Warming the Heart & Soul in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Tips & Suggestions for the Best San Miguel de Allende Getaway; Make Your Winter Escape One to Remember.
Start your San Miguel de Allende getaway with coffee and sunlight at Casa Hoyos.
Escape the Cold; Head to the Heart.
These Autumn days keep getting shorter and shorter. The cool, down-right cold winds, are picking up in their intensity and where I write this from, snow flakes are already falling! If you’re like me, while recognizing health, safety and wellness come first during this on-going worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, you’re also ready to spread your wings and create new memories traveling. Where better to head for a winter holiday than the warm heart of Mexico, San Miguel de Allende?
Just three hours north of Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, beats as the cultural, historical and in many ways arts and food center of the country. From its colonial roots to its modern, luxury hotels, San Miguel offers a mystical getaway filled with awe, wonder and romance. Walking the cobblestone streets at sunset while the sun’s last rays illuminate the town’s clay walls of dark ochres, mustards and crimsons feels like discovering a charming town in the European countryside. San Miguel de Allende takes this European influence, adds decades of American ex-patriots calling it home, and blends it into a robust and unique Mexican city, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
After this Spring’s months-long shutdown San Miguel de Allende reopened following strict protocols on health and cleanliness earning it the World Travel & Tourism Council’s “Safe Travels” seal of approval. The city is open, welcoming visitors and ready to host your winter escape! Where to stay? Where to dine? What to do? Follow these recommendations for beautiful hotels, incredibly delicious restaurants and joy-inspiring adventures to make your time spent exploring the city truly memorable!
Discover Jardín, the city center in San Miguel de Allende.
Hotels as Unique as the City Itself.
When traveling for pleasure, hotels should always add to your enjoyment. San Miguel de Allende boosts accommodations for every style, personality and budget. Ranking high on my places of favorites in the city, check out these top three properties.
Paying homage to its past, Casa Hoyos, boosts a whimsical palette of natural color, textures and design, provoking the grain and feed once housed in this building. Originally the city’s first currency exchange, Casa Hoyos then became a ranching store. Recently it splashed onto the San Miguel hotel scene with modern, colorful architecture, indulgent luxury and a playful aesthetic catering to a more youthful crowd. Instagramable with possible shots at every turn, this is the hotel for you. Make sure to swing upstairs to Bekeb after sundown for rooftop terrace drinks, dj’s and dazzling nighttime views.
El Palomar on the other hand speaks to a regal, classic luxury that transcends age. The hotel incorporates both natural and man-made structures into its design. Jagged edges of a rough rock cave cut through a guest suite while a towering iron, steel and glass elevator shines in the courtyard, El Palomar is a fusion of old-world and new. Perched just a short walking distance from the city center and up a slight hill, the balconies at El Palomar offer an incredible overlooks. Unwind after a long day spent discovering San Miguel with a glass of wine and a warming, kindling fire in the in-room fireplace. Marveling at the cathedral towers below. Decadence. This is how to enjoy Winter.
Terrace balconies at El Palomar Hotel.
The soft elegance of El Palomar Hotel.
Casa Hoyos’ modern elegance and design.
Relax in indulgence at Casa Hoyos.
For traveler’s seeking the comfort and reliability of a worldwide, known hotel chain, the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende is more than a safe bet. The hotel has consistently been named as not only one of the best in Mexico, but one of the best in the world. It’s sleek, clean lines and fresh, open spaces are accented with hand-crafted artisan furniture, wood-beamed ceilings and colors reflecting the soul of city. The Rosewood San Miguel de Allende feels homey yet luxurious, new but authentic, and hosts one of the best rooftop terrace scenes in town worth a cocktail visit even if you decide to stay elsewhere.
Let the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende grandly greet you.
Eat, Dine and Enjoy A Foodie’s Paradise.
From that first sip of morning coffee to the last drop of your nightcap cocktail, in a city known for the culinary arts, check out these bakeries, bars and restaurants in San Miguel de Allende:
Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Celia Cocina Mexicana. Try the chorizo omelet with a spicy avocado salsa or skip the savory and go sweet with bacon French toast. Either way, you can’t go wrong. Located inside the exterior courtyard entranceway of Casa Hoyos, Cocina Mexicana offers all your favorite morning dishes with slight twists, served in just the right portions. A wonderful place to wake the body with a latte, some sunshine and maybe a couple pup friends! Celina Cocina Mexicana is a spacious, pet-friendly restaurant.
