35 Best Hotels in San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland, Mexico

Built in 1580 as the archbishop of Guanajuato's residence, this elegant country-style inn still attracts ambassadors, diplomats, film stars, and other luminaries. Rooms are distributed throughout a series of small mansions. Lace curtains, handwoven rugs, and chandeliers adorn some of them; fireplaces, cozy terraces, and skylights enhance others. The hotel runs the separate Casa del Parque, an exquisitely restored 18th-century hacienda with five guest rooms a few minutes' walk away, on the Parque Benito Juárez; its restaurant serves refined versions of traditional Mexican dishes and has a popular Sunday buffet brunch.

In a colonial house with most rooms facing the large central patio, complete with plants and bubbling fountain, this family-run pension offers excellent location and a homey atmosphere. Rooms are good-sized, but the furnishings are a bit on the basic side. Prices include a full breakfast plus a family-style three-course luncheon—nothing fancy. In the library check your email or select a book and enjoy a complimentary morning coffee, afternoon tea, or postprandial tequila.

A private home in the 18th century, it's now a handsome hotel in Querétaro's center. Each guest room is large, and has antiques, tasteful art, parquet floors, and area rugs. The restaurants serve both international and Mexican cuisine.

The theme of this three-story hotel across from La Compania church and just down the street from the University of Guanajuato is clearly maritime, with a light-blue color scheme and blue glass floor tiles in the downstairs lobby. Rooms have a tranquil blue-gray–and-cream color scheme, high ceilings, pleasingly modern wood furnishings, and comfortable beds. Those facing outward have balconies, some with excellent views. Its location just behind Jardín de la Unión puts you right within access of the square's vibrancy, but without the all the noise.

Travelers on a budget who like to stay in the thick of things will appreciate the "House of Refuge" facing Plaza Gertruis Bocanegra in the heart of Pátzcuaro. The 17th-century building has no heating system, though fireplaces take the chill off the restaurant and lobby in the coldest weather. Rooms have cotton coverlets (not polyester as in some inexpensive hotels), down comforters, old-fashioned wooden headboards, and colonial-style art on the walls.

The appealing Casa Encantada is a magnificent hotel built into a 17th-century mansion just off Pátzcuaro's main plaza. Rooms and suites—all with different configurations and appealing decor and furnishings—surround a courtyard with a garden and fountain. Though rented by the night, they're more like apartments than hotel rooms; most have kitchens and/or dining areas; a couple have fireplaces, and four have bathtubs.

With a panoramic view near the church of La Valenciana, this American-owned house is an upmarket B&B—and one of the classiest lodgings in the city. One room has a whirlpool tub, another its own steam room, and all have a terrace with a stunning view. The only downside is its distance from the city, but, on the other hand, it's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle.

For a truly Mexican experience in a town where international tastes prevail, book a room in this small B&B on quiet Calle Jesus. Although constructed in 2002 as a small hotel, it really does feel like someone's home, right down to the standard Walmart toilet set (matching rug, tank, and toilet-lid covers), crucifixes and religious paintings on the walls, and in one room, even a Barbie doll with crocheted outfit. A library provides novels and DVDs for guests to enjoy: each room has a flat-screen TV and DVD player. The rooftop terrace offers excellent, 360-degree views of town.

This rustic lodge is up a winding road about 10 minutes outside of Pátzcuaro, but it's worth the bumpy ride for the stunning views of the lake (from atop El Estribo, rising far above the city) and Janítzio Island. There's also a small patio strung with hammocks. Some of the pretty rooms have private terraces and kitchens; heaters are available upon request. This is a great value, so reserve well in advance, since yoga groups sometimes take over the entire estate.

Near the Diego Rivera Museum and other downtown sights, the four-story "Inn of the Poets" offers comfortable lodgings at a moderate price, which is all too rare in downtown Guanajuato. Each room and suite is named after a different poet and has unique layout and furnishings; those on the upper floors have the most natural light and best views, but bear in mind you must walk up.

