Best Places to Eat in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Restaurants in San Miguel de Allende are plentiful and affordable. Expect delicious Mexican and international fare. This city in Central Mexico also offers incredible street food and markets. Let’s dig in!

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These San Miguel de Allende Restaurants and Food Tips

So much of the soul of a place can be revealed through local flavors and food traditions. My family’s love of Mexican cuisine is part of the reason we chose San Miguel de Allende, Mexico as the location of our month-long expat experience and why we long to move to this city. I must admit that we ate out almost every night during both of our visits here.

1. El Rincon de Don Tomas

For breakfast with a view of the city’s beautiful pink sandstone Parroquia San Miguel Arcangel, pull up a chair at the sidewalk patio, El Rincon de Don Tomas. As a chilaquiles connoisseur, I am particularly taken with theirs, served with eggs and beans.

Be prepared to be hounded by street vendors, though. I recommend waiting until after your meal to make any purchases to avoid an onslaught of additional sellers.

There’s no kids’ menu, but prices are affordable and plates are reasonably sized, so you don’t need one.

2. Lavanda Café

There’s always a line out the door at Lavanda, and for good reason. Food at this brunch place is beautifully presented and memorably delicious.

Cazuela is the house specialty. This breakfast casserole is made with potatoes, mushrooms, cheese, and chili sauce topped with a fried egg and bacon crumbles.

A small children’s menu is available. Best for kids is their chocolate caliente (hot chocolate) — if you’re lucky, it’ll be served with a bear face in the foam!

3. Hecho en Mexico

My family’s favorite restaurant in San Miguel de Allende is hands-down Hecho en Mexico. Between our two stays in the city, we have eaten here at least a dozen times.

We keep coming back for their darling outdoor patio, friendly and attentive service, and extensive Mexican menu with special options just for kids. Best of all is their Camarones Guajillo — shrimp served with guajillo peppers and butter sauce.

4. La Brasilia

For the best tacos in town, head to La Brasilia. My kids’ summer camp counselor recommended this place after my daughter complained about a bad taco experience elsewhere in town. This taco specialty restaurant will not disappoint true taco lovers!

Tacos are served with a variety of meats on either corn or flour tortillas, with cheese or without. A variety of fresh salsas and hot sauces will be brought to the table for your taco-topping pleasure. Baked potatoes are the only side dish option, served with your choice of garnishes.

La Brasilia is nothing fancy and prices are crazy affordable. Menus are in Spanish only and the servers don’t speak English. In fact, we were always the only gringos in the joint. For non-taco people, my tween son declared their cheeseburger super delicious.

5. Panio

Be sure to stop into Panio at least once during your stay in San Miguel de Allende with kids. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a Parisian patisserie as you try to decide between a chocolate croissant or lemon tart. Coffee, tea and even beer are available to wash down your treats. Salads and sandwiches are also served for lunch. Get a baguette to go!

There are two Panio locations in San Miguel de Allende. Additionally, Cumpanio is a hip full-service restaurant managed by the same owners. Although we loved the sunny yellow décor and their addictive crispy fries served with fresh Parmesan, my family wasn’t impressed with the rest of Cumpanio’s offerings.

6. Vivali Restaurante

After a few days of enjoying Mexican food in San Miguel de Allende, your brood might long for something different. Pizza and pasta please most kids, especially at a restaurant as pretty and welcoming as Vivali.

Best of all is their bright marinara sauce, according to my husband, daughter, and son. As a gluten-free eater, I stuck to offerings like chicken piccata and fish served with olives, tomatoes, and oregano.

7. Rosewood Hotel San Miguel de Allende

It’s worth splurging on dinner and drinks at Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar at the upscale Rosewood Hotel. This swanky locale charges luxury prices but serves up panoramic views of the city. Children are welcome and can choose from a kids’ menu.

Tapas sizes are larger than what you’d typically get in Spain or the U.S., so you probably don’t need to order as much food as you might think. The flank steak tacos are particularly good and Luna boasts my family’s favorite guacamole in town.

Also noteworthy, hot chocolates are served Mexican-style, with spices like a sprinkle of cinnamon and a wee dash of cayenne pepper. 

Also at the Rosewood Hotel San Miguel de Allende, 1826 Tequila Bar specializes in tequila or mezcal cocktails and sushi. Kids are welcomed at all of the hotels’ restaurants including the upscale farm-to-table restaurant, Restaurante 1826.

