A fantastic first day in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Last night I arrived back in San Miguel for my second stay but this time for four and a half months.  I will be staying at a perfectly located Airbnb in the Centro area giving me easy access to all of the goings on in SMA.  Unlike with my past blog posts, I plan this time to make some very specific recommendations for places to visit, places to stay, restaurants, boutiques, etc. so let’s start with today.  I want to tell you about my experience at Cafe San Augustin at San Francisco 21 right in the heart of San Miguel and just steps from the cathedral and the central garden square.  The San Augustin is owned by Argentinian telenovela and former Playboy star Margarita Granlia and is housed in a typical San Miguel style with high celings festooned with many different woven baskets to a large wall painting depicting a monk being given a cup of hot chocolate by an angel!  You will find that hot chocolate and churros are one of the signature dishes of this restaurant but breakfast, lunch, tapas and dinner are served also.

I had a lovely breakfast of pancakes and bacon with delicious cafe latte and a large glass of three mixed fruit juices.  Sevice by a coterie of senoras in white shirts and black slacks is just right.  The menu is only in Spanish so be prepared to use your knowledge or ask the severs who all seem to speak some English and are happy to help.  There are many other breakfast options with eggs alone or with side dishes or in omlettes.  Eggs Mexican style are also on the menu.  My complete breakfast of 130 pesos translates to about $6.50!

For lunch I tried the excellent empanadas with meat and a just spicy enough green chile salsa but my desert was the house classic of Hot Chocolate with three Mexican churros-those are the sweetest ones with the Spanish style being the least sweet.  Churros, in case you aren’t familiar with them are rather unique.  A donut-like dough is extruded into a long ribbed shape and then deepfried and covered with tasty sugar to make churros.  The are what one might call “Mexican doughnuts!” My lunch came to 132 Pesos or a little more than $6.50 which I consider an excelleent value.

The menu for lunch covers all sorts of dishes including enchiladas, soups, salads, sandwiches and lots more.  By the time I departed about 1:30 pm the place was packed and there was a line forming outside the door of people waiting for a table.  During my morning visit for breakfast the restaurant was only about a third full but if you plan to come for lunch or dinner, plan ahead or be prepared to wait.  I don’t think that you can go wrong with the San Augustin, it is a San Miguel tradition.