Your San Miguel guide
Carla & Silvano’s San Miguel Guide
We are Carla and Silvano, the local agents behind this site. Since 2015 we have hosted visitors in San Miguel, and these are the places we send them, and our own friends. When you buy with us, this is the San Miguel we will show you.
Imperdibles
San Miguel must-sees
The places you can’t miss in San Miguel, worth the trip from any neighborhood. Distances are straight-line from Colonia Guadalupe, where Salida Dolores begins.
See and do
Parroquia & El Jardín
The pink Gothic church and the main square in front of it: the heart of San Miguel.
Fábrica La Aurora
A former textile mill full of galleries, design shops and cafés. Plan a couple of hours.
El Charco del Ingenio
Botanical garden and nature reserve with trails, a canyon and a dam. Go early.
Santuario de Atotonilco
UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary with stunning painted ceilings, 20 minutes north.
La Gruta hot springs
Thermal pools and a steamy cave. Go on a weekday morning.
Restaurants with a view
Atrio
Tasting menu with the Parroquia right in front of you. Our pick for a special night.
Quince
Lively multi-level rooftop next to the Parroquia. Go at sunset.
Antonia Rooftop
A small, relaxed rooftop with one of the best views over town.
Zumo
Creative Mexican cooking on a rooftop facing the church towers.
La Azotea
Casual rooftop for drinks and snacks. Try the jícama tacos.
Dinner
Mamá Mía
A San Miguel classic for decades: courtyard, live music and something for everyone.
El Pegaso
Mexican and international dishes, with a rooftop terrace a block from the Jardín.
Tío Lucas
Steaks and the famous Caesar salad, in a warm colonial setting with live music.
Bocaciega
Greek restaurant, one of the best.
Prime Steak Club
For a serious steak dinner.
Breakfast and coffee
Cumpanio
Bakery and restaurant. Great bread to take home.
Lavanda Café
Specialty coffee and breakfast next to the crafts market. Cash only.
Garambullo
Fresh, healthy breakfast in a beautiful old courtyard.
Rincón de Don Tomás
Traditional Mexican breakfast on the Jardín.
Art, design and shopping
Mercado de Artesanías
The crafts market: tin, glass, pottery and souvenirs down a long alley.
La Esquina, Mexican Toy Museum
A charming museum of traditional Mexican toys. Great with kids.
Casa Cirila Concept Store
Mexican design, home goods and gifts.
Wineries
Bodega Dos Búhos
The closest winery to town: tours, tastings and lunch among the vines.
Viñedos San Lucas
Large estate with tastings, a restaurant and a well-known brunch.
Hacienda San José Lavista
Small family winery with views over the Presa Allende.
Tres Raíces
Vineyard, restaurant and hotel on the road to Dolores.
San Miguel Vineyard
Tours and tastings toward Comonfort, with a very good restaurant.
Cuna de Tierra
One of the pioneer wineries of Guanajuato, past Dolores Hidalgo. Worth the drive.
Wellness
Sound baths with Carla · Dejar y Ser
Carla’s own practice: sound baths with Himalayan bowls and gongs, energy cleansing of spaces and Access Bars. Book on WhatsApp +52 415 109 9990.
Sense, a Rosewood Spa
The most elegant spa in town, at the Rosewood.
Live Aqua spa
Spa at the Live Aqua resort; also home to the Bekeb cocktail bar.
Along the road to Dolores
Close to Salida Dolores
From the art galleries of La Aurora at the edge of town to the sanctuary and hot springs out on the highway.
Fábrica La Aurora
A former textile mill full of galleries, design shops and cafés. Plan a couple of hours.
Santuario de Atotonilco
UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary with stunning painted ceilings, 20 minutes north.
La Gruta hot springs
Thermal pools and a steamy cave. Go on a weekday morning.
Mercado de Artesanías
The crafts market: tin, glass, pottery and souvenirs down a long alley.
Living here
SMA practical
The everyday essentials for when you live here: hospitals, pharmacies, getting around and community services.
Health
Hospital MAC
Private hospital open 24 hours, with English-speaking staff.
Hospital Joya
Private hospital with 24-hour emergency room.
