My Trip to San Miguel de Allende & Personal Tips When Visiting

Mexico is so much more than what the media gives us.

When I used to hear “Mexico,” my mind would instantly go to violence with the drug cartels, because that’s what the news gives us right?

They hype everything up and then give us no real look into a country; only what they want us to see and what sells.

And then, in 2016, when my husband and I were able to travel full-time, we decided to make it the first country we visited. We were NOT disappointed. We were met with kind people, incredible cuisine, and beautiful Spanish colonial architecture.

And while there is a lot I could focus on, I’m going to narrow down on just one town for now: San Miguel de Allende.

It’s a beautiful location in the state of Guanajuato, and one of the most beautiful places to explore, enjoy good, traditional food, and relax.

Down below are some of my own personal San Miguel travel tips. So if you’re planning on visiting yourself, then read over my advice and see what works best for your trip!

San Miguel de Allende – My Experience & Travel Tips

With around 10-12,000 expats coming from the US, Canada, and Europe, I can see why they’re pretty happy to move here.

This City Has:

• Incredible local and international cuisine.
• Beautiful hot springs (shown below).
• Amazing weather.
• Great cafes, chocolate shops, and beautiful rooftop restaurants.
• Towering cathedrals.
• Ridiculously beautiful homes, neighborhoods, and cobblestone streets.

And it was extremely tranquil. 

Honestly, such a great place to take a nice cool morning walk and head over to a good cafe for breakfast.

Our breakfast at Lavanda Café.

I had been there twice and both were such a great experiences. 

The first time was with my in-laws; they are such good people so it was enjoyable to get there a few days ahead of time and scout out some good restaurants and locations for them. 

Now I had heard about San Miguel de Allende a few years before visiting, but it really was an experience to arrive and be awed by the atmosphere. 

There were so many flowering trees, domed buildings, and colorful homes that at times, I could see myself moving there for good.

I also loved finding narrow roads and quiet places just to think and explore. And if you’re creating a list of things to do in San Miguel de Allende, then I’d highly recommend doing this on a daily basis.

The Best Time to Visit San Miguel de Allende

If you want to plan out your trip to make sure you’re going at just the right time, then the best months would probably be from November to April. The temperatures are in the 70s and 80s ℉ (21 to 26 ℃) and you’re less likely to get caught in the rain.

We personally went in February and June and both times the weather was perfect. Probably in the 70s which made it just right for walking down the picturesque streets and ducking into small chocolate shops or listening to a violinist play.

But just to be sure, stay away from visiting during the summertime; it can get pretty rainy!

Also, you know how I mentioned hot springs?

I visited La Gruta during my second visit, and if you’re looking into what to do in San Miguel de Allende, then this is it.

A friend of ours took us and it was such a relaxing experience and not a bad price either ($11-$12 per person). It felt so tranquil and it was such a wonderful way to unwind and spend the afternoon.

And afterwards, he ended up taking us to one of the best burger joints I’ve ever been to which was really close by (will mention down below). 

I really felt like I was able to de-stress in this peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by beautiful greenery and flowers. I personally can’t wait to go again, and if you plan on visiting San Miguel de Allende, then definitely put it on your list of things to do!

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San Miguel de Allende Restaurant Recommendations

Lavanda Café Barra y Cocina (Cafe Lavender)

This is one of my favorite cafes in the town and a great one to add to your list when planning out your trip to San Miguel de Allende.

Surrounded by lavender in the small courtyard, it’s a great place to relax in the cool morning air and have a hot cup of coffee (I believe I had the lavender latte) and a filling breakfast.

Quick tip: The brioche French toast is incredible. And I couldn’t remember if I got the Rancheros or the Toscanos from their poached egg section on the menu, but since all of us loved what we got, I trust that nothing on their menu will let you down. 🙂

Berlin Bar & Bistro

I really enjoyed how I could get so much local and international dishes in San Miguel, and finding this German place was a nice surprise.

The people are so kind and the food is delicious. It was also a great place to fall back on when another dinner plan had fallen through.

Cafe Oso Azul

Definitely don’t skip this breakfast spot when traveling to San Miguel de Allende.

This was the first place we ate at for our first meal of the day and we really enjoyed it. 

Seated in a pretty courtyard, you can order a nice drink and meal and relax to the street sounds & people’s conversations.

La Burger

That day when our friend took us to the hot springs, he ended up recommending a burger place not far away. It was one of those moments where we were like, “Well, I hadn’t expected burgers, but why not?” And we weren’t disappointed. 

On the side of a quiet road in Mexico, was probably one of the best burgers I had ever had. With goat cheese and caramelized onions, it was so satisfying.

Cafe Rama

Again, another great place for breakfast or a nice brunch with friends.

I really enjoyed sitting in the quietness on a weekday as the sunlight streamed in from the window.

Also, the croque madame is pretty darn good!

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If you’re going to be in Mexico, then I would definitely not skip San Miguel de Allende!

I know that a lot of people go to the resorts or to Mexico City, but it’s definitely worth the trip.