Among the numerous color-drenched byways radiating out from Zona Centro in San Miguel de Allende, newly en vogue Quebrada Street offers a mix of shops, exceptional cuisine, and sequestered dwellings.
The narrow cobblestone street stretches from Canal to Los Órganos streets, about a ten-minute walk from El Jardin, the artfully landscaped green heart of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by a mix of architectural styles—Colonial, Baroque, Neo Gothic and Moorish—the street is a favored local passage in a town that regularly tops Condé Nast Traveler’s “Best Small City in the World” list.
“Walking along the street and in the surrounding neighborhood, it’s like being in Firenze,” says Claudia Nochebuena, a Realtor with CDR San Miguel. “From the Quebrada Bridge that crosses over Canal Street, you can see Las Monjas,” (the Nuns)—the local name for the Church of the Immaculate Conception, a residence for sequestered nuns. The church is among the city’s most popular with its grand dome and bell tower.
Colonial architecture remains the predominant design style for homes on Quebrada Street. (CDR San Miguel)
During the past five years, Quebrada has become a vibrant destination with boutique hotels, fine dining, an art gallery, butcher shop, retail, and florerías. While it’s immersed in café culture, there are also numerous chances to grab a snack—at street-side pollo rosticerías, or you can pick up gorditas or churros from vendors beneath the Quebrada Bridge.
“You can get lost in the alleyways that break off from Quebrada,” Nochebuena says. “There are hidden shops and restaurants tucked in here and there—wonderful niches that you stumble upon.”
In short, easy living Quebrada Street is steps away from the main tourist attractions, but without the hassles of congestion.
Historic residences also line the street where, like elsewhere in San Miguel, you’ll often hear church bells toll.
At Quebrada 22, stands Casa del Cortejo, a three-bedroom, three and-a-half bathroom home built in 1692. The home is the epitome of the relaxed elegance that the city’s landmark residences are known for. The cozy dwelling exudes a welcoming feel with its vine-covered terraces and patios (one with a straight-on view of Las Monjas), 14-foot beamed ceilings, cantera fireplaces, and a mélange of tile work that Mexico’s art museums would covet.
Casa del Cortejo is named for its front-facing windows. (CDR San Miguel)
The residence was restored by local architectural designer Marcia Bland Brown about 15 years ago.
“In essence, the home is a replica of a hacienda at a smaller scale,” says Vanessa Garay, a San Miguel native and a CDR San Miguel Realtor who has listed the property for $1.3 million. Original arches, columns and stenciling along a corridor and other walls are found throughout the home’s three levels. The traditional hacienda-style kitchen is covered with an assortment of differently-styled local tile work. The baths also feature standout decorative tiles.
Casa del Cortejo—the House of Courtship—derives its name from the home’s street-facing window, which is found in many of the city’s colonial homes, a spot where young women would sit to be courted.
Boutique hotel, Villa Limon, features a rooftop restaurant with exceptional views. (CDR San Miguel)
“Our home is one of the oldest on the street,” says owner Teri Everett who bought the property as a second home with her husband Mark Davidson in 2018. “We were drawn to the home’s warmth and history. The entry opens to a beautiful courtyard with a fishpond and an outdoor living room with original stone arches and a fireplace.” The residence, which they’ve occasionally rented out, is 254 square meters, or 2,734 square feet.
Everett says she’s enjoyed fine dining that’s within a short walk down Quebrada Street. Bocaciega (Quebrada 18A) is a Mediterranean restaurant located in the Hotel Casa Quebrada, which is next to an art gallery. “And for a fun night out, we walk across the street to Zumo, a rooftop restaurant at the Villa Limon hotel.”
Villa Limon has also recently hit the market—for $3.4 million. The boutique hotel harbors seven guest rooms and suites, all with well-appointed bathrooms, cantera floors, seating areas, and fireplaces. There are eight additional half-bathrooms in the lobby, bar and restaurant areas. Villa Limon, which has a back patio set with a fountain, is oriented around a grand central courtyard.
