San Miguel de Allende gay guide

Here I go again! If that name alone doesn’t scream “Gays welcome!” I don’t know what will. It is in the process of moving to a new location which we will update as soon as it is confirmed. MAMA MIA is made up of several smaller bar areas and a fabulous restaurant serving delicious Latin and Italian fare – more on that later. The bars are unique in their own way and appeal to different crowds, solidifying MAMA MIA’s position as a place for people from all walks of life to hang out and have fun. Our favorite area is the rooftop terrace bar and lounge, La Terraza.

Location: Dr. Hernández Macías #91

Open: On weekdays from 8am until midnight and on weekends from 8am until 3am

This adorably rustic Mexican cantina is a great place to relax and have a few drinks – and by a few drinks, of course, we mean several of the fabulous margaritas and shots of every type of tequila known to man! Cantina La 21 Unica is on Calle de Jesus, a short walk west of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel church. There’s a charming, relaxed atmosphere, no one bats an eyelid at anyone’s gayness, and the mariachi nights are an absolute blast. There is also a pretty decent menu of Mexican dishes available for either lunch or dinner, all made from scratch.

Location: Jesús 23, Centro

Open: Wednesday to Sunday from 2pm until 10.30pm

We simply adore this super-trendy rooftop bar, if only for the stunning view – seriously, it’s one of the best views in the city that doesn’t involve trekking up a mountain somewhere. La Azotea is just around the corner from the Museu Historico Casa de Allende on Umaran. It attracts a young, hip, and, above all, friendly crowd. It’s not hard to see why though; the music is fabulous, and the drinks are always flowing. This bar also offers an incredible, varied menu of typical Mexican foods and some more off-piste choices like octopus. We particularly enjoyed the shrimp tacos!

Location: Umarán 6, Zona Centro

Open: Daily from 1pm until midnight

This cool little bar is extremely popular. Located on the corner of Huertas and Barranca near the Capilla de la Virgen de los Dolores, it doesn’t seem to matter which night you visit, this place will always be full of locals and travelers living their best lives. El Manantial serves some of the best drinks you will find in the whole city, as well as an incredible menu of classic Mexican cuisine. If you’re only going to go once, make it a Tuesday – two-for-one margaritas, baby!

Location: Calle Barranca #78

Open: Daily from 1 or 2pm until 10 or 11pm

Let’s have a kiki – I wanna have a kiki! This club night may rival MAMA MIA for the gayest-sounding name, and considering the fact it’s not a gay venue in deed, it certainly is in thought.

It’s a place for all to come to drink, party and live their best lives loud and proud, whether they’re straight, gay, male, female, cis, trans, or gender non-conforming. You can tell that much from the photos on the club’s Facebook – this is one cute, colorful crowd! And if you’re done kiki-ing and would rather be kaikai-ing, there are plenty of Mexican hotties around to be admired and enjoyed!

Location: KiKi Nights take place in a different location each time, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the Facebook page to find out where the next party is at

Open: Starts at 9pm every Saturday and keeps on swinging ‘til 2am

El Petit Four is a gay and lesbian-owned cafe/bakery that makes delicious cakes, pastries, and other baked delights. And let me tell you, they are out of this world. Truly, anyone with a sweet tooth owes it to themselves to check this place out. We highly recommend the Baileys chocolate cheesecake – I feel like I’m gaining ten pounds just thinking about it. Also, if you’re interested in learning more about the local cuisine, El Petit Four offers market tours and hands-on cooking classes too.

Cafe MuRo is a new gay owned restaurant. Cute couple Gerardo and Carlos are the power team behind this gem. They've been in the business for over 12 years and have such an excellent reputation amongst the local community. Their Mexican breakfast is highly rated and also a popular spot for Sunday Brunch.

Here I go… again?! You’ll recognize this place from the bar section, and we weren’t pulling your poodle when we said there’s a lot going on here! Besides multiple bars, MAMA MIA is also home to a fabulous restaurant. For those of you who like it hot, there’s plenty of Mexican spice to be enjoyed here, with several Italian dishes also on offer for those with a more delicate palate. And if you have certain dietary requirements, MAMA MIA’s chefs are very accommodating – we love to see it! However, note that it will be moving to a new location, which we will be sure to update very soon.

Not only does this restaurant serve some of the best food in SMA, but it also treats its patrons like royalty. It’s no surprise, then, that Tostevere happens to be the number-one-rated restaurant in the entire city according to customers on TripAdvisor. These dishes wouldn’t look out of place on MasterChef – and they taste as good as they look! Tostevere’s small size and popularity mean you’ll probably need to book ahead, but the coziness lends itself perfectly to a romantic meal for two.

Only second to Tostevere in the TripAdvisor rankings, this restaurant is named after its incredible signature dish, lamb barbacoa – lamb steamed in banana leaves. First, you’ll be served a delicious consommé made from the juices of the meat before the piece de resistance arrives; the most tender lamb you’ve ever tasted with scrummy homemade tortillas on the side. El Pato’s repertoire may be limited, but it does what it does so well, you’ll be back for round two before you know it.

San Miguel de Allende is a city with a fascinating history. Mexico has been subject to a great deal of political unrest, and San Miguel saw its fair share of battle during times of conflict. If that kind of thing steams your pudding, you’ll definitely want to visit the city’s historic district. San Miguel was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, and many centuries-old churches, colonial buildings, and other monuments are still standing today. The best way to explore the historic district is by wandering around and if you join a walking tour then you'll have a local guide to tell you about the city's history.

San Miguel de Allende is a city that prides itself on its cuisine, and it's gooood! Any foodie owes it to themselves to taste every delicious morsel SMA has to offer. If you want to learn more about the local food, how it’s prepared and the secrets behind how it tastes so utterly amazing, there are many food tours and other activities going on in the city every day. Walking around the city is hungry work, so break it up with lots of tasty treats!

The spectacular Canada de La Virgen pyramids were originally built by the Otomi tribe around the year 530 AD. Despite having been around for so long, it wasn’t until 1995 that the site was first excavated, and the project didn’t really get off the ground until 2002. Canada de La Virgen first opened to the public in 2011, but the site is still considered private property, and visits are heavily restricted, so you’ll need to seek out an officially sanctioned tour if you want to check it out.

If you really want to feel your Mexican fantasy, what better way than to ride a horse through the magnificent Coyote Canyon? You’ll feel like you’re in an episode of Westworld as you cross the La Virgen river, gallop along the clifftops and take in the breathtaking views. You can even partake in a heart-stopping 120-foot rappel down a cliffside if you want to! Once you’ve had your fill of thrills and spills, Coyote Canyon is also home to an old-fashioned ranch serving organic Mexican food.