Shopping in San Miguel de Allende: Markets & City Market
San Miguel de Allende is a foodie destination. I can confidently say that you'll be happy with practically any restaurant you walk into. The chefs here take great pride in their culinary creations. But when you're ready for a break from the Michelin-starred eateries, where do you go?
For me, the adventure continues at the grocery store.
La Lonja: My Go-To Butcher
My favorite meat market is La Lonja. There are two locations in town, and both make it easy to pick up what you need. It's clean, the people are nice, and you can find just about anything you're looking for.
My go-to is their chicken Milanese: a simple chicken breast pounded paper-thin. Throw it in a pan with olive oil, salt, and pepper, add a squeeze of lemon, and finish it off with a little butter.
Delicioso!
Ramirez Market: Fresh Vegetables
Next, I head to Ramirez Market for fresh vegetables. I usually visit Oscar at his produce stand. He receives fresh produce Thursday through Monday, and I find the selection is often best over the weekend. That said, it can be a bit random.
If Oscar doesn't have what you're looking for, there's a good chance another vegetable stand will.
That's one of the things I enjoy about shopping in San Miguel. Sometimes you have to wander a little to find exactly what you want.
Super Bonanza: A Little Bit of Everything
There's also Super Bonanza on Mesones, a tiny, classic market stocked with canned goods, sodas, pasta, cheese, yogurt, milk, wine... pretty much everything except fresh produce.
When I don't feel like trekking down the Ancha to City Market, this is also my go-to for a last minute trek to grab a quick item. Convenient, simple, and right in town.
Mercado Sano: Shopping Organic
When I want to stock up on organic food, I'll trek over to Mercado Sano, located off the Ancha. From the town center, it's a good 20-minute walk.
Lately, I've been kick-starting my health with organic ingredients. An organic chicken costs roughly $13–$18, which is close to what you'd pay in the United States. The same goes for celery, parsley, and other fresh vegetables. Prices are comparable to home—that is, San Francisco.
Sticker shock? Yes! Every time I visit, I'm reminded that San Miguel isn't necessarily the bargain people expect it to be.
Also, this is the location for the Organic market that sets up here every Saturday. This is also my go to place for produce. You will find me here every Saturday loading up. And if you are looking for good fresh salsa, this is the place.
City Market: The Grocery Store That Deserves Its Own Adventure
Now, here's where things get interesting.
For whatever reason, I can't seem to find fresh mint anywhere except at the supermarket farther out of town. It's a good 30–40-minute walk, but that's how I discovered one of my favorite places to shop in San Miguel.
There are two enormous supermarkets here that remind me of Whole foods, only bigger: La Comer and City Market. They're located right across the street from one another and share the same parent company.
La Comer is the less expensive option. Naturally, I go to City Market.
Why? Because apparently, saving myself a few extra steps is worth spending a little more money. My wallet might disagree, but I do enjoy the experience.
City Market has practically everything you could want: gluten-free products, sugar-free options, beer, wine, condiments, and plenty more. But what makes this place so much fun is that it's not just about buying groceries. It's an experience in itself.
Fresh Seafood on Ice
The seafood counter looks like the day's catch has been arranged for an art exhibition. Tidy rows of fish, crab, shrimp, and lobster... eeeek!
After you place your order, the fishmonger packages everything with ice to help keep it fresh for the journey home.
Now, I don't get that kind of presentation at my usual grocery store in San Francisco!
A Bakery Full of Temptation
Want pastries? No worries. There's a bakery right inside the market, turning out fresh bread throughout the day.
Rows and rows of galletas (cookies), pan (bread), sweet rolls, cinnamon rolls, and cupcakes. It's a sweet tooth's dream.
And there's a system.
First, grab a round tray and select your pastries. Then take everything to the bakery cashier, who weighs your goodies, bags and tags them.
Just make sure your bags are tagged with a barcode. If something doesn't, you'll be sent back to the bakery to get one. I learned that lesson the hard way after picking up a pre-bagged package of hamburger buns!
Cheese, Please!
Next up is the cheese counter, a lovely island of dairy delights. The cheesemongers are constantly at work cutting, slicing, and dicing cheese, and they're ready to help you find what you're looking for.
Everything feels so fancy here. Sheesh!
And naturally, right next door is the wine.
Thousands of bottles are displayed inside a temperature-controlled glass room. Even if you're just walking past, it's quite a sight.
Fresh Tortillas and Salsa
Need tortillas? Of course they have them! Fresh tortillas roll right out of the tortilladora, and there are chips to go with them. Grab a fresh bag, then swing by for some of their homemade salsa.
If you're not too picky about salsa, it'll do the trick.
I've tried a few tortilla shops around San Miguel, and this isn't my favorite tortilla stop. But if you're in a pinch—or simply hungry—fresh is always better.
Sushi and Tropical Fish
Feel like sushi? They've got that, too.
You can order sushi and eat at the bar while gazing into a giant cylindrical saltwater aquarium. I love swinging by just to look at the tropical fish.
Seriously, is this a grocery store?
Gelato, Coffee, and a Little People-Watching
Did I mention that City Market has one of my favorite gelato spots?
You can't miss it near the entrance, and there's usually a line. The gelato is made right at the market, so grab a scoop, have a coffee, and go over your shopping list.
A lot of expats come here to hang out, and there's even a café where you can sit down for lunch.
At this point, you might need to remind yourself that you came here to buy groceries! Honestly, sometimes I just come here for the gelato!
Is City Market Worth Visiting in San Miguel de Allende?
One of the first things I ask my friends when they come to visit is whether they'd like to go to the grocery store.
I know. It's not exactly the typical sightseeing recommendation.
But City Market is so different from what I've experienced in the United States. Between the seafood counter, bakery, cheese, wine, fresh tortillas, sushi bar, aquarium, and gelato, there's plenty to explore.
It's a glimpse into everyday life in San Miguel, with a few unexpected treats along the way.
So, if you're visiting San Miguel de Allende, put City Market on your list. You might arrive looking for groceries and leave wondering whether you should have brought a bigger shopping bag.
Happy shopping—and buen provecho!
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