As a day trip from San Miguel de Allende or a destination on its own, Guanajuato is a colonial city and one of Mexico’s most beautiful cities, that is very European in its feel. It is also the capital of the state of Guanajuato. I love eating in a café on the Jardin, walking and exploring the twisting streets, beautiful churches and small quiet plazas, exploring its museums and visiting the large market in the center of town with its many food stalls. It was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Founded by the Spanish in the early 16th century, Guanajuato became the world’s leading silver-extraction centre in the 18th century.
Make sure you explore and see the following:
The small Jardin de la Union or central square is particularly nice with its sculpted laurel trees, musicians and attractive cafes and restaurants. It is a very special place for people watching and having a great meal.
One of my favorite cafes is located at the historic Posada Santa Fe hotel on the Jardin at Jardin de la Union #12. They have a lovely restaurant with an outside patio overlooking the Jardin that is a perfect spot to enjoy the views and for people watching. I have enjoyed eating lunch there twice in the past.
I have also tried Casa Valadez. This is a lovely restaurant next to the the Jardin and the Theatro. I had a very good coconut shrimp with salad. Jardin de la Union #3. Their outdoor patio was lovely, but it has since been closed by the government since I was there.
Other restaurants to try include:
New York Magazine recommends Mestizo at Positos #69. I hope to try it on a future visit.
Truco 7 Restaurant at Del Truco #7 is a casual spot for traditional Mexican food that gets great reviews.
On a recent trip, I met a local friend at La Vie en Rose for lunch. This is an attractive French cafe, owned by transplants from France, serving coffee, pastries and traditonal French dishes. Breakfast is served until 2:30 and then the lunch and dinner menu is available. I enjoyed the traditional croque madame sandwich with an egg and smoked salmon along with a tasty pineapple tart with coconut. I recommend the experience. Cantarranas 18.
My local friend who joined me, lives in Guanajuato and has some other great suggestions on The Best Restaurants that you might find helpful.
In April 2025 he and I met up again and went to La Bohemia Restaurant Bar which is located on the at San Fernando 33A. This is a popular local place that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a large menu of Mexican specialities. I enjoyed my omelette while my friend love his chilaquiles. The restaurant is on the Plaza de San Fernando which is one of the most charming squares in the city.
After our lunch I went for some great gelato and short walk away at Estación Gelato at Cantaritos 29. They offer handmade gelatos and sorbets using natural ingredients and seasonal fruits. It is a cute spot to visit. They also have a second locatoin at Truco 8.
I then went to Café Conquistador at Positos 35. This is a tiny cafe with a fun atmosphere with autographed money hanging from the ceiling and mounted to the walls. Their is coffee from the Coatepec region of Veracruz, MX. They offer a variety of homemade pastries, loose coffee, and a wide variety of hot and cold coffee drinks. I enjoyed a great latte.
Across the street in a beautiful courtyard is Amarte Casa de Té which is a tea house with food items as well. There is a restaurant below that also features live music. Positos 38
Teatro Juarez: This is right on the Jardin and has a wonderful neo-classical façade. It is a major venue during the Cervantino Festival. I highly recommend visiting the theater when it is open in the afternoons. The interior architecture is really stunning.
Festival Internacional Cervantino is one of the most important festivals in Latin America. It is listed as one of the 1000 Places to See Before You Die in the book by Patricia Schultz. Each October, there are well-known performing artists from around the world, art exhibits, theater performances and musicians performing in outside venues throughout the center of town. In the past there were performances in San Miguel de Allende during the Festival.
The Mercado Hidalgo is located in a very large market building with balcony built in 1905. I always love seeing the food stands and local people.
Make sure to walk through Plaza Baratillo, one of the oldest squares in the city.
After reading about Día de las Flores, I made a point to visit the flower market in the Jardin as it opened on April 10th, 2025, the day before the main event. This is an annual celebration the Friday before Palm Sunday, known as The Virgin of Sorrows or Viernes de Dolores or Virgin de Dolores, where people create home altars depicting Mary in mourning attire with Jesus on the Cross. They decorate the altars with traditional wheat grass, fresh flower, oranges and chamomile. I love going every year to see the altars in the local neighborhoods in San Miguel. They also have altars in the fountains and in some public spaces and restaurants.
Therefore, the flower market is for people who decorate their altars. I loved the seeing the colors. In addition outside, the Mercado Hidalgo there was an Easter Market featuring Easter eggs filled with confetti. I was glad that I made the special trip to experience both markets!
Don’t miss the churches. The Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato is lovely and the facade on the Templo de San Felipe Neri is really wonderful. The Iglesia de San Cayetano de Valenciana, on the outskirts of town as you enter from Santa Rosa, is a must see. There are three spectacular gold altars.
