Sixteen coffee shops worth checking out in San Miguel Allende

Guest writer: Kimberly Tesarek

I can safely say we have experienced the San Miguel de Allende coffee shop scene after three months here. One of the biggest perks of having all the girls in a full time worldschool program (shout out to worldschoolmexico!) is our near daily adult coffee shop adventures. We scoured the city and here are our picks for the best coffee shops in San Miguel de Allende.

1. Inside Cafe: This is the coffee shop with the best views. I only had a cappuccino but heard the food is good, and not too pricey. Note that there’s no wifi on the terrace. If you need to work, you have to go to the first floor coffee bar. 
   

   

   
   
   

2. Hortus: A cute cafe in the middle of all the action of the main plaza. The perfect place to soak up plaza vibes (mariachis, weddings, parades) and people watch. Good with children who can run around since the roads are blocked from traffic. 
   

   

   
   

3. Cafe Umaran: Another coffee shop near the plaza that has a beautifully lit tree inside, making for a magical coffee run. The chocortada here is chef’s kiss.
   

   

   
   

4. Panina: This place is always packed and for good reason - they serve excellent coffee and fresh, moist pastries. Not the best for a workspace (small tables) or if you’re in a rush. But if you’re willing to wait and don’t mind a crowd, it’s a great spot. 
   

   

   
   

5. Panio Atelier: Solid option for a couple hours working, especially if it’s raining outside. The location outside of the city center means easy parking. It’s an established bakery so you can grab a loaf of sourdough or a couple of scones for the road. 
   

   

   
   
   

6. Amores Espacio Culinario: We stumbled upon this “culinary workshop” when another coffee shop we were targeting was closed. And what a treat! The coffee with lavender foam was to die for, and the pastries are fresh and tasty. A perfect ambience to work with a little bustle from other patrons and comfortable seating. 
   

   

   
   

7. Rustica: Beautiful and serene back patio loaded with greenery and fountains. Very friendly service, and coffee and bites were delectable. Located slightly out of center which makes parking easier. Some mosquitos joined us, but the server helped blow them away with an industrial fan.
   

   

   
   

8. Sucre SMA: We stumbled upon this cute little coffee shop when we noticed the crowd. Very good coffee, fun eavesdropping on all the local chatter, and you can grab a loaf of fresh bread to take home. 

   
   

9. Lavanda: Excellent coffee, great pastries and friendly service. I’m partial to lavender lattes and they have a bunch of versions of lavender coffee (along with all the regular coffee options). I heard the rooftop was beautiful but it was too small to accommodate more than a couple of groups and we never got to see it. 
   

   

   
   

10. Coffee Society: If you’re a coffee snob, this is the place to try. Their bean selection and multiple brewing techniques produce strong and delicious coffee. There’s limited seating, so we ordered our coffee to go and walked down a block to beautiful Benito Juarez park.

    
    

11. Geek & Coffee: Great play space for the kids in the Fabrica Aurora complex, with toys and games. Nice green area for them to run around, and a small lake where they can feed the ducks. Would only go there if we are with kids as there is better food and coffee elsewhere.
    

    

12. Ki’bok Coffee: This one has a lot of great reviews, and it’s definitely worth at least one stop. Solid coffee and relaxing terrace with views of the skyline. 

    
    

13. Cafe de la Aurora: Another coffee shop in the Fabrica Aurora complex. Solid choice if you need to work and are already in the area. 

    
    

14. Despertar Allende: Unlimited drip coffee and solid food, but the biggest draw was the playground, which kept our kids occupied for hours while the adults chatted. 
    

    

    
    

15. City Market: I never thought I would recommend a cafe in a grocery store, but that’s how good this place is. They serve huge cappuccinos with a yummy almond cookie. Reliable wifi and comfortable, spacious outdoor area. Also very convenient if you need to grab some groceries!
    

    

    
    

16. Luna de Queso: Nestled outside of city center, this coffee shop has a very unassuming entrance. But as you make your way to the back, you'll enter a sprawling green space with many different sitting areas. Excellent coffee and they brought some complimentary bread and butter. 
    

    

    

There you have it, folks. As you can see, there are no shortage of options for quality coffee, relaxing ambience and good food around this city, one reason we will definitely be making our way back here. I'm trying to convince Vimal to make this a second home base for our family, because coffee is life. Enjoy!

This post is part of our 'finding our why' series, sharing real-world stories of why families choose financial independence and early retirement with kids.