Hospital General Dr. Felipe G. Dobarganes
The public general hospital, open 24 hours.
Cruz Roja
Red Cross ambulances and first aid. For any emergency, dial 911.
Farmacia Guadalajara (24 h)
A pharmacy open around the clock.
Getting around
Bajío Go
The shuttle we use and recommend to everyone who visits. Door to door from San Miguel to Querétaro (QRO, about 1 h 30), León/Bajío (BJX, about 1 h 30) and Mexico City (MEX, about 4 h). When you land, they wait for you with a sign with your name. Shared or private rides.
Parking in Centro
Driving into Centro? Leave the car in a lot and walk. Our map of public lots and monthly pensiones near the Jardín, from Carla’s guest guidebook.
Central de Autobuses
The bus station, with first-class buses to Mexico City, Querétaro, Guanajuato and more.
Airports
Querétaro (QRO) is about an hour away and León–Bajío (BJX) about an hour and a half; Mexico City is about 3.5 hours by road.
Taxis
Taxis are easy to find and inexpensive; ask your driver to confirm the fare before you go.
Community and errands
Biblioteca Pública
The bilingual public library and community center: books in English and Spanish, Spanish classes, a café and a theater.
Correos de México
The post office, a block from the Jardín.
For your four-legged family
Pet friendly
San Miguel loves dogs. Where to run them, who to call when they need a vet, and places that welcome them.
Parks for dogs
San Antonio Dog Park
A fenced dog park with a splash pad, toys and a place for the humans to sit.
Parque Juárez
Shady paths for long walks, popular with dog owners.
Vets
Pet Care Center
English-speaking vet who can help with the paperwork to travel with your pet.
Clínica Veterinaria Alfa
Highly rated clinic for dogs, cats and even backyard chickens.
PetVet
Long-established clinic with several locations in town.
Animal Medical Center
Bilingual vet on the Salida a Celaya.
Bring your dog
Mamá Mía
A very pet-friendly courtyard restaurant.
La Frontera Frailes
Open-air, pet-friendly garden restaurant.
Bora Borazza
Pizza with a play area for kids and dogs.
Bodega Dos Búhos
Dog-friendly winery with olive groves to walk.
Want to see what life here is like?
We can show you homes and the neighborhood around them, from the supermarket to our favorite rooftop.
Photo credits: some photos come from the businesses themselves; others from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses: Parroquia & El Jardín: Drgutierrez70 / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fábrica La Aurora: Marcorodcab70 / CC BY-SA 4.0 · El Charco del Ingenio: Huauzontle23 / CC BY 4.0 · Santuario de Atotonilco: Manuel A. de Anda Gomez / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Atrio: Jess fernandez / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Antonia Rooftop: Carl Campbell from Querétaro, Mexico / CC BY-SA 2.0 · La Azotea: Larry Miller / CC BY-SA 2.0 · El Pegaso: Alejandro from Mexico City, MEXICO / CC BY 2.0 · Tío Lucas: Geoff Peters from Vancouver, BC, Canada / CC BY 2.0 · Garambullo: Chris Woodrich / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rincón de Don Tomás: Drgutierrez70 / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mercado de Artesanías: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada / CC BY-SA 2.0 · Hacienda San José Lavista: Eugenio Gonzalez / CC BY 2.0 · Cruz Roja: ProtoplasmaKid / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Farmacia Guadalajara (24 h): Yoxd1010 / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Central de Autobuses: DogeGamer2015MZT / CC0 · Airports: Miguel Vega Hernández / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Taxis: Theodore.shouse / CC BY 4.0 · Biblioteca Pública: Gabriela Lozano / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Correos de México: StellarD / CC BY-SA 4.0 · San Antonio Dog Park: David Shankbone / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Parque Juárez: StellarD / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pet Care Center: Veterinarian Pet Alliance / CC BY 4.0 · Clínica Veterinaria Alfa: Laika Universo Peludo / CC BY 3.0 · PetVet: Veterinarian Pet Alliance / CC BY 4.0 · Animal Medical Center: U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Deirdre Marsac / Public domain · Bora Borazza: Zacatillo1 / CC BY-SA 4.0.