8 Best Hotels in San Miguel de Allende, San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland

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.

This luxurious, three-story palace of graceful limestone arches and beautiful, locally crafted furnishings opened in 2011 and is especially popular with wedding parties. The vast majority (80%) of the clientele is Mexican, though the rooftop bar draws an international mix. Luxurious rooms and suites have fireplaces, ample bathtubs, and sumptuous beds and bedding. Tasteful furnishings include wool rugs from Guadalajara, velveteen couches, and plump leather armchairs. Amenities include a large gym and full-service—albeit pricey—spa; a beautiful pool area with cabanas and exquisite landscaping; and a kids' club.

Built in 1580 as the archbishop of Guanajuato's residence, this elegant country-style inn still attracts ambassadors, diplomats, film stars, and other luminaries. Rooms are distributed throughout a series of small mansions. Lace curtains, handwoven rugs, and chandeliers adorn some of them; fireplaces, cozy terraces, and skylights enhance others. The hotel runs the separate Casa del Parque, an exquisitely restored 18th-century hacienda with five guest rooms a few minutes' walk away, on the Parque Benito Juárez; its restaurant serves refined versions of traditional Mexican dishes and has a popular Sunday buffet brunch.

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.

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.

Rooms in this basic, budget-priced, 19th-century inn are simply furnished in a colonial style; they're nothing fancy, but this is a good option for travelers on a budget. Several in the old wing are uncomfortably dark and cramped, but others are more open and have fireplaces. Head up to the rooftop public terrace for city views; the building is near the hulking dome of the Iglesia de la Concepción. There's a communal TV in the lobby, which looks like a formal Mexican living room.

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.

Although nothing to write home about, Hotel Posada de la Aldea has some qualities that make it worth considering if you are a bargain shopper. Rooms are spacious, though the furnishings are a bit tired, and there's ample free parking, a restaurant-bar, heated swimming pool (rare in budget San Miguel hotels), and an excellent location not far from all the downtown sights. It's also near many more good restaurants on Calle Ancha de San Antonio. Better prices are often available during nonpeak seasons.