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 went back and introduced a local friend and had another good experience. They are open from Wednesday through Sunday for breakfast and lunch. I went went back for Sunday brunch brunch and loved the avocado toast which was beautifully prepared and presented along with a mango flavored black tea.
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!
They just opened in a new location in November 2025 at the new Pila Seca Social Club Food Hall and Music Venue at Zacateros #41. I went back and had my favorite Ruben’s Reuben. They have seating downstairs and they share a rooftop with great views with the other restaurants in the Social Club. They feature music several nights a week.
Formerly located in San Antonio at Stirling Dickinson #7 is Cheeses Loves You! I went with friends for dinner in October 2025 and enjoyed the experience. The owners/chefs Maria and Eric (from Italy) make you feel welcome and like family. Open for dinner, they feature a menu of southern Italian cuisine including appetizers. pasta, mains and desserts.
I enjoyed the tomato, fresh basil and fresh homemade mozzarella to start and a rich beef ragu in a tomato sauce and served on their homemade pasta. My friends loved their eggplant parmesan and chicken parmesan. I highly recommend the experience.
In March 2026 they moved to a new location at Zacateros 41 in the Pila Seca Social Club behind Silveyra’s. I went back a week after they opened and enjoyed the garlic rocotta pasta and seeing Maria and Eric again.
A great new find is the new location of La Marthina Bistró at Sterling Dickinson 12. After reading good reviews about it, I went with local friends in November 2025. They have a menu of burgers, entrees including filet mignon and risotto along with starters. I had the blue cheese burger with a bacon jam. It was one of the best that I have had in San Miguel and in the US. My friends enjoyed their burgers as well. I went back in April 2026 and loved the blue cheese burger again. Don’t miss it. Make sure to go and support this local business!
Also in San Antonio, 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 rooms. I went back in March 2026 and had a great omelette for brunch.
Another excellent restaurant, CIEN 24, is now located in Col. San Antonio. Originally opened downtown on Umaran in 2020, it is a small, local cafe that serves breakfast, lunch and now dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. The breakfast and lunch menus are large with many great dishes. I went to the new location in November 2025 and enjoyed the avocado toast with smoked salmon. It was really excellent as was the service. My friends enjoyed the fish tacos and the tortilla soup. I highly recommend the experience. It is a great spot when the crowds are large in Centro. The address is San Jose 2, though the building is marked 35.
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. The owners were delightful. I went back in March 2026 and had the same tasty grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.
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 close to Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos in 2024 and 2025 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!
I went back in March 2026 to have the huitlacoche quesadillas with cheese and flor de calabaza. I then went back a month later for a special group dinner and had another great experience.
Located on the rooftop above Mestiza is Blu Sea & Grill Food Rooftop. After seeing it when at Mestiza, I went in April 2026 for dinner. They have a large menu of seafood including appetizers, shrimp dishes, tacos, tostadas, burritos and ceviche. I really like the guacamole along with two large tuna ceviche and pulpo or octopus tostadas. They also have some dishes with ribeye and arrachera. The mezcalita guava coctail made with mezcal and guava syrup was one of the best I have had. I enjoyed the views of the Parroquia and the jacaranda trees nearby. I enjoyed meeting Fernando and the other staff members.
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 Antonio. 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 four tables downstairs and a few on the second level and rooftop, so make sure to book your reservation in advance. I went back in April 2026 and had the same great items plus a tasty baklava for dessert.
In March 2024 I first went to DELI Q 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 La 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 went back a month later to have another La Cubana sandwich with a kale salad. I loved having it again!
A great new find is Lukrezia Breakfast and Brunch at Hernandez Macias #59. It was on my list to try that I saw that it had recently opened on the back patio of the Hotel Sautto. I went for Sunday brunch and was very impressed with the beautiful setting and the food. You feel you are outside of downtown. I really enjoyed my fruit plate and the Omelette de la tía Lucrecia which was stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach along with roasted pine nuts and asparagus. In addition to the breakfast menu, they do have a lunch menu of sandwiches, salads and traditional Mexican dishes. There is also a full menu of coffee, tea, juices, smoothies, cocktails and more. I highly recommend the exprience. I suggest that you make a reservation as it was very popular the day I was there.
