Summertime in San Miguel de Allende: A Magical Season
Summer in San Miguel is a special time of year. The weather cools a bit after the warmest months of April and May and there are the occasional rain storms that usually roll in during the afternoon hours yet you still have a lovely sunset to enjoy. The air is clear and the high desert vegetation turns green and blossoms, creating a lovely landscape in which to hike, ride, and enjoy outdoor activities with the kids or dine al fresco.
Here our three Expat Experts share their insider advice on how to enjoy your San Miguel summer, 2021.
Nancy
Nancy predicts a summer full of enthusiastic visitors from the US. Now that travel is coming back, people are much more willing to take a 2-hour flight to San Miguel rather than an 8-hour flight to Europe, where various lockdowns may still be in effect. San Miguel is very much open for business, although our community still wears masks and respects social distancing when appropriate, the hustle and bustle has returned.
She anticipates that our summer visitors will enjoy our indoor-outdoor lifestyle for various activities. Restaurants are open and the wait staff is excited to be working fulltime. You’ll see a lot of smiles!
Daytrips
For the 60+ age group, it’s a great time to take a daytrip and sample all the wonderful vineyards who offer a leisurely lunch accompanied by award-winning local wine. Popular vineyards include Santisma Trinidad, San Lucas and Tres Raices among others. A comprehensive guide to local vineyards and the long history of winemaking in San Miguel is available from our Exclusive Properties Partner Forbes – check out their detailed coverage of all the area vineyards!
One of Nancy’s very favorite restaurants is El Vergel. This French inspired al fresco spot is its own little piece of paradise. In addition to the charming outdoor restaurant, there is a little marketplace store where they sell honey made by their own bees, homemade granola, cheeses, organic yoghurt and the best original toll house cookies outside of your grandmother’s kitchen. El Vergel Bistro and Market is on the road to Dolores Hildalgo about 10 minutes from Centro San Miguel. Nancy's favorite is the Quiche with Sweet Potatoes with a side salad.
Another Nancy recommendation are the Sunday afternoon concerts at Rancho Zandunga - a wonderful chance to experience the country lifestyle while enjoying quality jazz or blues and home-cooked food. Gil Gutíerrez and his wife Rebecca are the hosts. Gil has played guitar in Carnegie Hall as well as toured with jazz bands in the U.S., Latin America, and Europe.
Concerts are on Sunday afternoons only and advance reservations are required. You can find further information at Zanduga.
Ann
Ann has her finger on the pulse of the San Miguel dining scene all year round and loves to share her tried and true favorites along with new summer discoveries. The restaurant scene is busy, so be sure to make reservations!
Restaurant Recommendations
Atrio
Atrio is a favorite rooftop spot, especially fun on Thursdays and Fridays. The view of the Parroquia is so close you can almost reach across Cuna de Allende and touch the spire. The food is fantastic and Luis the chef always sends a treat to the table to make everyone feel special. Reservations are a must! Ann's favorites are the Soft Shell Taco and for dessert the Cheese Cake and Mandarin Ice Cream
Hotel Matilda
Since Hotel Matilda – easily the hippest place in San Miguel – emerged from lockdown, the new Müi Ramen Bar has established itself as the trendy and fun new place to check out. The menu offers everything from dumplings to short ribs and the cocktails are miracles of mixology.
Mi Bistro 300
A new favorite of Ann’s is Mi Bistro 300 on Calle Quebrada. The wide-ranging menu features fish, steaks and burgers and some traditional Mexican fare, but it all the tacos and tostadas with either shrimp, tuna and salmon that are her favorites. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The service is the best ever – they seem to know what you want the minute you walk in once they have gotten to know you. They also occasionally bring various treats of the day to the table at no charge for you to try. The view is nothing to write home about but the actual ambiance of the restaurant and the food is so over-the-top good that you don’t care. Ann also recommends the sushi – “It’s wonderful!”
