rinconcito is the colorful El Monarco at Refugio Sur #2A. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday. I recently stopped in for a drink to listen to live music on a Friday evening while visiting the home altars before Palm Sunday. I look foward to going back for a meal and more music.
Not far around the corner is El Café Tal at Orizaba 36. This is a fun spot for coffee or for breakfast or lunch. So glad that a local friend suggested it! They also have a lovely terrace in the rear.
Located in the Hotel Real de Minas, at Sterling Dickinson and Ancha San Antonio, is the recently opened Cerveceria Allende Tap Room of the locally based brewery Cerverceria Allende. You can sit inside or on their outside patio and try their beer and order off the casual food menu. You can do a number of tasting flights. I enjoyed the Allende Brown Ale and Allende Golden Ale, but my favorite was the Allende Agave Lager, which I have tried in the past.
Just west at Sterling Dickinson 8F is Bahn Mi, a small Vietnamese restaurant that offers Bahn Mi sandwiches, spring rolls and an Asian salad. I went with local friends and enjoyed the experience. It only has three tables which are outside in front. I was very impressed with the freshness. I had a chicken Bahn Mi sandwich along with a small bowl of the Asian Salad and a small portions of their coconut rice pudding.
Ten Ten Pie al Carbon: This is now the only location for Ten Ten Pie, featuring grilled items, fish, chicken, beef, hamburgers and salads. I love the casualness and the outdoor/open air seating. For lighter fare, I like the fresh spinach salad with pears, goat cheese and freshly grilled chicken. I recently had the fish tacos along with guacamole and enjoyed it. It is located at Sterling Dickinson #5, Col. San Antonio.
Across the street is a new deli that opened on November 11, 2024. Called NY Style Deli District 1960, this is a traditional New York deli with a traditional deli menu menu of breakfast specials, soups, salads and sandwiches including a reuben sandwich, BLT, pastrami and brisket. I went with local friends on the first day it opened and had a great lox and bagel sandwich with a fruit plate, cole slaw, a latte and ice tea. The decor is very upscale and attractive. I look forward to going back again.
Down the street at Sterling Dickinson #15 is Mär 13. This is a casual seafood restaurant with a large covered patio seating. They have a menu of tacos, tostadas, sandwiches, starters, entrees, ceviche and other items. I had a craving for fish tacos and loved the Mahi mahi tacos, marinated in an achiote sauce and served with pineapple, onion, corriander and avocado. I did mine with out the house green sauce.
La Frontera, formerly at 28 Sterling Dickinson is now at Calle Refugio Sur #28. This is a casual spot frequented by gringos. They have a good choice of salads, sandwiches and entrees. They have both interior and outdoor dining. I went to neighborhood friends and we all thought the food and atmosphere on the outdoor patio were great. I loved my mahi mahi and shrimp tacos!!
Just to the south is a fun new find, Cafe Rincon Guanajuato at Sterling Dickinson #31. It is a breakfast and lunch spot with a lovely outdoor terrace and garden. I enjoyed a tasty omelette, carrot bread and a latte for brunch. I was back again for another great omelette. ,
Nearby across the street is Café del Sol at Salida a Celaya #34. I had walked by several times on a recent trip and decided to try it. I thought it was a new spot, but turns out it has been there for 19 years, just as long as I have had a home here. It is a casual cafe for breakfast and lunch. I was there around noon, so ordered off the breakfast menu which had a number of omelettes, pancakes, egg and breakfast dishes along with coffee drinks. They have a lunch menu with Mexican specialties. I had a very good omelette, latte and fruit plate. They have inside seating as well as two small patio areas. I enjoyed the service and the experience. It is another good spot to try when Centro is busy on weekends.
Back in Centro is La Alborada for pazole, which is behind La Ventana, the coffee shop and window at Sollano 11. Opening at 1pm, it is perfect for lunch on the small patio with colorful oilcloth tablecloths or in the small dining room on colder days. The pozole is consistent and so, so good.
La 21 Unica Cantina: At Jesus #23, this is an updated, chic version of an old Mexican Cantina. It has a great atmosphere. You can order tapas from their menu or order from their Pescau restaurant menu which is next door. You then have the best of both worlds.
La Cocina: Located at the corner of Pila Seca and Hernandez Macias, this café and coffee shop offers good food at reasonable prices. They have indoor and outdoor seating. I was just back for lunch and enjoyed it again!
After it opened mid-October, 2019, I always enjoyed El Encanto at Recreo #84,where they had a great breakfast menu and a lovely garden in back along with an indoor dining room. I went several times. They recently moved to a new location at Relox 41, north of the Jardin near the Biblioteca. I just went to the new location and really enjoyed my omelette as always. I went back again in March 2024 for another great omelette. The portions are huge and the food is excellent!
