San Miguel de Allende
This courtyard restaurant inside a boutique hotel is perhaps the best spot in town for fine dining. The chef here has been given the freedom to do…
Must-see restaurants in Northern Central Highlands
Guanajuato
In a residential area overlooking the city is Guanajuato's best restaurant, where Mexican cuisine como la abuela – grandmother's cooking that takes hours…
San Luis Potosí
This simple spot is a breakfast institution and at times queues of locals form outside the doors waiting for them to open in the morning. The delicious…
San Miguel de Allende
This gorgeous place with friendly English-speaking staff has some of San Miguel's best contemporary Mexican and European cuisine. Try its signature dish,…
Querétaro
Being hidden away on the fringe of the old town and discreetly signed inside the entrance to a building means that this is one of those 'in the know' kind…
Northern Central Highlands
This utterly delightful lime-green cafe is quite the find in a small town like Jerez. Housed in an old pharmacy, Botica del Cafe serves delicious chapatas…
Querétaro
A delightful French bakery that has a lovely semi-open-air upstairs terrace. As well as doing excellent coffee and pastries to go, it serves up delicious…
Guanajuato
A Canadian-Mexican husband-and-wife team runs this small cozy, candlelit restaurant. The innovative menu, which runs from tapas plates to full dishes such…
Guanajuato State
This wonderful patio restaurant around a small fountain inside the Posada de las Minas is the best place for a leisurely meal in Mineral de Pozos. The…
Aguascalientes State
This delightful find is a fabulous spot for a relaxed lunch, with its vegetarian-friendly comida saludable – health food – that is freshly made right in…
San Miguel de Allende
With a discreet, almost grimy exterior nothing would lead you to think that Tostévere is currently San Miguel's restaurant of the moment. Step inside…
San Miguel de Allende
You'll find extraordinarily solicitous staff here at this fabulous little joint specializing in mind-blowingly good Baja-style fish tacos and tostadas…
Aguascalientes State
You can't miss this family-run, wine-red and very homely restaurant decorated in Day of the Dead skeletons and tiny cacti. The food is traditional Mexican…
Dolores Hidalgo
This unexpectedly snazzy and inviting culinary marvel is hosted by Mónica, the Italian owner, whose team whips up tasty Italian delights such as lasagna,…
San Miguel de Allende
This is a 'don't leave San Miguel without…' experience. This sweet-tooth's paradise is the best place in the region for chocolate and churros (doughnut…
Zacatecas
Unless you have a reservation you're unlikely to be allowed into this revolutionary-themed restaurant – and even with a reservation you'll need to knock…
San Luis Potosí
The place for the local enchiladas potosinas – the tortilla dough is red from chili. This place was started by a woman selling antojitos (Mexican snacks)…
Querétaro
This hole-in-the-wall style place sells churros (fried dough pastry) and hot chocolate and that is all. But, these are not your average greasy churros…
Querétaro
With a giant wall mural of traditionally dressed women, this restaurant specializes in Southeastern Mexican cuisine and the dishes – from the xi'i, a…
Querétaro
You can almost feel the history in this deeply traditional Querétaro establishment, where charming and smartly dressed waiters attend the tables with…
San Miguel de Allende
This cool cafe-bar-gallery comprises two separate rooms that are lovingly furnished with quirky antiques and eclectic curios, plus cozy couches near the…
Guanajuato
A popular place to try tasty traditional Mexican dishes in tasteful and colorful surrounds, including a delightful outdoor veranda. Also offers less…
Guanajuato
This classic place enjoys an impressive perch on Jardín de la Unión and is a smart choice in every respect. As you'd expect, it attracts a loyal crowd of…
Querétaro
Querétaro is full of taco stands that spring up most evenings, but this one, which is on a pretty little plaza, is considered one of the best and always…
San Miguel de Allende
True, it's a bit of a walk from Centro, but most people are happy to make the effort. Muro serves everything from chilaquiles con arrachera to French…
San Miguel de Allende
Trust San Miguel to turn the humble taco into hipster Instagram fodder! This stylish little restaurant serves wildly creative, fully vegan tacos that will…
Querétaro
This is what happens when a local artisanal brewer joins forces with a good chef: a casual drinking spot that serves fabulous brews, from honey IPAs (miel…
San Miguel de Allende
A guitarist strums away during superpopular breakfasts – get there at opening time or be prepared to queue – at this lovely place where killer coffee,…
San Miguel de Allende
Behind the swinging doors of a former saloon, 'The Spring' serves fabulously fresh ceviche in a dark and rather loud space with a cantina feel. It has a…
Zacatecas
Established by a Syrian immigrant in the early 1940s, this cafe has been a city legend almost ever since. Today it retains a slightly quirky period diner…
Guanajuato
There's interesting art on the walls, a great menu and three breezy dining rooms, not to mention changing daily specials, so why is the lighting so poor…
Zacatecas
The elegant dining room at the Quinta Real Zacatecas is especially memorable for its outlook to the aqueduct and bullring, as well as for its refined…
Guanajuato
Brand new at the time of research, but already causing waves of appreciation, this relaxed place with high ceilings, a jazzy soundtrack and a few window…
San Luis Potosí
Generally held to be San Luis Potosí's best restaurant, the 'red sky' is an attractive upscale place housed in a renovated hacienda with a beautiful…
Xilitla
Everyone's favorite place to eat in Xilita, La Huastequita offers reassuringly simple, authentic Mexican home-style cooking that'll fill you up after a…
San Miguel de Allende
An American-run contemporary panadería-cafe with excellent pastries, great breakfasts, tasty salads, and wood-fired oven pizzas that you can design…
San Miguel de Allende
An opportunity to get off the tourist trail presents itself at this pleasantly local establishment in the Colonia of San Rafael, a short way outside the…
Guanajuato
This place couldn't be any different to the swanky tourist restaurants deeper in the old town. El Paisa is a sun-bleached red building right opposite the…
Querétaro
Unchanged since 1940, as the photos and coffee machine testify, this Querétaro institution is more about the quaint atmosphere than the food. Don't leave…
Guanajuato
Stop by this casual but cozy spot on the quaint Venetian-style bridge that's popular with students. It serves good salads and snacks; try the queso…