Amapola Brunch & Beer Garden is located at Hernandez Macias #117. I first went for brunch and had the perfect avocado toast with a quinoa salad and a latte. They have a lovely courtyard in back for outdoor dining. Since I was there last, they have added a tap room for the brewery Cuatro Palos where they offer 12 beers on tap. I went with friends in March 2026 who were visting and enjoying tasting their Verano Forever wheat aler, but really enjoyed the beer-battered fish and chips and a margarita with mango.
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. It is owned by a local family. I went back in October 2025 and enjoyed it again with a local friend.
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.
Open now since 2023, La Mezcalería is now in its third location in town. Originally at Correo #47, then at Zacateros 81b, it is now at Animas 23. They feature a menu of authentic Oaxacan-themed small plates along with Mexican wines, tequila, pulque, beer and artisanal mezcal . Since it moved, I made a point to go with a local friend who is a chef and has also been in wine business for many years. We both enjoyed the food and the experience while sharing a number of small plates including sopes, quesadillas, tostadas and a dessert. It is located in a small space, so make sure to book a reservation online before you go.
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. I went back again in January 2025 and had the Las Cabras pizza again. It is still my favorite choice on the 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 went back for dinner and had another great meal.
Across the street is Curado Foccaceria at Salida a Celaya #7. This is a casual restaurant that opened in 2025. They specialize in Mediterranean-style cold cuts, meats, cheeses and tapas along with their inhouse-made focaccia bread. All of the ingredients and wines are locally sourced. Their vermouth is made inhouse. I went in April 2026 for a group dinner which included a tapa and vermouth, a mixed cheese and charcuterie board, a foccacia sandwich with porchetta plus a tasty Basque cheese cake. The rose and red wines were also very good. I enjoyed the experience and particularly liked meeting the owners Danny who was from Spain and worked in a top restaurant in Chicago and Alessio who was from Italy. I look forward to going back.
Nearby to the south at Salida a Celaya #51A is another Asian-inspired restaurant, NUDOL. It was on my list of new places to try after I read about it in the food blog, Don Day in SMA in January 2025. I then went in March 2026 for dinner. It is a small place with counter and outdoor seating. They have a collection of vinyl records along with a DJ playing music. The menu is also small, but the food is very well-prepared. I enjoyed the cucumber salad, my pork dumplings and tasty pork belly bao. My friend enjoyed her ramen. I also enjoyed talking to the owner. I recommend making a reservation before you go on OpenTable.
Now part of a growing restaurant block 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. Salida a Celaya 26.
Next door 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. On my last visit in March 2026 I enjoyed the avocado toast. Salida de Celaya 26C.
I also highly recommend Victoria’s Comida Mexicana 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 went with a friend who lives a few doors away and enjoyed the shrimp fajitas that I ate with corn tortillas and guacamole. I particularly enjoyed meeting the owners Maria and Tomas. Unfortunately Maria died unexpectedly in October 2025. I went back the month after for another great meal to make sure that I continue to support Tomas and his resstaurant.
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.
Just to the west in Col. Guadalupe in the new location of Clementina Desayunos or Breakfasts at Margarito Ledesma #6a. They moved from Salida a Celaya in 2024 to the spot that was Deli Q before they moved downtown. I went on a Saturday for brunch and enjoyed the experience. I had a great omelette with homemade biscuits. The owner was very nice and attentive. It is a great place to go when Centro is busy during holidays and weekends.
Across the street is La Coseca at Margarito Ledesma #11. Located in the former Vía Orgánica space, this is a small organic products store featuring fruits and vegetables from local-regional producers as well as other natural and artisanal products. I liked the selection and bought several items.
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.
Around the corner at Hidalgo 83 is Cafe Media Naranja. I went in January 2025 after reading about it several times. This is a cozy small, locally owned cafe featuring a menu of breakfast and lunch dishes. I went for lunch but enjoyed the smoked salmon bagel sandwich and a side salad from the breakfast menu. The food was very fresh. I was happy to have found it.
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.
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 had 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 a new find, Cafe Pueblo Magico at Salida de Celaya 23. This is a casual spot known for their breakfast and brunch menu. They do have a lunch menu that they serve at night on the weekends. They have a small covered patio in front for seating. I went for the first time in January 2025 and enjoyed my eggs benedict and a latte. I was happy to have run into some local friends who joined me. According to the staff they have been there for ten years.
Down the street is 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 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 third 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.