Museo Casa Diego Rivera, Pocitos 47: This is the house where Diego Rivera was born on December 8, 1886. It is now a museum dedicated to his life and art and is well worth the visit. You can visit the home on the lower floors and see permanent as well as temporary exhibitions on the upper floors. It includes a number of his works throughout his career.
Two other museums you should add to your list include:
Museo Iconografico del Quijote at Manuel Doblado #1: This museum, featuring Don Quixote as subject, has some excellent paintings plus wonderful murals and a chapel with a contemporary painted ceiling and walls. There is also an attractive coffee cafe off the center court. Nearby by is La Casa del Quijote,a lovely store featuring jewelry, folk art, pottery and other gift items. Soperia 17.
Primer Deposito Museo de Arte Contemporaneo: This is a small museum with a collection featuring bronze sculptures by Leonora Carrington, ceramics by Jesus Hernandez Capelo and others. There is a small cafe and a Capelo ceramics store. Positos 25A.
The Pottery of Gorky Gonzalez: When you are in Guanajuato this is not to be missed. Gorky González Quiñones was one of the Great Masters of Mexico Folk Art. You can buy his work in the US and in some of the best stores in San Miguel de Allende. But the best place to see his work is in his own store and studio near the center of Guanajuato. Make sure to call ahead for an appointment to make sure they are there. Unfortunately Gorky died in 2017, but his son, Yu Fijuwara, continues to make the traditional pottery made famous by his father along with his own more contemporary ceramics. If you go ask if you can visit their home and see his father’s collection of Mexican folk art and ceramics. It is really wonderful! Ex Huerta de Montenegro s/n Col. Pastita.
Another museum to visit is the Museo del Pueblo de Guanajuato, a small museum featuring historical & modern art, including paintings and sculptures. I recently went for my first time and and enjoyed the permanent collection. Positos #7.
The Estudiantinas: At night enjoy the music of the Estudiantinas, student musicians dressed as strolling 16th century troubadours. Follow them through the narrow winding streets as they are sing and play their mandolins and guitars.
Take the funicular or climb the hill behind the Teatro Juarez to the El Pipila monument. The views of the hillsides dotted with colorful painted homes reminds you of Europe and is really wonderful!
Also make sure to visit the Callejon del Beso or Alley of the Kiss not far from the Jardin. This is a very narrow alley where young couple go to kiss on the third step of the alley to guarantee 15 years of happiness in their relationship. Belén 22
There are a number of boutique hotels in the downtown area.
You might also stay at the historic Posada Santa Fe which is the if you want to explore Guanajuato at night or to attend the Cervantino Festival. It is right on the Jardin at Jardin de la Union #12.
For a more contemporary, design hotel, I really like the Edelmira Hotel at Allende #7. This is a small boutique hotel just off the Jardin Union with great temporary design. It is a Tesoros hotel with lovely pool, dining room, and rooftop terrace with great views of the city.
Also, on the Jardin, the Hotel Boutique 1850 is another great option with great contemporary style. Jardin de la Union #7. It is also a Tesoros hotel which is the Federal Ministry of Tourism’s Premium Tourism Quality Program.
A wonderful property I recently discovered is Casa del Rector at Positos #33. Opened in late 2016, this boutique hotel has a contemporary design and great style. The 12 rooms are nicely done and there is a is a lovely rooftop bar, La Bartola, with stunning views along with an infinity pool. There is a coffee bar, Cafe 33 on the first floor along with their Las Vieyras Restaurante. My friends and I decided to eat lunch here as some of the other spots nearby had not yet opened. The food was very good.
A recent article in New York Magazine recommended the elegant Villa Maria Cristina, boutique hotel, on the edge of the center. I also read that Nueve 25 Hotel Boutique at C. Ponciano Aguilar 69 is another attractive option with a lovely rooftop bar and restaurant. It was listed in the 2024 Michelin Guide.
Away from the center, you might enjoy a comida or long lunch at Casa Mercedes, Calle de Arriba #6, Frac San Javier. Ask for Jesus at 014-737-327375. It is near the Camino Real and the Castle. It gets great reviews from my friends.
Capelo Pottery: Known for their attractive majolica pottery. Make sure to stop at their gallery and store, which is just outside of town on the road to Sierra de Santa Rosa. Cerro de la Cruz, Col. Mineral de Valenciana, Carretara GTO Dolores.
The small village of Santa Rosa or Santa Rosa de Lima, known for its majolica pottery is a short distance from the Valenciana area of Guanajuato. Don’t miss Mayolica Santa Rosa. I have always enjoyed this large ceramics store on two floors, and have bought a number of pieces over the years for the houses I have done in San Miguel de Allende. Camino Real s/n in Santa Rosa.
Nearby is Conservas 1998. This is an organization of local women founded to help give them an outlet to sell the products from the fruits and vegetables of the area. Here you can find a large number of jams and jellies, candies and liquors. Camino Real #25.
The Restaurant de la Sierra in Santa Rosa gets good reviews in case you want to grab lunch while you are in town.