If you're looking for a real getaway far from the madding crowd, book yourself into a real hacienda—once a stop along the Camino Real, the main road for transporting gold, silver, and supplies from the mining towns to Spanish coffers—under an hour's drive north of San Miguel. Here you can turn back the clock and relax in vast rooms whose walls are 3 feet thick, lounge in the shade of colonnaded porticos, or roam the countryside on a pony or mountain bike, all included in the room rate.

For an authentic Zacatecano hotel, consider this clean, quiet place. The spacious brown-carpeted suites have dark antiques; some are equipped with a small kitchen (but no cookware). Sprawling plants and singing birds—Pepe the parrot leads the choir—enliven the two-story interior courtyard. There's also a breakfast room.

The 18th-century pink-stone facade of this lovely old colonial building faces the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. During festival season, rooms looking onto the plaza are within earshot of late-night and early-morning tamborazo music. That said, you'll get a great view of the festivities from your small balcony. It offers lots of services, such as parking, babysitting, a bar-restaurant, business center, and a small gym.

This two-story hotel is one of the best values in the city. It's in a former colonial residence—once host to Santa Ana—just a few doors down from Casa de la Marquesa. The rooms are totally simple, but they surround a lovely little courtyard. Restaurant La Llave is small and cute, serving simple Mexican food.

Service is friendly rather than polished, and some of the rooms are oddly designed—with huge bathrooms, most of which is wasted space, for example—but the overall vibe at this small hotel is appealing and hip. Smooth jazz floats over the open courtyard where breakfast is served, and exterior elements such as old rock walls and weathered doors compete with minimalist room decor and industrial gray carpet. Singles pay the regular room rate, or they can book a bunk in the dorm room for less than MX$200. Beer and pizza are served in the evening on the rooftop patio.

A private mansion built in the 17th century is now an alluring hotel less than two blocks from the Plaza de Armas. In the original section, rooms surround an elegant patio with a large fountain and massive bougainvillea. Rooms have been upgraded and feature flat-screen TVs, tile floors and Persian-style rugs, goose-down pillows, and 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets.

Rooms in this basic, budget-priced, 19th-century inn are simply furnished in a colonial style; they're nothing fancy, but this is a good option for travelers on a budget. Several in the old wing are uncomfortably dark and cramped, but others are more open and have fireplaces. Head up to the rooftop public terrace for city views; the building is near the hulking dome of the Iglesia de la Concepción. There's a communal TV in the lobby, which looks like a formal Mexican living room.

On some mornings strains from mass at the neighboring Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud filter softly into this inn. The 17th-century building has comfortable, individually decorated rooms, some with fireplaces. Thick wood shutters cover floor-to-ceiling windows with lace curtains, large wooden beams grace the ceilings, and walls are trimmed in hand-painted colonial designs.

This colonial-style inn at the Jardín de la Unión—the best location in town for being in the thick of things—has been in operation since 1862. Large historical paintings by local artist Don Manuel Leal hang in the wood-paneled lobby. Rooms are rather drab, with barely adequate bathrooms. Rooms facing the plaza can be noisy, but have the best views; quieter rooms face narrow alleyways, and some look onto Guanajuato's twisting roads. The hotel's restaurant is great for people-watching and late-night snacks.

This shiny, modern hotel, with its prime location on Avenida Hidalgo, has taken the city by storm. A marble staircase leads up to the first floor, past gleaming glass structures. Rooms are top-of-the-line, simple and sleek, with dark-wood floors, lovely bathrooms, and, in some cases, terraces that open onto terrific views of the city. The restaurant isn't as exciting.

Built in 1565 for a Spanish nobleman, this downtown hotel radiates the aura of a bygone era. A massive stained-glass skylight casts a warm glow over an elegant lobby lounge fitted with an enormous stone fireplace and stiff-looking but surprisingly comfy couches. Guest rooms have dark colonial-style furnishings, lace curtains, soaring ceilings, creaking hardwood floors, and bathrooms with porcelain tubs. You can mingle with the locals at the popular sidewalk tables over a coffee, cocktail, or a meal. Make sure to get a room with a window facing outdoors, as some face only the lobby.

