The Best Cafes of San Miguel de Allende

The Best Cafes of San Miguel de Allende.

Updated in April 2025 with a couple of new Cafes added (including a new favorite).

 

Coffee shops come and go in San Miguel de Allende and what might be hot one year might no longer exist the next. I’ve noticed that every month a few new cafes pop up somewhere in the city.

My list below covers a variety of Cafés: some we just visit for the coffee, others for a coffee and a pastry, others for a coffee and a full breakfast. In some of them it’s the ambiance that makes them special, in others it’s just because of the coffee. In each case I’ll tell you why these cafés make it on our list.

You may not agree with all the below. You might not agree with our exclusions either (we avoid trendy cafés with lineups. There are enough great cafés in San Miguel de Allende that on shouldn’t have to wait 30 minutes in line for a coffee…). But if there’s one that you think we really should visit let me know in the comments – and we might give it a try on my next visit.

 

In no particular order here is my list of the best cafes in San Miguel de Allende.

 

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Zenteno

One of the originals in San Miguel, this small coffee shop is pretty basic. The atmosphere is cozy. They have pastries and muffins. But it’s the coffee that really stands out. It’s always a big cup (we usually order a cappuccino) and it’s always excellent.

 

 

The owners of this café (this was their first) have gone on to open other cafés such as La Sacrista and Santa Ana in the public library. They used to have the café at Bellas Artes which was one of our favorites (it closed down during Covid). All their cafés are outstanding and you’ll see them named further below.

 

 

 

 

Panio

Panio is known for its great pastries, the best in San Miguel. We’ll often pick up some croissants, chocolatines or other pastries. They’re always excellent. But we’ll sometimes sit down and have a coffee there as well although it is honestly pretty average*. But the products from the bakery really make this one of SMA’s most popular cafés (PS they have 2 locations in the center).

Ps. I don’t like “layered” Cappuccinos like the one in the photo with the fluffy topping. I generally find them weak and tasteless. I always like my Cappuccinos like the one about at Zenteno. I know, 1st world problems…

 

 

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Buen Dia

What makes this place special is a combination of good coffee and good breakfasts served in a nice courtyard setting. I’m not going to say that their coffee or their breakfasts are the very best in SMA – but when you put it all together it’s an excellent place to go for breakfast and coffee.

 

 

 

Café de la Mancha

This tiny café seems to be on everyone’s “best café” list. It’s always busy with people standing around enjoying their coffee while chatting with other neighbourhood residents (it’s in Colonia Guadalupe about 10 minutes from the center). Because of this I usually take my coffee to go. They also have nice muffins, cakes and cookies which are all fresh.

 

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Starbucks

Sacrilegious you say! You’re probably right. But once in a while I get a craving for a huge Caramel Macchiato and we always love sitting in the courtyard around the fountain (Starbucks is in prime location in an old building on one corner of the Jardin)*.

*I always get shit for this selection. As I always say: I’ve spent months at a time in Thailand eating Thai food. But once in a while you’ll crave a pizza or hamburger. Same goes for Starbucks: I prefer my normal Cappuccino in a “real” cafe. But once in a while I’ll just get a craving for a Caramel Macchiato. 

 

 

 

Café Rama

It looks small from the outside but it’s huge and eclectic inside. Tables are large and comfortable. Their coffee is good but not extraordinary – but they include bread with jam and butter with your coffee. Just a really nice place to sit around and enjoy. Cafe Rama website.

 

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Geek & Coffee

Right next to Fabrica la Aurora is this café which comprises of a building and a huge outdoor lot in a garden. It’s a very relaxing place and you’ll see people bring their dogs and kids.

Coffee and very good as is the food (which is mostly healthy-type stuff).

I was just introduced to this café but it’s now one of my favorites. Their website.

 

 

La Sacrista

An excellent café/restaurant situated in a courtyard across from Bellas Artes (officially Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez El Nigromante).

I’ve mentioned it before – this café is run by the same owners as Zenteno and Santa Ana. All is excellent, from the coffee to the breakfasts to the setting. La Sacrista website.

 

 

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Santa Ana

The public library used to have a café that wasn’t so great. That’s changed recently. The new Santa Ana Gastro Café is fantastic – great coffee, great food, and a very nice setting in the inner courtyard of the library. It has become our new favorite place to go for breakfast in San Miguel. Their FB page.

 

 

Clásico San Miguel

This café is new on the list.

When my mother died earlier this year I gave away all her paintings. It was her wish. Many of the paintings were taken by the owners of Clásico San Miguel who seemed over the moon with her artwork.

 

 

I visited the café a few days later to see what it was like. On Calzada de la Luz, it is atmospheric and colourful and was busy with mostly locals having breakfast. The best thing about this café is the food: lots of typical Mexican food options at good prices (I had a delicious torta). Their Cappuccino is the layered type which I mention above as not how I like my Cappuccino. Still, for what it was, I liked it. But I still prefer my classic Cappuccino.

But Clásico San Miguel is very good if you want to eat something in a nice, friendly environment (have a look at their Instagram link to see some of their food). And it’ll be even nicer when they hang up my mom’s art.

 

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Bakery Sucré (Repostería Sucrê)

My new favorite Cafe in San Miguel de Allende.

They used to have a small hole-in-wall location on Margarito Ledesma in Colonia Guadalupe. It was always excellent: fantastic bread and pastries, great coffee and very friendly owners (Emilio and Karen).

Earlier this year they relocated to a larger location just down the street and around the corner (now at Colegio Militar 3). It is now a much larger cafe where you can have coffee, breakfast, and/or their pastries. It’s become very popular in the neighborhood.

What really sets Sucré apart is the quality of their baked breads and pastries (their Pistachio Roll is incredible). They have their own ovens in the bakery and they come in 2 hours before the Cafe opens to bake their breads and pastries. The only other cafe that compares really is Panio…but everything is just fresher (in my opinion) at Sucré.

A great cafe with a very nice neighborhood vibe. Try to come early because it fills up fast.

 

 

Do you have a favorite Cafe in San Miguel de Allende?

 

 

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