San Miguel de Allende, a charming Spanish colonial town in the mountains and high desert of central Mexico, has long been a favorite destination among American, Canadian, and European travelers, including some expats who reside here all year or part. of the year. . This charming city of 60,000 people near the amazing and historic city of Guanajuato is also popular with many Mexicans, especially residents of Mexico City (175 miles away) and Guadalajara (220 miles away).
Filled with charming little hotels, fancy restaurants, fine art galleries, and stylish boutiques, San Miguel reminds many visitors of another Spanish colonial desert town with a similar elevation (around 6,500 feet), Santa Fe, New Mexico. Both cities have a good number of GLBT residents and are also quite popular as gay travel destinations, but neither of them will you find many specifically gay nightlife options. These are the kinds of places that tend to attract those over 35, and more couples than singles.
Still, San Miguel is home to a handful of lively bars and dance clubs, all of them fairly gay-friendly, and some with a notably gay following.
Gay-Friendly Destinations in Miguel de Allende
A particular favorite among gays and straight people is the Mint lounge and dance club (Mesones 99), which is located next to the wonderful gay bakery and cafe, Petite Four, whose talented co-owner Paco Cárdenas also teaches cooking classes. If you stop by Petit Four and run into Paco, he can also give you some helpful tips on other gay-friendly places to eat and drink in San Miguel.
Arguably the most famous spot in town for live music, dancing, and drinks is Mama Mia (Umaran 8), which is just one block from the city’s famous El Jardin central square and is a popular club, bar and restaurant. Even during the day, Mama Mia is a fun place to have a beer and socialize, especially on the terrace. It is quite touristy and mostly straight, but it is still a place that any night owl visiting San Miguel should visit at least once.
Another must-see for visitors, gay or straight, is sipping cocktails as the sun sets at the fabulous Luna rooftop outdoor bar atop the elegant Rosewood San Miguel de Allende hotel (Nemesio Diez 11). You’ll pay a little more here for drinks or to try some of the delicious tapas, but the views of the city center, including the iconic Parroquia church, are great. In the evening, once the sun has faded, you can relax in one of the comfortable seats (warmed by heat lamps in cold weather) and gaze at the stars.
If you’re the type of traveler who prefers local, independent hangouts when on the road, especially in another country, you have every right to roll your eyes at the mention of the San Miguel Starbucks, but this spacious space of High ceiling just off Plaza El Jardin is one of the most attractive branches of the ubiquitous coffee chain you’ll ever find. It’s open late, has a lovely central courtyard, there’s Wi-Fi, lots of gay people venture here, and there’s comfortable seating inside. By any standards, it’s a lovely spot for a coffee drink, and since downtown San Miguel has very few major chain companies, this one in particular doesn’t stand out or substantially spoil the character of the historic district.
Another fun lounge with a mix of gay / straight fans is Berlin Bar & Bistro (Umaran 19), a chic, contemporary spot that’s easy to find, with its brightly colored sign on the red stucco exterior. The interior of Euro-Boho displays top-notch artwork; the bar serves a good mix of European and Latin American beers, wines, and spirits (including fine single malt Scotch); and the modern food, with local ingredients, is first class. Expect a sophisticated and worldly crowd of all ages.
Around the corner, the artsy Movie Pocket Theater & Petit Bar (Hernández Macías 95) shows independent films in their original languages (with English subtitles), including some of LGBT interest. It’s a fun little space to watch movies, drinks, and light meals.
A relatively new corner bar that is laid-back but quite stylish and attracts a lot of gay locals is La 21 Unica Cantina, on the corner of Jesús and Cuadrante. It’s a cozy and fun place with tasty bar food, including excellent cheese sauce, plus a good selection of cocktails.
