One of the best things to do in any new city is to eat whenever you fancy and to slowly sip espresso in charming cafes, watching the passing parade.
San Miguel de Allende’s culinary scene blends traditional Mexican and international flavors, often employing innovative techniques, making it a delicious destination. Street food plays a significant role in the city’s culinary culture, with vendors offering everything from tacos and tamales to esquites (corn salad) and churros, giving you the perfect opportunity to satisfy any hunger pangs as you meander the colorful alleys and streets.
One of the most iconic dishes of San Miguel de Allende is the "chiles en nogada," a patriotic dish featuring poblano peppers stuffed with picadillo (meat, fruits, and spices), topped with a creamy walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds. This is the dish devoured for Mexican Independence Day celebrations, symbolizing the country's rich history. Another staple is "mole," a complex sauce made from a blend of chili peppers, chocolate, spices, and herbs, often served over chicken or pork. All of the city’s restaurants excel at preparing various versions of mole, each with a unique twist, showcasing the culinary artistry of local chefs.
San Miguel de Allende has become a culinary hotspot for international cuisine, with chefs experimenting with fusion dishes and organic, farm-to-table concepts. This beautiful city has a dynamic café culture, with numerous establishments serving traditional Mexican breakfasts and innovative coffee drinks. Chilaquiles, a dish of fried tortilla chips simmered in salsa and topped with cheese, crema, and sometimes eggs or chicken, is a popular morning meal. For those with a sweet tooth, local bakeries and dessert shops offer conchas (sweet bread rolls), flan, and tres leches cake. The city’s markets, such as the Mercado de San Miguel, are treasure troves of fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, and homemade salsas.
When in San Miguel de Allende, do not miss gorging yourselves at the establishments below:
Altar
This is one of those wow places where every detail has been given thought, from the restrooms that appear more like an exclusive sculpture gallery to the soft cushioned bench seat in the elevator. Arriving at the rooftop position of Altar is to walk into a wonderland of San Miguel’s impressive rooftop domains, where dotted sculptures and an expansive sky wrap the venue like a living art gallery. A restaurant and bar that was one of my favorites, the menu is a contemporary take on many native dishes, plus a play on European flair that will leave your taste buds dancing.
Casa Nostra
Another amazing rooftop venue, Casa Nostra is the perfect restaurant if you have a hankering for Mediterranean fare with plenty of panache—wrap your senses around a waiter who perfectly creates the dish of pasta alla ruota—pasta and hot parmesan cheese in a cheese wheel at your table! It’s a feast of tapas, risottos, pastas, veal, chicken, seafood, and salads, which creates a salivating dilemma when choosing what to eat. A fantastic wine list and an extensive cocktail menu complement the dishes perfectly. The menu makes my mouth water, while the view is to die for. You will be up in the air looking over distant mountains, jacaranda flowering trees, and the spires of the churches of the city. Make sure you leave room for the chocolate fondue for dessert.
Pork Belly
If you have a wish to pig out on some pig, head to this funky restaurant sitting on Stirling Dickinson Street, aptly named Pork Belly. From pork belly tacos and burgers, to bacon mac n cheese or the house specialty, a pulled pork sandwich, this is a gem of a venue. It’s a casual eatery with lots of grunt in its décor from cutesy hats and aprons to caricatures of pigs and meat cleavers. You can see the chef hard at work tending to his hunks of pork in the smoker, or the mixologist creating one of their excellent cocktails that are larger than life—imagine basil and rosemary margaritas. The servings are large and well-priced, so you don’t have to worry about your bank balance when choosing to eat here. Dining options include the courtyard, back patio, or the rooftop. With their own craft beer and plenty of options if you are not into a meal of pig such as smoked cauliflower, do not miss out on this extraordinary experience.
Lavanda
Only moments from the Mercado de Artesanias, you will see the queue waiting to be granted a table at this hallowed café. To escape the massive queue, go early in the morning and wait for the door to open. Lavanda has been around for a while and is a favorite hangout for locals and tourists. The signature caffeine hit to indulge in is the lavender latte, but if you prefer not to be that adventurous, there are plenty of other great regular coffees to be had made from top-tier coffee beans from all over Mexico that are roasted onsite. Known for doing the best poached eggs in town, there are plenty of options to choose from that will satisfy the hungriest souls.
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
