7 Best Shopping in San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland, Mexico

Next to City Hall, within a large old passageway called Pasaje Von Humbolt, is a small shop with beautiful designs in silver jewelry, much of it with semiprecious stones.

Cerro Blanco Joyería creates and crafts its own silver and gold jewelry, with clean lines and a modern look.

Directly across the street from Bellas Artes, Diva has an excellently curated collection of stylish women's clothing, with a small section for the guys. The jewelry as well is tasteful yet fun and unusual. It's the first shop within an old colonial plaza, across the passageway from La Victoriana herbal concoctions shop.

If shopping has sapped your strength, head to the back of the little mall for a delicious bakery treat at La Buena Vida, open until midday only.

Established in 1963, Joyería David has an extensive selection of silver jewelry, much of it made on the premises. Jewelers on-site can help customers design their own pieces containing Mexican opals, amethysts, topazes, malachite, turquoise, or other stones.

Some jewelry and knickknacks are sold at the Mercado Hidalgo. It's more of an experience than a shopping destination, but you might find some regional treasures if you're lucky.

As its name implies, this shop has an eclectic mix of tasteful items (as well as piquaresque greeting cards for women of a certain age). Pretty, hip jewelry, a smattering of ceramic pieces from different parts of Mexico, and other potential gifts share space—in a gorgeous old house surrounding a central courtyard—with blouses, dresses, and other clothing with clean lines and a distinctive, modern look.

A few doors down from the tourism office, Ono offers a pleasing assortment of textiles and a wide range of traditional clothing—including blouses, shawls, stoles, and scarves—as well as jewelry, mostly in traditional designs.