Where Lulu Lunches: San Miguel Daytime Eats
I'm keeping a running list of my favorite places for brunch and lunch in San Miguel. The list will grow as I discover more.
San Miguel de Allende is the kind of town where lunch or brunch can turn into an afternoon without anyone noticing.
There are beautiful restaurants, tiny neighborhood cafés, rooftop terraces, old courtyards and little spots you might walk straight past if you didn't know they were there.
I'm keeping a running list of my favorite places for brunch and lunch in San Miguel. The list will grow as I discover more, but these are the places I'd happily recommend to a friend.
Casa Quadrante
My office away from home: A lovely garden setting
I discovered Casa Quadrante when it opened last year, and it quickly became one of my favorite places in San Miguel for a long, lazy work lunch.
The setting is magic. There is a gorgeous courtyard garden tucked away from the street, filled with greenery and flowers, and it feels wonderfully removed from the bustle of Centro. On a sunny day, that's where I want to sit under one of their umbrellas. And if it rains, there is a cozy little nook inside where you can settle in and wait it out.
I usually come here during the day for brunch or lunch, although Casa Quadrante stays open into the evening. It is an easy place to wile away a few hours.
My favorite order is the burrata salad with tomatoes, watermelon and mustard seeds. All the food is top-notch. Brunch on the weekends can get busy. The salad Milanese is also very good.
Sometimes my routine starts across the street at Ki'bok Coffee, where I'll have a coffee and get a little work done before wandering over to Casa Quadrante for lunch.
Not a bad workday!
Address: Cuadrante 4, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.
Villa Santa Mónica
Villa Santa Mónica is one of those places I find myself wanting to return to. And I have multiple times. Tucked right beside Parque Juárez, it is particularly lovely on a weekend, when the park is buzzing with life just outside the gates.
It’s the perfect place to bring out-of-town guests for a quiet, leisurely classic Mexican lunch. If they have the squash blossom tacos, get them!
I love it so much, I have written a whole table on it, which you can read here.
BRUNCH: 9:00 TO 14:00 (Sunday only)
LUNCH: 13:00 TO 17:00
Hierba Santa
Hierba Santa is one of my favorite stops when I'm heading to or from Fábrica La Aurora. It’s a lovely place for breakfast or lunch, and the people are wonderful.
The restaurant was founded by two chefs from Acapulco, bringing the flavors of Guerrero and Mexico’s southern coast to San Miguel. The food is thoughtful and beautifully prepared, with fresh, vibrant flavors.
One little warning: they are meticulous, and good food takes time. The service can be slow, but I think it’s worth it. This is not the place to go if you’re in a hurry. Sit back, order a drink and enjoy yourself.
And speaking of drinks, they make really yummy drinks. It’s a solid choice for both breakfast and lunch, and I particularly like stopping here when I'm exploring Fábrica La Aurora.
Calz de La Aurora 48A, Guadalupe,
Jacques
For a good, casual lunch, Jacques is one of my favorites. They also serve breakfast all day long.
Don't be fooled when you walk by, as it doesn’t look like much, but head upstairs, and you’ll find a lovely terrace tucked above Del Pueblito. It feels like one of those little San Miguel discoveries you’re happy to have made. And it is conveniently just around the corner from the Artisan Market
The food has Mediterranean and American influences, with pitas, bowls, salads, and very solid pizzas. There are plenty of vegetarian and plant-based choices, too.
