You can find some great casual spots for coffee, tea, ice cream and chocolates in San Miguel:
My favorite new spot is La Sacristia Terraza + Cafe, from the owners of Zenteno Cafe. Located at Canal 36, they feature a full coffee menu, pastries and more. On my first trip, I had a lovely salad and quiche for lunch on the colorful outdoor terrace in the back. I liked it so much and went back again with friends and loved the toast with brie, pear, serrano ham and a reduction of red wine vinaigrette. Now I go every time that I am back in town. It is a great new addition to San Miguel.
The Zenteno Cafe group also has opened Zenteno Bellas Artes, is located in the back of Bellas Artes. It is a perfect spot to grab coffee and a bite while overlooking the lovely courtyard and getting away from the crowds in Centro. Hernandez Macias #75. Their original location, Zenteno Cafe, is a small local spot at Hernandez Macias 136 and the corner of Codo. Their newest location is a colorful cafe located at Salida de Celaya 10C. In addition to coffee, they feature breakfast and lunch items.
Mente Cacao: At Zacateros 17, this is a small shop for great chocolate bars, truffles as well as hot and cold chocolate. You can sit and enjoy it in their small cafe. I always buy the 70% dark chocolate bars. They also have a smaller location on Mesones across from Petit Four and one on Saturdays at Mercado Sano. Their latest location is at Ancha San Antonio #57.
Cafe Oso Azul, or the Blue Bear, is one of my favorite spots and I have to go every time I am back in town. Owned by two Danes, this is a cafe serving breakfast, lunch, coffee, desserts and smoothies. It is a charming spot with a lovely courtyard with outdoor seating. They just expanded their interior dining space. The coffee is always excellent. I always try to order one of their quiches or omelettes for lunch. They also roast their own coffee. Zacateros 17.
La Ventana Cafe Organico de Chiapas, at Sollano 11, is good for coffee or tea. You can order from the window and head to the Jardin or go into the cafe through the side entrance. I always stop in to buy the local paper, the Antencion, on Fridays to see what is happening in town for the week.
My go to place for tea at least twice a week is Nectar at Correo 43. It is located on the attractive patio of the Camino Silvestre store and serves some excellent teas, cookies and ice cream. This is a perfect place to meet a friend or read the weekly schedule of what to do in town in the Atencion’s Que Pasa section. They are also open for breakfast and lunch. After a wonderful first lunch I went back and loved the best shrimp sandwich and a trio of soups including sweet potato, carrot and gazpacho.
If you are in Col. San Antonio, make sure to visit Cafe 1910 at San Felipe #19. Here you can enjoy coffee, tea or a great breakfast or lunch item. It is owned by a delightful Mexican couple, Anna and Mario. Mario’s murals inside of famous people in US and Mexican history, really make the spot. I had a lovely ham and cheese croissant sandwich. A local friend loves going often for the breakfast bagel sandwich.
I normally would not recommend a Starbucks, but the Starbucks at the corner of Canal and Hildago across from the Jardin in San Miguel is found in a wonderful old building with great architectural details and a lovely patio in the courtyard. I go often and love the atmosphere. They also take the Starbucks prepaid card from the US.
Speaking of Starbucks, a newly opened Cafe at the Rosewood Hotel serves Starbucks coffee and wonderful cookies and pastries. It opened in early November, 2015 and is located in the gift shop off the lobby. They do have some outdoor tables. I was there several times on my recent trip!
Just down the street is is A.15 or Animas Quince at Nemesio Diez 2. It is fun spot for a pastry and coffee.
Chocolates Johfrei: Now at Jesus 2A, this is a chocolate store that has been in San Miguel for over ten years and in Mexico City since 1920. They offer handmade chocolates, tasty ice cream and great coffee.
San Augustine: At San Francisco #21, a block east of the Jardin, this is the best place for hot chocolate and churros for an afternoon snack! The Mexican hot chocolate with a touch of cinnamon is perfect! Just be aware that the lines on weekends can be long, so go mid-week.
El Petit Four: This is a European-style baked goods, sandwiches and coffee that is well-worth a visit. The chef/owner, Paco Cardenas, teaches great cooking classes in town. They have recently moved to Jesus #2-B.
I always enjoyed El Cafe de la Mancha located at Recreo 21A. I often stopped in for coffee on my way to my daily Spanish class. It is a small cafe which recently started serving food items for breakfast and lunch. I highly recommend it. I just saw that they moved to a new spot at Julian Carrillo 5B in Col. Guadalupe. I can’t wait to go and try it. I will report back when I do.
I read about and recently tried Ki’bok Coffee at Sollano 25. A block off of the Jardin, this is a fun spot for coffee that has a lovely rooftop patio with great views. This cafe is the second one after their original in Tulum.
Other coffee shops I recently discovered include the charming Casa de Cafe at Hospicio 31 at the corner of Recreo for a morning coffee break. Albedo Casa Tostadora is a new coffee roaster than has opened next to Mercado Carmen at Zacateros #39.
I have now been several times to the coffee shop, Geek & Coffee, at Fabrica La Aurora. It is located to the right of the entrance just outside the main complex. It has a great indoor space as well as lovely outdoor terrace. In addition to coffee drinks, they serve breakfast and lunch items. It is a great spot to go when the town is crowded during festivals and holidays.
Thanks to a local friend, I found Buen Dia Cafe. Formerly at Callejon del Pueblito #3A it has recently moved to a larger space at Hidalgo #42. They have excellent coffee. You can also have breakfast and lunch. I am excited to try the new location when I return to town.
For wonderful tres leches cake, head off of Hernandez Macias a block to Pastelerie La Casita Feliz at Guadiana #15.
Formerly located in Mi Vida, Buonforno is a fairly new bakery and coffee shop that is worth visit if you are in Colonia San Antonio. Stirling Dickinson 33.
Don’t miss the new Doce 18 Concept House at Relox 18. Here you will find The Kitchen food court area, a location of Cumpanio Bakery called Panio serving coffee and pastries Le Macaron Boutique. The macarons are wonderful and I keep stopping in for more!
Dulce Fresa: This is a local artisan candy store at Umaran 24-A. I recently found it on a San Miguel food tour. They have excellent cajeta, caramelized goats milk, candies and rompope, a Mexican eggnog drink.
Cafeteria y Reposteria Say’s for coffee, tea, donuts, pastries and frappes. I stopped in for coffee on a recent trip to San Miguel. Insurgentes #152
While walking through Colonia Guadalupe, I happened upon a new spot, Josephine’s Buenas Bebidas. As a natural drink cafe, they have a menu of coffee, juices, frappés (basically raw vegan milkshakes) and smoothies. Their cold brew was very good which I had with their homemade oat milk. They also have a food menu for breakfast and lunch. Maria Grever #5
For a fun Mexican experience, stop in at La Micoacana for one of their yummy paletas. These popsicles come in many flavors. I love the coconut!! Insurgentes 38 and Mesones 44.