Located in the geographical and emotional heart of San Miguel de Allende, the intimate L'Otel features just four suites set in a charming home on a quiet side street. The courtyard patio is an ideal place to relax and catch up with friends, and the rooftop terrace features beautiful views of the town and its stunning cathedral. In the living room, an honor bar, fireplace, and movie selection await. Guest rooms are individually decorated with stylish antiques, colorful artwork, and bold themes, and feature delightfully comfortable beds with Italian linens, silk coverlets, and goose-down duvets. Plush robes and towels and Cote Bastide bath amenities add a spa-like feel to the en suite bathrooms. A hearty breakfast is included in the rate.

Folk-art lovers are drawn to this "house of happy spirits" for its collection of crafts. Owned by a California artist and textile collector, the lovingly restored hacienda (circa 1700) has thick stone walls and serene, almost jungle-like grounds covered with bougainvillea and calla lilies. Hand-glazed-tile baths, fireplaces, and private terraces are standard with each room, but otherwise, all rooms are unique. Marfil is a 15-minute drive from the center of town—frequent buses are available. Taxi drivers may be unfamiliar with the hotel, so come prepared with directions.

Stone archways ring plant-filled courtyards in this 17th-century mansion. Rooms, with large wood-and-glass doors, are partially carpeted. The owners are an excellent source of information regarding Pátzcuaro and the surrounding areas. Be sure to check out the restaurant, Doña Paca, and its tasty coffee drinks.

Once an early-19th-century apartment building, this hotel is absolutely sprawling, with courtyard upon courtyard giving way to more rooms than you imagined could exist here. There are two levels of guest rooms, all of which are done in tasteful, if somewhat bland, furnishings. The Mesón's placement on a little plaza set back from and above the street enhances its tranquil quality.

On the serene Plaza de la Independencia, this elegant property was a stopover for travelers to the north almost 300 years ago. Rooms are clustered around a placid courtyard with a swimming pool. Old-fashioned details such as lace-hung glass doors, antique-style mirrors, and wood-beam ceilings preserve the colonial charm but blend well with more modern touches and amenities.

One of San Miguel's oldest families has opened its ranch-style home as a hotel, complete with a common area with fireplace and a library full of Mexican and international art books. Only blocks from the action of downtown, rooms here open onto lush gardens and trees. From an ample terrace with sweeping views you can enjoy an organic breakfast. One of the rooms has its own swimming pool.

Although nothing to write home about, Hotel Posada de la Aldea has some qualities that make it worth considering if you are a bargain shopper. Rooms are spacious, though the furnishings are a bit tired, and there's ample free parking, a restaurant-bar, heated swimming pool (rare in budget San Miguel hotels), and an excellent location not far from all the downtown sights. It's also near many more good restaurants on Calle Ancha de San Antonio. Better prices are often available during nonpeak seasons.

Located a block from the main plaza, this comfortable inn has bedrooms decorated in a variety of styles, from colorful Mexican folk art to elegant Victorian. Most have fireplaces, and the room rate allows guests access to the solar-heated pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, and gym. The spa offers reasonably priced massages and facials.

When he wasn't living in his jungle hut, Edward James stayed in town (a 10-minute drive away) in a whimsical house that feels like an extension of the garden structures at Las Pozas—except that it has walls. The house, El Castillo (the Castle), is now a quirky inn run by the granddaughter of James's boon companion and chief designer-builder, Plutarco Gastelum. Rooms are adorned with simple wooden furnishings; the best rooms have huge Gothic windows and panoramic mountain views. You can arrange to have meals here, although there are lately more dining options in Xilitla, which has grown to 15,000 souls, than in previous years.