Chef Eduardo Palazuelos’s Mexi-Thai cooking is on display at Zibu, located inside the Live Aqua San Miguel hotel. Palazuelos became well known in his hometown of Acapulco for his ability to effortlessly combine the flavors of two seemingly disparate culinary traditions. House specialties include golden noodle shrimp served with a creamy turmeric sauce and beef marrow tacos with ajillo-marinated octopus. The cocktail menu is considered the most memorable in the city. ($$$$)

Don’t leave San Miguel without trying this fonda (casual restaurant) for a relaxed breakfast or cheap lunch. The small, unpretentious place serves Mexican diner-style dishes like chilaquiles topped with eggs, tortas, and mole enchiladas. The service is friendly and the in-house baking is top notch. ($)

This sought-after stand specializes in tacos al pastor, suadero, and gringas — a version of al pastor with cheese served on flour tortillas. The popular taco cart parks on a cobblestone street in downtown San Miguel each night, attracting a crowd of locals and visitors in search of something to soak up all the mezcal. Note: Tacos San Francisco is also known as “Andy’s Tacos” by the local expat community. ($)

This sought-after stand specializes in tacos al pastor, suadero, and gringas — a version of al pastor with cheese served on flour tortillas. The popular taco cart parks on a cobblestone street in downtown San Miguel each night, attracting a crowd of locals and visitors in search of something to soak up all the mezcal. Note: Tacos San Francisco is also known as “Andy’s Tacos” by the local expat community. ($)

Chef Daniel Durán is behind Mexican specialties like slow-cooked tongue tacos, shrimp tostadas, and black aguachile with habanero. Ocre’s drinks are dangerously tasty with options like the Mandarin sour or Clover club. The daytime vibe here is relaxed, but blossoms into a bona fide scene at night. ($$$)

This is a “come for the food, stay for the view” kind of restaurant. Antonia’s terrace offers a panoramic look at the city’s colonial landscape, and is a fine place to enjoy lunch by Alejandro Cuatepotzo, one of Mexico’s brightest young chefs. Settle into comforting dishes like a suckling pig served with its juices, roasted aged ribeye, and fresh fish ceviche. ($$$)

Why would you want to visit an Australian steakhouse in Mexico? When it’s Bovine, an absolute epic feat of a restaurant and one of the best tables in town. It comes from acclaimed Australian-born chef Paul Bentley, and provides a modern take on the classic chop house formula, with dishes like steak frites with pepper sauce, porchetta with white bean stew, and Bourguignon short rib. The term “large format” is taken literally here; bring friends, or heed your server’s ordering advice. ($$$$)

This is the place to experience San Miguel’s local ingredients at their peak. Aperi’s internationally celebrated tasting menu is exclusively sourced from area farmers and utilizes seafood from the northern regions of Mexico, while the dishes themselves lean Mexican with a few French flourishes. The intimate chef’s table experience at Aperi is another level — just be sure to book far in advance. ($$$$)

It’s always cocktail o’clock at Cumpanio, a small bar with signature drinks by Welsh bartender Adrian Evans. The tequila mimosas and Evans’s riff on the negroni are some of the best sips you will find in San Miguel. Service is friendly, too. ($$$)

Located in a historic ochre-and-blue storefront, Lavanda Cafe is a small specialty coffee shop known for its signature drinks infused with lavender flowers. For the purists, a multitude of drip and espresso methods (Chemex, V60, cold brew) are also available, made with single-origin beans that highlight the best of Mexico’s coffee growing regions, like Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Nayarit. Try the latte lavanda or mareado lavanda, a double espresso shaken with ice, lavender, and sugar cane. Cushion your stomach before all the caffeine with a classic breakfast like eggs Benedict or a BLT sandwich. ($)

Nested in the courtyard of a colonial-era mansion, and just a few steps from the main square of San Miguel de Allende, the Restaurant has been a mainstay of San Miguel dining for more than a decade. American-born chef Donnie Masterton cooks a menu of California-style comfort food with Mexican influences that rarely lets you down. Try the mahi mahi à la Veracruz, or the shrimp risotto with spring vegetables and Parmesan. A weekly burger night features grass-fed beef, house-made pickles, and piles of garlic French fries. ($$$$)

The century-old Cantina El Manantial is one of San Miguel de Allende’s most historic treasures. The bar is on the small side but works just fine to kick off a night out in the city with classic cocktails or sippers of tequila and mezcal. El Manantial is a regular hang for the local artist community, so be prepared to mingle with creative spirits. ($$)

Located inside Hotel Matilda, Moxi is a casual restaurant with a focus on local ingredients and international techniques that puts it a cut above other hotel eateries. Try the roast chicken with pumpkin seed sauce and the cheese ravioli stuffed with seasonal wild mushrooms. The hotel’s terrace bar is the place to be for a good swath of San Miguel. ($$$$)

Start the day at this French-inspired bakery that’s considered one of the best in San Miguel de Allende. Panio’s offerings mix classic viennoiserie, boulangerie, and patisserie techniques through treats like cinnamon rolls, croissants, and eclairs to satisfy those sugar cravings. This is an equally good place to get your fix of traditional Mexican pastries like conchas, orejas, garibaldis and, when in season, the classic Day of the Dead bread, pan de muerto. There’s a small seating area to enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate with your relaxing breakfast. ($)