Hello,

We will be in SMdA on the 24th December and in Leon on the 31st December. We're really not interested in massive feasts but are there any options for reasonable dinner (or perhaps better to opt for a big lunch that day?) in those places for those dates that anyone can recommend?

I don't know the schedules of the restaurants, but I did have two excellent dinners at APERI on my last visit. It's contemporary and the food was excellent. I was there years ago but it still gets good reviews.

We've never dined at Aperi, but agree with Eks, it's popular & gets consistently good reviews.
Your travel style may not jibe with what I'd do as a local on Xmas eve. That said, our 4 favorite moderately priced restaurants are as follows, with a brief description of why we like each one. Dont know if they have anything special for xmas eve. And if it were me, I'd tend to do a lunch thing rather than contend with crowds for dinner. But even for lunch you may want a reservation.
Mamamia Campestre. Absolutely beautiful outdoor setting under their mezquite trees & among their herb gardens. Nice indoor dining too in their 'lodge'. Pizza, pasta, steaks, burgers and their craft beer brewed on site. About 10-15 minutes out of town, so you'd need to arrange a taxi or Uber both to/from. Maybe combine with a visit to the santuario de Atotonilco. Daylight hours.
https://campestre.mamamia.com.mx/
Al Rojo Vivo. Their burgers were voted 'Las más chingonas' of San Miguel. Steaks & pasta too and excellent cheap margaritas. The setting is in an old 1800's hacienda, about 10 minutes out of town. Worth the trip. They'd call you a taxi for the return to town. Charming setting, excellent service, off the tourist trail.
https://www.facebook.com/parrillaalrojovivosanmiguel
Los Milagros Terraza. Best view of San Miguel in town. Molcajetes are awesome. Their Centro location is good too, but no view.
https://restaurantlosmilagros.com/
La Posadita. Long time rooftop dining favorite.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...ulf_Coast.html
Lots of other good options too. But these are our faves.
Where are you staying in Leon?

Thanks for all of these, we will take a look. We're staying at the Ramada in Leon

Normally, I'd just recommend the restaurant at the Ramada,whose name now escapes me, so I did Google maps. It apparently has changed ownership, it's now a Rockstar Burger location, a small local chain. I've never eaten there, so can't personally recommend. But it'll still have that nice view of the Plaza. But can't say if it'd work for you.
https://www.rockstarburger.mx/
This was a decent place in Centro too. Maybe do a walk by to see if it'd work for you.
https://www.hotel-leon.com.mx/gastronomia
This was a really fun place out by the leather district, a short taxi/Uber ride from Centro. Very Mexican.
https://www.facebook.com/elbraserioo.../?locale=es_LA
This was a very traditional local fave. Bull fighting atmosphere , if that's your thing.
https://panteontaurino.com.mx/
We've been to other restaurants more removed from Centro, many of which I forget where they were as friends took us.
Pack some earplugs and download a white noise app if you've booked a suite at the Ramada. NYE will be noisy. Still a good choice in Leon Centro. I'd be curious to read your trip reports. ​​​​​​

Oh dear, should we rather look at another hotel in Leon?

If you've booked a suite, which overlook the Plaza, it might not be the worst idea to change to an interior room or consider another hotel. When I suggested the Ramada, I didn't realize you'd be in León on NYE. We've stayed there on some weekend nights, and there are a couple of bars on the Plaza that have live music on weekends that can get pretty loud. But they usually stop playing around midnight. But on NYE, that might be a different story.

Thanks, I don't think we have a suite, but I've requested a quiet room. Sure we'll manage

Then you should be OK.

Great, we ended up going to the restaurant at Golpe de Vista for their lunch tasting menu for today, which was reasonable and tasty.

Bald0ne, any recommendations for live music venues in SMdA? I know you previously mentioned Bistro Mi Casa, but it looks like it's closed down, sadly.

Pueblo Viejo has live music pretty much every evening. Usually kind of a peruvian/south American style. Ask for their Jicama tacos, on the upstairs bar menu but they'll serve downstairs if you ask.
One of the better bar/restaurant venues for live music is Paprika.
https://www.facebook.com/Paprikarestaurantesma2022/
Both Los Milagros locations, Terraza & centro, have live music over the dinner hour but music quality varies.
Cafe Rama
https://www.facebook.com/caferamasma/
Tio Lucas.
https://tiolucassma.com/
For starters.

Mas:
https://sanmiguellive.com/?group_id=...e=Live%20Music

Wow, thank you so much, we'll give some of those a go. Merry Christmas