10 Best Places to Shop in Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland

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.

Artesanías Vázques has Talavera ceramics from Dolores Hidalgo.

Browse the painterly, old-style majolica ceramics at Capelo.

La Casa del Quijote is a one-stop shop for high-end gifts and handicrafts. There are two floors of merchandise, offering a huge selection of crafts from all over Mexico. The staff speaks English well and are happy to help customers learn about the store's wares, which emphasize jewelry and pottery.

Guanajuato's best-loved candy store has a large, organized selection of typical sweets of the region, and most come in a variety of sizes and presentations. There are samples throughout the store of most of the different caramels, fruit and coconut candies, and liqueurs, too. There's another branch at Plazuela de los Angeles 74 (Tel. 473/734–0203).

La Florecita is a small shop that sells exclusively handmade clothing and fabric, including blouses and shawls, from 10 of Mexico's top textile-producing states. The friendly owner, Irma, often works in the store herself.

Mayólica Santa Rosa is an enormous shop with two floors of lovely Santa Rosa ceramics: decorative items, vases (smallish and huge), dinnerware and mugs (including a very pretty, all-white line), tiles, and much more. It's about a 15- to 20-minute drive from Guanajuato en route to Dolores Hidalgo.

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.

The helpful owners of this boutique ceramics shop will help customers choose among the different types of Guanajuato majolica ceramic ware, mostly smaller items in finely rendered and tasteful designs. Prices are very reasonable. It's open daily 10 to 8.

If your idea of souvenirs is fine chocolate, stop here and browse the delectables, some made on the premises, others imported from Mexico's cacao-producing state, Tabasco. You can also have tea, coffee, or, of course, hot chocolate at one of the shop's small tables.