El Manantial — Restaurant in San Miguel de Allende

Super cool spot, especially on a sunny day walking hilly SMA. With swinging doors and a dark interior, this place has all the look on the outside of a hole-in-the-wall, but it is much more! The front room has a semi-circle bar and some seating around it, but there is a back room with more seating if it is crowded when you check it out. The interior is painted black with white murals, and it gives a cool vibe even at midday, where I feel like I’m really escaping the outside world for a bit. The margaritas are awesome, made w/mezcal or tequila. (My wife loves the ginger or hibiscus), and they serve the best micheladas I can get in SMA. The real surprise at El Manantiel is the food, which is flavorful, light, creative, and consistent (that favorite dish you were looking forward to having again is going to be just as good every time). Many people come for the tortas, especially on Tuesday, and the seafood; don’t miss out on a chance to try the mole or the queso plate, though. Superb. We are super happy we “discovered” this bar, as it has only been around for...

Came here two nights and is a busy little gem away from the crowds. Food is very good, had the scallops - ceviche style - which were amazing and the corn soup which was also very good. It’s great quality food with quite a big menu in an very unfancy, cantina style setting. Now the reason it didn’t get five stars was the service on the second night - first night was great - was terrible. The waitress was surly and miserable. We didn’t think we wanted food so they took the food menu away and when we decided to order another drink and possibly get some food she looked like she had just taken a bite out of a big lemon. The drinks arrived but no food menu so we left and did not leave a tip. I would recommend though, she could have been having a bad night or just was allergic to...

Fantastically quaint and intimate with delicious bites and well constructed drinks. Loved the aguachiles camarones (we had to order a second helping after our first bite!), fresh guac is a given, pastor de pescado hit the spot. Thoroughly enjoyed my tamarindo margarita con mezcal, may or may not have ordered a few more! A little away from the hustle and bustle of San Miguel but still conveniently attached to the action still, do yourself a favor and stop on in the saloon swinging doors for a well deserved treat.

Can't remember the exact total but it was around $20 USD per person. We were a party of 7 and everyone had at least a drink, a few starters to share and a main each. Pretty satisfying lunch!

COVID Safety - checked temperature and required masks upon...