Additionally, tasty poolside food (like homemade lavender ice cream!) is served to hotel guests and those who purchase a day pass at the Rosewood.

8. El Pegaso

El Pegaso (the Pegasus) is like the Cheesecake Factory of San Miguel de Allende. They offer a huge menu featuring all sorts of dishes and cuisines plus lots of dessert options. It’s not the best food in the city, but you’re sure to find something to please all palates. Plus, the upstairs patio offers excellent views.

You’ll find Mexican options (my daughter raves about their tostadas!) as well as lots of salads, sandwiches, and soups.

They even offer a few Chinese dishes! My son loves their crab and cream cheese wontons and my dad’s pork fried rice was quite good. Steer clear of the kung pao chicken, though — it comes with way too much cloyingly sweet sauce and just a wee scoop of rice.

9. La Azotea

Peek outside the windows at La Azotea to watch the bells being rung by hand at Parroquia San Miguel Arcangél. While dining here I kept saying, “I’m just so happy!” The location right next door to the city’s famed church does that to a person. Click the video above to see what I mean.

Azotea’s rooftop bar is for adults only, but families with kids are welcome to dine inside the restaurant. Everyone raves about their jicama tacos, which use a thin slice of jicama in place of the tortilla. Come here for an upscale dining experience with crazy views that your family will long remember.

10. Mercado SANO

This multi-level market features an organic grocer and several individually-owned stalls. At Mercado SANO you’ll find foods like frozen yogurt, veggie burgers, gluten-free crêpes, fancy coffee drinks, fresh-squeezed juices, and more. Yes, it’s hipster heaven in San Miguel de Allende! There’s even free WiFi. This spot makes a good place for a light snack or a relatively quick breakfast. It’s the city’s version of a fast food court, just healthier…and slower. Come on Saturdays for an outdoor organic market surrounding the building.

Street Food

Some of the best food in San Miguel de Allende won’t be found in restaurants. Rather, it’s the Mexican street food that will tempt your tastebuds. Be on the lookout for tacos, tamales, paletas (homemade popsicles), corn on the cob, ice creams, and fresh fruits served with chili sauce.

If you’re nervous about tummy troubles from eating street food, watch where the locals eat. A long line typically means the food is safe. My family has happily eaten from all sorts of food carts in San Miguel with no negative repercussions.

San Miguel de Allende Markets

If you will be staying in a vacation rental property in San Miguel de Allende, then you will likely want to pick up a few things to eat from the city’s markets.

Mentioned above, an organic market takes place next to Mercado SANO every Saturday and features all sorts of organic fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and more.

Tianguis de los Martes is a giant flea market held every Tuesday just outside the city. While you can buy all sorts of clothing, toys, and household goods here — there is also an array of fresh produce for sale as well as hot meals.

Mercado de Artesanias is where to go to buy hand-crafted items like ceramics, baskets, and jewelry but you can buy food items there as well.

Grocery Stores

You will find several small grocers that sell beverages, bread, pharmacy items, and packaged foods in San Miguel de Allende.

For more substantial shopping, however, you will want to visit what my 10-year-old son has deemed, “The Largest Grocery Store in the World.” La Comer, the city’s primary grocery store, is half household goods (TVs, washing machines, lawn care items, linens, etc.) and half groceries.

You’ll find everything your family needs at La Comer from fresh-baked pastries and frozen foods to meats, deli items, produce, and beyond. There’s even a fast food restaurant and a coffee café located within the store! Take a taxi to this grocery store, located just outside of city center.

Enjoy Eating in San Miguel de Allende

Part of the joy of a trip to San Miguel de Allende is its plentiful restaurants and street food vendors. Besides the beauty and friendliness of San Miguel de Allende, it’s really the food that I miss most.

Learn More

Read more about things to do in San Miguel de Allende now!

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For delicious New Mexican cuisine, read about the best farm to table restaurants in Albuquerque.

Save the Best San Miguel de Allende Restaurants

Planning a trip to this beautiful Mexican city? Be sure to save this list of the best San Miguel de Allende restaurants for families! Just pin the image above to Pinterest for future reference.

Which of these San Miguel de Allende restaurants sounds most tempting to you? Let us know in the comments below!

A Note from The Travel Mama: My family paid full price for every morsel of food we ate in San Miguel de Allende. I will always let you know when I receive a media rate or comp. All opinions are mine, as always.

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