Bovine
A perennial favorite of Ann’s, Bovine has an amazingly chic atmosphere. It’s very modern but somehow reminiscent of an art deco brasserie or steakhouse with fantastically atmospheric lighting. It’s a great place for dinner – the food is superb, but it’s also one of the very best places in town to take friends for cocktails. The actual bar was recovered from an old canteen and lends a classic touch to the décor.
Panio
Panio is the best bakery in San Miguel. It has three locations that offer fresh bread daily including sourdough, baguettes, focaccia, and more. Their desserts are as delicious as they look. You can choose from various cakes, French pastries, macarons, brownies, petit fours – the list goes on. Ann says “It’s so wonderful to be able to stop by and pick up a ‘just out of the oven’ loaf of bread and a beautiful dessert for dinner.” Panio also serves sandwiches and salads at the lunch hour.
Kouyin
Renowned chef Marcela Bolaño of Marsala and her partner Ximena de Léon Campomanes have recently opened a pan-Asian restaurant in the new boutique hotel Apapacho. Her food takes inspiration from various Asian countries and, according to Ann, is truly fantastic. It is located on a roof top of the hotel with nice views of the countryside and you feel nestled in the treetops of the Parque Juarez.
Aperi
Aperi, in the elegant Dos Casas Hotel, is a unique combination of quiet, old world ambience and a cutting-edge menu. Using only the freshest local ingredients, they have created a new, very original Mexican cuisine. They are constantly innovating and often invite guest chefs to bring their culinary inspiration to your table. Aperi is a special experience – be advised to make a reservation!
Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar at the Rosewood Hotel
No list of noteworthy restaurants or bars in San Miguel would be complete without mentioning Luna on the rooftop of the Rosewood Hotel. It easily has the most comprehensive views of San Miguel Centro with all its church spires and the surrounding countryside. Watching the sunset from Luna is a must do for all visitors to San Miguel and a regular ritual for residents. Their tapas, wine list, artisanal cocktails and service are all first rate.
Amber Nieto
Amber, our resident expert on all things family and kids, says that the coming months are shaping up to be a great San Miguel summer!
Here’s the Summer 2021 Amber Report:
Vaccine Status for Under 40
Approximately 80% of Amber’s friend group (under 40) have been able to travel to the US to get their vaccine. Also, many are lucky to have parents in San Miguel and most of them have been vaccinated. Families are starting to plan and host playdates, camping trips, outdoor dinner parties and trips to the hot water springs. Parents are still being cautious and doing mostly outdoor activities, but everyone seems more relaxed in general.
Amber has also noticed that new families, who now are working remotely, are moving to San Miguel.
Summer Camps
Amber has fielded a lot of questions about summer camps. For a list of great camps for all ages visit the San Miguel Kids Facebook page.
Activities
Valle de Los Senderos
This wonderful outdoor oasis is one of Amber’s family favorites. Only 15 minutes from Centro San Miguel, kids can frolic in their own pool (with a tree house and slide) as well as paddle board, bike ride, hike or walk the dog. They also have a new restaurant, Sal y Canto, and hvae just added 5 new cabanas near the kids pool. Los Senderos website says that horse carriage rides are coming soon.
Horseback Riding
Cayote Canyon is always a great adventure, where you can ride, hike and swim in the river.
The Ranch offers beautiful trail rides into the Mexican countryside as well as lessons for all ages.
Meetups and Playdates
Amber’s longtime favorite meet-up spot, Geek&Coffee, has new summer hours - now open until 10 pm Monday thru Saturday – and full bar service with wonderful summer cocktails. It’s a great outdoor place for kids to run around and let off some steam while moms unwind. It is still light out at 8:30 and the weather has been great.
Parks and Sports Center
Our two main parks, Parque Juarez and Parque Zeferino Gutierrez, are now open as well as the Unidad Deportiva, where there are free tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields and a running track. These are great places for the kids to get outdoors and have fun.
Schools
Although Mexico has been a bit behind in the reopening of schools, Amber is confident that San Miguel will start in-person classes in August. San Miguel is fortunate that so many of our schools are on large campuses with lots of outdoor space. On May 4 and 5 teachers were vaccinated. Schools are set to open on August 30th.
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