“The property is turnkey—everything is included, it’s ready to run as a hotel and restaurant,” says CDR’s Nochebuena who holds the Villa Limon listing. The property was completely renovated in 2018 by its owners of 30 years. Additionally, they renovated the upper terrace in 2021.
Following a complete renovation in 2018, Villa Limon features seven guest rooms and suites. (CDR San Miguel)
Beamed and boveda (also called Catalan vault) ceilings grace the hotel’s guest rooms, and bathrooms feature walk-in showers and exquisite tile work. Each room is named after a different variety of lemon found in Mexico: Eureka, Lisbon, Limonero, Myer, Avalon, Genoa, and Villafranca.
“The tile work is all hand-glazed Talavera-style,” says Nochebuena, adding that it’s sourced from the pueblo of Dolores Hidalgo, less than an hour’s drive north of San Miguel. Known for its ceramic industry, the town employs many of its residents at its artisan factories.
Zumo is the hotel’s 140-seat rooftop restaurant that occupies two levels. The chic spot has dramatic panoramic city views accessed by a glass elevator or stairs. The restaurant kitchen includes high-end appliances. The Luxe cocktail lounge, which seats 110, is spread across the hotel’s upper terrace.
“The mushroom risotto there is amazing,” Nochebuena says. “Overall, it’s a sophisticated culinary experience.”
Another boutique hotel, Casa Yuca (not for sale), is found at Quebrada 87a.
A central courtyard and swimming pool creates a lush setting at the heart of Casa Camille. (CDR San Miguel)
Quebrada Street is about a five-minute walk away from a market at its south end, at Canal Street. Mercado del Carmen (Pila Seca 19) has a food court that serves Italian and French specialties. There are also two bars: Onza and Monocle.
Other standouts in the Quebrada Street barrio include Mi Bistro 300 at Quebrada 18E—known for its breakfast spread of pastries, fresh juices, and other standard morning fare. “Its shrimp tacos are popular during lunch and dinner,” says Everett, the owner of Casa del Cortejo. “On weekends, I also like to go for coffee and pastries in the bakery of the new 9-room Hotel El Recinto (Quebrada 113), It’s right down the street. Everything is made in house.”
For exceptional fine dining, Everett and her husband visit Aperi in the Dos Casas Hotel & Spa, which is just down the block. “It’s widely recognized as one of the best gourmet experiences in Mexico,” she says.
Casa Camille, located Quebrada #73, is a sprawling four-bedroom home dating to the 18th century. (CDR San Miguel)
And just next door to Everett’s home is Armevi Metalworks. “They make bespoke lanterns and lighting fixtures,” she says. “More than a few of our stateside friends have gone home with one.”
A chance to catch a Zen moment resides just around the corner from Quebrada Street at Blanco 4: the Meditation Center of San Miguel. And one street over from Quebrada is the Ignacio Ramírez ‘El Nigromante’ Cultural Center, stocked with murals by David Alfaro Siqueiros, Pedro Martinez, and Eleanor Cohen. The center also offers classes in sculpture, music, dance and painting.
Further up Quebrada at #73, a sprawling four-bedroom 18th century home that recently hit the market is accessed via an elegantly tiled foyer. Off a skillfully landscaped central courtyard are the home’s living and dining rooms (both with fireplaces), the kitchen, and a primary bedroom suite with arched clerestory windows and a terrace. A staircase leads up to a rooftop terrace with a close-up view of the adjacent Las Monjas church.
A wealth of outdoor living spaces are found across the grounds of the distinguished home. (CDR San Miguel)
The residence, named Casa Camille, is 965 square meters, or 10,387 square feet.
The light-infused home’s nexus is the loggia with its stately carved outdoor fireplace set off by a Spanish Colonial arched colonnade. The home, especially given the entry and the welcoming feel of the loggia, is a case study in authentic San Miguel charm.
The listing is offered at $2.75 million by Nancy Howze and Ann Dolan of CDR San Miguel.
