The view from Luna Tapas Bar. | Rosewood San Miguel de Allende
Beef marrow tacos at a Thai Mexican hotel restaurant, pastries filled with orange and cactus fruit at a creative bakery, vegan enchiladas from a specialist in local organic produce, and more of SMA’s best meals
San Miguel de Allende (SMA) is considered one of the great colonial-era jewels of Latin America. The quaint town, nestled among the central mountains of the state of Guanajuato, has been a must-visit destination since the 1960s, when artists and poets like Allen Ginsberg and Stirling Dickinson fell for the creative spirit of the place. The main attractions are the stunning beauty of the architecture, the quaint cobblestone streets, and the general bohemian vibes you’ll find throughout the local art galleries and boutique hotels. Outdoor enthusiasts and eco-tourists find plenty to love here too.
And while Michelin declined to recommend any restaurants when its first guide to SMA landed this year, the food scene is nevertheless impressive for a relatively small city, thanks to the bounty of surrounding ranches, farms, vineyards, and orchards, as well as a flourishing community of foreign expats with diverse tastes. Nowadays, the main focus is on rooftops and small restaurants within boutique hotels. Places like Hortus, Bennu, and Huitzil join the list thanks to their attentive hospitality and simple, well-executed menus anchored in local flavors and ingredients. Panina, meanwhile, satisfies locals’ demand for quality pastries, while La Cabra Iluminada offers enticing vegan fare. And bars like Bekeb, on the rooftop of Casa Hoyos, and Tunki Rooftop by Handshake, on the property of Casa Sierra Nevada, have taken cocktails to new levels of quality.
Natalia de la Rosa is a food writer and taco- and mezcal-lover based in Mexico City. She is a podcast host at The Latest Food.
