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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.