I went back in March 2025 for a group wine pairing dinner. Here we had a great bruschetta with mozzarella and tomatoes, a tasty lasagna and a main course of grilled lamb chops, accompanied with fresh mushrooms sauteed in extra virgin olive oil and garlic. The dessert was a tiramisu for dessert. It was an excellent meal, with great wines. I enjoyed going back!! I then went back a year later in March 2026 and loved the chicken pesto special with ragatoni and a perfect rose wine.
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.
Next door, Soul Café at Hernandez Macias #72, has taken over the space that was the former Cafe Contento and Restaurante La Parroquia. They have a breakfast and lunch menu. I went for brunch after a meeting next door at the San Miguel Photography Gallery and enjoyed the ham and cheese omelette and a macha latte. They also have a coffee window where I grabbed a latte prior to my event at the gallery. I enjoyed meeting the owner and supporting this local business.
Desde 1945 Bugambilia Restaurante-Bar has been a popular spot for Mexican food for over 80 years. Having not been for a number of years, I went for lunch/brunch at their 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. In 2025 they moved further south to Salida a Celaya 4. I went for the first time in January 2026 and enjoyed the same omelette, a fruit plate and a capuchino. It is a smaller space with both indoor and outdoor seating. They have a large menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
Tacos Don Felix, Juan de San Miguel #15, Col. San Rafael, 152 5719: This local’s favorite started as a taco cart on Ave. Independencia in 2005. 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 there for brunch before a theater event nearby and enjoyed the experience and seeing the owners Felix and his wife Gloria again. I was back in March 2026 and enjoyed the tacos again.
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 Café at San Jorge 26. This is a great, casual spot for breakfast, lunch and and an early 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. I have been wanting to go back, so went with a local friend in March 2025 for lunch and had another good experience. I loved my omelette and the toasted banana bread. My friend enjoyed his chili relleno. The staff was very nice and attentive.
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.
San Antonio 28 is located at 28 de Abril Nte. 61. This is a small neighborhood cafe that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I went with a local friends and enjoyed the eggs benedict on a Sunday for brunch. It is a quiet spot when downtown is busy on a weekend.
Located in the Hotel Real de Minas, at Stirling 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 Stirling 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.
Located at Sterling Dickinson 2A 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 went back again and enjoyed the reuben sandwich.
Next door the owners, who have Polish roots, recently opened Market Platz in 2025 that is connected to the deli. They feature Central European food, a bar and gourmet deli. The menu in the morning is from the Deli District and their food menu begins at 2pm. I went for brunch and look forward to going back for dinner to try their new menu. The chef from the now closed Zaki’s Mediterraneo has now joined the team and preparing some of this popular dishes.
Down the street at Stirling 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 Stirling 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 Cafe Rincon Guanajuato at Stirling 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 with my neighbor.
Make sure to visit Café del Sol at Salida a Celaya #34. I had walked by several times and decided to try it. I thought it was a new spot, but turns out it has been there for 20 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.
I went back in April 2025 and had another great omelette and a latte.
Back in Centro is La Alborada for pazole, which is behind La Ventana, the coffee shop and window at Sollano 11. 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 then moved to a new location at Relox 41, north of the Jardin near the Biblioteca. I went to the new location and really enjoyed my omelette as always. I went back again in March 2024 for another great omelette. In April 2025 I went with a photography group and enjoyed a hamburger for lunch, 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 closed this location at Calle Margarito Ledesma #2 in Colonia Guadalupe and 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 (Friday and Saturday) at Cuna de Allende #7. I always enjoyed it, but had not been back for a few years. On a 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 and the colonial architecture. It is a nice respite when Centro is busy. I went back in April 2026 and enjoyed the avocado toast with smoked salmon and my server.
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 Stirling 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 Stirling 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 classic music bands on Thursdays and Latin music on Saturdays. They also also have salsa and tango dancing and karaoke nights. 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 then went with my friends in March 2026 and loved the pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce. There was live music that night.
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.
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. They recently expanded to a lovely new outdoor patio located next door in the recently opened Correo 25 boutique hotel.
In 2025, they opened a second location, Restaurante El Correo Del Parque at Aldama 65. It is located at the newly opened boutitque Hotel Bonito. In November 2025, I went for lunch with a local friend and enjoyed a tastly omelette and a latte on the outsid patio. It is located in a lovely, quiet space and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I went back again for brunch in March 2026.
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. I want to go back for Meatloaf Mondays.
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.