Midday swing-by the newly relocated Petit Four, a local institution when it comes to pastries, cookies, bread and cakes. Grab a warm sandwich made with the day’s fresh rye or ciabatta, a refreshing salad or a warm bowl of soup. Then try choosing just one dessert…or don’t! It’s much too difficult. Try a mezcal chocolate truffle, a French macaroon and an Eclair! Enjoy a slice of rich cherry pie, some cheesecake or the double chocolate cookies. Petit Four, from chefs Norma Guerrero and Paco Cárdenas, is the type of bakery that brings a smile to both your heart and your stomach.
When you’re ready, head back out into the streets of San Miguel de Allende and get lost in world of shopping, sight-seeing and history. Reflect on your new purchases and all you’ve learned with an early evening cocktail at Antonia Bistro, the rooftop terrace restaurant atop El Palomar. There’s no place better to look across the valley as the sun sets behind the mountains out on the horizon. The view, cool evening breezes and lounge beats just might entice you to stay for dinner, which would be a great choice! Homemade fettuccini with oxtail, jerk chicken, ceviche with corn tiger milk and yellow chili rank high on the list of must tries. Still have room for dessert? Don’t miss the corn pancakes with cheese ice cream.
Dinner and sunset at from Antonia Bistro.
After a sunset cocktail The Restaurant by master chef Danny Masterson can’t go overlooked for one of the best dinners in town. Early on, when San Miguel was still beginning to find its way as a foodie’s paradise, Masterson relocated from the States, took a risk and opened this local gem. Offering playful takes on modern comfort food, The Restaurant uses locally grown produce and sustainable sourced meats up and down its menu. With street-side tacos, Thai carnitas salad, coffee and ancho chili braised pork cheeks and roasted mushroom risotto all on the menu, you’ll need more than one dinner to taste the perfection at The Restaurant.
Danny Masterson’s The Restaurant, a must when in San Miguel.
Adventure for Every Personality.
Whether you’re the type that eats your way through a city, prefers meandering walks through quieter side streets or loves high-energy adventures, San Miguel de Allende has something for you.
Start your journey through this UNESCO World Heritage site on foot…and with your mouth. Walk the famed downtown, city center district where each turn brings one incredible view after another. Join Victor from Taste of San Miguel for an afternoon sampling the best restaurants in town and learn some history along the way. Traditional mole negro enchiladas, tortilla soup, lavender and mint iced tea evolves into modern vegan cactus tacos, rum spiked Mexican ice cream and fresh, hot churros. With Taste of San Miguel you’ll understand the influences behind the dishes and hear lesser-known historical stories while getting ideas on where to come back to for tomorrow night’s dinner!
Conde Nast’s 2020 Best Small City of the World!
Every turn brings old-world charm in San Miguel.
Food isn’t the only art excelling in San Miguel; this is a city known for its bustling creative arts scene. Hand-woven fabrics and clothing, inspiring oil paintings, contemporary sculpture or the clean lines of modern interior design- San Miguel is a fusion of styles, tastes and ideas. Explore this city filled with numerous art galleries, one-of-a-kind jewelry stores and artisan studios. Shop. Shop. And shop some more. For some of the best original artwork and wares, head to Fábrica La Aurora. This historical landmark, once housing the region’s top textile factory, now celebrates creativity giving home to a sprawling collective of local artists and designers.
As incredibly charming as the city center district is, no trip to San Miguel de Allende is complete without a day trip into the countryside. Here the Mediterranean-like climate, along with high altitude, provides the perfect climate for a vast production of wines. Spend an afternoon finding your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Shiraz at Cuna de Tierra. Not only does Cuna de Tierra draw inspiration from its natural setting for its selection of award-winning wines, it compliments the environment with stunning, industrial architecture.
The contemporary connection between nature and design at Cuna de Tierra winery.
Wine isn’t for you but still want to get out and take in the open spaces? Head over to 3 Señors, the original equestrian tourism company in San Miguel. Flexible for any level of horseback-riding, 3 Señors takes you through San Miguel Viejo, the valley that held the first structures of what grew into the city we today call San Miguel de Allende. Ride through a winding forest of pepper tress, down the gravel roads of local settlements, marvel at the authentic haciendas and watch as a herd of bulls cross by; this is an experience available only when getting off the grid and allowing yourself to appreciate life at a slightly slower, calmer, pace.
This season escape the boring humdrum of life sheltered in place, the cold air of brutal snow storms and the short, dark days of Winter. Experience San Miguel de Allende, a city creating the new normal- a fine balance of safety, health and wellness with adventure, culture and excitement. Allow your curiosity to lead you through this magical city and, soon, you too will understand why San Miguel de Allende is Heart of Mexico.
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