The city of San Miguel de Allende invites you in with energy and timeless charm. A UNESCO world heritage site located in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, this place is colorful, historic, and full of beauty. You see it in the unique doorways, adorned churches, rooftop restaurants, quaint courtyards, art galleries, and wonderful cafes.
The specialty coffee scene here is welcoming and accessible, with many cafes focused on Mexico’s outstanding homegrown coffee production. It feels like there’s events happening all the time around the city, always something new to see and do, and it’s all better with a cup of delicious coffee in hand.
Here’s just a few favorite cafes for you to experience and enjoy in San Miguel de Allende.
El Café de la Mancha
Perched on a corner in the Guadalupe neighborhood is El Café de la Mancha, a place known for serving AeroPress coffee and cold brew, alongside house made breads and gluten-free treats. The cafe opened in 2013, and many consider it the first “specialty” coffee shop in town.
All the coffees here are sourced from coffee producers in Oaxaca. One of the cafe’s co-founders is a competitive barista, and the passion and dedication they have for coffee feels immediately present inside the space. This is the perfect first stop for a coffee lover in San Miguel de Allende.
Ki’bok Coffee
Ki’bok Coffee has two cafes in Mexico, one in Tulum and one in San Miguel de Allende. Ki’bok, meaning “good aromas” in the Mayan language, opened its doors in San Miguel in 2017. Today it’s become well known for its friendly staff, signature drinks, and a beautiful rooftop terrace.
Coffees here are sourced from producers in Chiapas and Veracruz. The cafe’s signature drink is called the Hemingway: a 4oz combination of Cuban-style espresso and milk with a fine line of brown sugar and cinnamon. Pair your coffee with light local inspired fare or one of their daily pastries.
The cafe’s second level that is a perfect little rooftop with incredible views. Past the bar inside they also have a little section of jewelry and clothing and other goodies from local artisans. Supporting the community is really important to Ki’bok, a beautiful common thread you can find at many cafes across the city.
La Cabra Iluminada
Steps away from the main center and the Parroquia is La Cabra Iluminada. Opened post-pandemic in the midst of the busy town, this is a soothing and calming space located below a yoga studio. La Cabra Iluminada—”the illuminated goat”—plays on the legend of Kali the goat herder, and winks at the shop’s dairy-free ethos, as this cafe offers only oat and nut milks.
A flat white with oat or coconut milk is a go-to, featuring coffee roasted by Cafeologia in San Cristobal de las Cases, a roaster in Chiapas working closely with that state’s coffee producer community.
The food at this cafe is especially great, from pancakes and pistachio buns to a smoked oyster burrito. Dogs are very welcome at this cafe—in fact, if you are visiting here with your pup, they will probably be photographed and put on Instagram!
Lavanda Cafe
Lavanda, meaning lavender, has two busy locations in San Miguel. One features a full breakfast menu and walk up window, while the other is coffee only and is located just outside of the very popular Mercado de Artesanias.
At their restaurant location they have incredible breakfast, but coffee is still the main star. You will usually find a line forming every morning, especially on the weekends. So if you’re an early bird like me and want to sit in the courtyard, I recommend getting there before they open to ensure a spot. At the other Lavanda, I would grab it to go and take a stroll through the beautiful Mercado.
The must-order here is the cafe’s namesake lavender latte, a flavorful and memorable experience. Be sure to pick up a bag of the cafe’s own roasted coffee as well, highlighting different coffee producers across Mexico.
Melissa Bastinelli is a freelance journalist in Mexico City. This is Melissa Bastinelli’s first feature for Sprudge.
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Melissa Bastinelli
May 21, 2024