Via Organica: This was a popular store featuring organic food items not often found in San Miguel. They also had a cafe for breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch items. They recently closed this location at Calle Margarito Ledesma #2 in Colonia Guadalupe and have moved the operation to its organic farm outside of town. Here they have an organic, farm-to-table restaurant and store plus they offer tours, classes, bike tours and horseback riding. There is also a school with a research and education center dedicated to the production of organic food in a regenerative way. I loved being in the country away from town. I had a perfect brunch with an omelette and fruit. It is 20 minutes outside of town at Deviation Camino a Jalpa, km 9.
I also like Los Milagros. It is a fun, casual restaurant serving Mexican specialties including tacos and fajitas. I prefer it for lunch as the music on some nights can be somewhat loud. Relox 17. They opened a second location, Los Milagros Terraza near the Mirador at Salida Real a Querétaro #91. I just went with a local friend for lunch on a Sunday. I loved the colorful space as it has incredible views of Centro. If you can’t go for lunch or dinner, at least go for a margarita and some of their excellent guacamole.
The Hotel Posada Carmina has a lovely patio restaurant, Maria Xoconostle Cocina Mexicana, for breakfast, lunch or dinner (Wednesday through Saturday) at Cuna de Allende #7. I always enjoyed it, but had not been back for a few years. On my recent trip I went for brunch and loved my omelette with goat cheese, tomatoes and basil. I also liked the atmosphere with a fountain, music, birds singing and colonial architecture. It is a nice respite when Centro is busy.
Pork Belly: Make sure to visit Pork Belly which has a very creative menu by Chef Erik Medina using fresh ingredients. They have a good selection of salads, sandwiches and entrees. I enjoyed the salmon entree for lunch. I went back for dinner and enjoyed the lamb shank with polenta and an arugula salad with tomatoes. In the last few years they moved from Cinco de Mayo #10 to Sterling Dickinson #10. I first went to the new location which is larger and really liked my omelette for brunch and my friend loved the brisket chilaquiles. I went back for the third time in the new location and had the best pulled pork sandwich! After seeing a social media post, I went back to try their brisket sandwich with bbq sauce and monterey jack cheese. It was one of the best sandwiches I have had in SMA. Now I go back every time that I am in town
It has two outdoor terraces and just opened a small rooftop terrace in 2022. In 2023, they also did an renovation with an attractive updated interior,
Down the street at Sterling Dickinson #28 is Trina Cantina. I have friends who live in the complex next door and had been wanting to go for one of their Taco Tuesdays or music concerts with Los Mavericks on Thursdays. I was pleased to be able to go for a private group dinner with four seafood courses and white wine pairings in April 2024. It is located in an attractive space in a small boutique hotel with a nice outdoor patio. I was very impressed with the quality of food which was more gourmet than their current menu of tacos, salads, sandwiches and entrees. The shellfish soup, tuna ceviche, sea bass entree and dessert were beautifully prepared. I look forward to going back.
I recently went on my second food tour through San Miguel Food Tours. The Taco & Tequila is a food tasting and cultural walking tour held in the evenings two days a week. Private tours can be arranged on other nights. Highlights of the tour for me was finding some new casual spots that I had not been to before. These included Don Taco y Tequila at Hernandez Macias #83. This is fun spot with a contemporary design. I really enjoyed trying my first sotol, a cousin of tequila and mezcal. They are offering a number of new tours including one called Chocolate & Cobblestones. I can’t wait to go.
Baja Fish Taquito, at Mesones #11B, is a casual spot for fish tacos with a newly added rooftop. I also loved trying the agave beer by Cerveceria Allende. I went back recently for a lunch with friends on the rooftop terrace. I had some excellent shrimp tacos and a tasty vanilla flan.
I normally don’t eat street food due to health safety concerns, but if you want to try it, Andy’s Tacos near the corner of Insurgentes and Hidalgo is considered one of the best in town. The owners went to culinary school and the are very clean in their preparation. The tacos al pastor were very good! Our last stop was the Cantina el Cucu, Insurgentes #39, which has been a popular San Miguel casual bar since 1953. The tequila we tried there was very good. Vail, our guide was excellent. I highly recommend that you request her and try one of their tours.
On a recent trip I went back to the casual El Correo for Mexican specialities at Correo 21-23. I had not been in several years, but enjoyed my meal with a local friend.
Berlin Bar & Bistro at Umaran #19 is a small bar and restaurant that is popular with the gringos in town. They often feature art exhibitions by local artists. You can go early and enjoy drink specials. I went on a recent visit and enjoyed eating some great fish tacos at the bar with a group of local friends.
While on an art walk at Fabrica La Aurora, I went to El Gandpa & Son Burgers just near the front entrance. It is a fun, casual spot with great burgers, sliders and salads along with cocktails and wine. My artist friend loved the hamburger while I had a yummy shrimp burger and great salad. I went back again in April 2o24 after the art walk. This time I tried four of their sliders. The marinated pork belly with apples, the fried goat cheese slider with sun dried tomato and arugula, the grilled shrimp slider with avocado and cheese and the beef slider with four cheese garlic sauce were all excellent as were the parmesan garlic fries. Calz. de La Aurora 8.
