San Miguel de Allende in Mexico’s central highlands, is known for its baroque Spanish architecture and is often a highlight of a trip to Mexico. Everywhere you look is a beautiful, flower lined doorway, leading to cute cafes, quirky boutiques and stylish restaurants.
I initially planned a lot of things to do in the city but actually during my time there, I mostly just wandered the cobblestone streets taking photos, as it’s such a charming place it’s easy for time to pass very quickly.
San Miguel de Allende has a sizeable expat population and it’s also very popular with fashionable (and wealthy) domestic Mexican tourists. This has resulted in a cosmopolitan atmosphere and a varied food scene with many high end restaurants and bars.
You’ll never be short of places to eat and drink, but it’s certainly worth planning at least one night on a rooftop in San Miguel de Allende to watch the stunning sunsets from a height.
Here are some of the best rooftop bars in San Miguel de Allende as well as the best rooftop restaurants in San Miguel de Allende.
Silverio is a great rooftop bar in San Miguel de Allende, right on San Francisco 12 in the old town. I actually heard the cool music from street level and decided to go up to have some food. They’ve often got live DJs giving a bit of an Ibiza vibe as well as a good cocktail menu.
The food is quite well priced and I opted for the Terra y Mar tacos and a huge guacamole dish served with cheese and tortilla chips.
I went during the day when the sun was great strong, but they did have umbrellas to create shade. In the evening it turns more into a rooftop bar rather than restaurant specifically and the music continues late into the evening.
El Cielo is probably the most famous rooftop bar in San Miguel de Allende. It overlooks the stunning pink Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and the sunsets from here are spectacular. Although there isn’t a strict dress code as such, when I arrived in jeans & a hoodie, the friendly host did give me quite a look up and down before showing me to a table. I did feel rather underdressed as most people there were in nice dresses or shirts.
The cocktails here are excellent and the international cuisine food is fairly expensive but tasty. If you want one of the 4 tables at the edge of the restaurant then you’ll need to book in advance, but even from the seats further back you’ll still get a great view.
I arrived at about 6pm and stayed for just over an hour, as the sky got redder and redder over the hills surrounding the city.
Fátima 7 is a lovely choice for an evening drink and certainly one of the most stylish rooftop bars in San Miguel de Allende. Housed on the top of the lovely Casa Blanca 7 – check it out if you haven’t booked accommodation yet – it’s a high end dining option with incredible views.
It has some great breakfast options (including mimosas!) from healthy choices like homemade granola & yoghurt, to Mexican eggs. For lunch and dinner they’ve got some lovely salads as well as options like rack of lamb, which aren’t that common in other restaurants in town.
The terrace has a number of trees and green shrubbery giving a very light and airy feel and the views over Templo de San Francisco are unbeatable. At night time when it’s all lit up it has quite a romantic feel and unlike many of the other rooftop restaurants in San Miguel de Allende, it’s very spacious so you’re not competing for room with your fellow guests.
Tres Maria’s is a fun bar and restaurant serving Mexican and Argentinian cuisine, including decent steaks, empanadas and popular fish dishes. They’ve also got some great deserts.
The bright terrace has some fabulous views of Templo de la Purísima Concepción and towards Jardín Allende. They do 2 for 1 drinks offers and there is usually a good playlist and a fun atmosphere whilst the downstairs bar has TVs that show sports too.. It’s very light and colourful and if you’re looking for a lively rooftop bar in San Miguel de Allende then 3 Marias will be right up your street.
El Pegaso on Calle corregidora #6 has been around since 1982 and is a low key option with views of the spire of Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel as well as the pretty surrounding streets. It’s very shady so a good choice for brunch or afternoon drinks. Although it gets quite busy at lunch time, in the afternoon it doesn’t usually require a reservation.
The menu is quite varied and includes some tasty spiced tuna tacos, as well as some good breakfast options. It doesn’t have the party/music vibes of some of its competitor spots but it does make for a good option for a lunch rooftop restaurant in San Miguel de Allende.
Hope this guide is helpful so you can enjoy a beautiful sunset on a rooftop in San Miguel de Allende! It’s sure to be memorable!
