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

Ceramicist Mayer Shacter and his wife Susan Page have an amazing collection of decorative and utilitarian folk-art pieces from all over Mexico in several showrooms. On the way to several hot springs, the pilgrimage center at Atotonilco, and the town of Dolores Hidalgo, the 5,000-square-foot gallery is a destination in itself, and not just a must for avid shoppers. In 2014 the editor of the art magazine series Artes en Mexico called the shop "without a doubt the finest exhibition and sale of Mexican popular art in the country." It's open by appointment only. If you are serious about high-quality folk-art pieces, make an appointment.

At Camino Silvestre ("wild road"), an eclectic and slightly eccentric selection of gifts and home furnishings delights the eye, all arranged as if in a home or garden rather than a store. Bird and nature themes predominate: choose among hummingbird feeders, birdhouses, framed prints, fine linens, wool rugs, art prints and paintings, and much more. Adjacent is a pricey but pretty tea room. There's a second location at Zacateros 46 (Tel.415/121–3359).