March 4, 2025

Sense of Place: San Miguel de Allende

Written by: Amber Tyrrell

San Miguel de Allende lies in the heart of Mexico, and, is known as the heart of Mexico (Corazon de Mexico). This is not your run of the mill, Mexico-beach-destination with all-inclusive resorts encompassing long lines of Americans waiting for the buffet to start moving. This is a secret treasure of a place.

There are no new buildings in the city center, all are historic 16th-17th century structures, or older. And what you find behind the grandiose, flower-framed doorways that line the dangerously cobble-stoned streets, are cutting-edge restaurants and cocktail bars, more fashionable than the notables in the hottest cities in the United States.

What you will find in San Miguel, are boutique hotels that make you “feel” cool, just for walking inside of them, rooftop bars that are experiential during your visit (one of them, Quincé, was named the best rooftop bar in the world) and genuine warmth from natives that call San Miguel their home.

The city does not appear or feel touristy, even though Condé Nast Traveler and Travel and Leisure Magazine have both named San Miguel the “World’s Best City” three times independently. The streets are filled with locals walking, living and enjoying this magical city; which was pegged an UNESCO world heritage site.