No matter what corner of Mexico you go to, you're sure to find a cantina that has seen countless characters pass through, including locals and curious visitors. These pillars of Mexican popular culture say a lot about us as a society: we like drinks, snacks, gossip, music and the occasional game of chance.
Of course, there are places like Mexico City, Guanajuato Capital and San Miguel de Allende, which still preserve their bars that are up to 50, 80 or more years old, where all kinds of stories have developed over drinks. Today we want to tell you about 3 iconic bars in the city that you can't miss if you're around here, and that will give you more context about our history and how a true local lives it.
The Cockroach
The most classic one, the box one, the one that never fails and where you find everyone; from national television celebrities to internationally renowned artists: musicians, painters, photographers, actors… Whoever doesn’t know La Cucaracha hasn’t really been to San Miguel. With more than 100 years under its belt, it was originally located in the Garden but suffered a regrettable fire that forced them to relocate it to its current address in Zacateros. For $10 pesos you can take a spin through the jukebox repertoire to program your 3 songs that everyone will have to listen to; but that’s okay, because it’s precisely that musical and stylistic eclecticism that makes this place memorable.
Bar San Miguel
On the corner of Insurgentes and Hernández Macías you will find this small and fun bar that anyone who visits recommends for a casual drink and a good chat. Like any good bar from back in the day, it has its 'bartender' doors that transport you to that atmosphere of Mexico that we only know from the movies of the golden age. It also has a very varied jukebox. It is said that when Salma Hayek visits the city, she closes the bar for her and her group of friends, so you can already imagine who has passed through here. If you like the 'early birds', you can always stop by from 2 pm, and thus avoid the crowds that form after sunset. On weekends you can find "Las Vestidas", who put on a very fun show to add flavor to your afternoons.
The Black Cat
Another old school bar with its doors that wobble as you walk through them. Although this one, unlike the others, has two floors. On the ground floor you'll find just a few tables and the bar, which is hyper-decorated with all kinds of memorabilia. On the second floor there are a couple more tables and up on the roof you can have a privileged view of the San Francisco church. This is a must-see meeting point for bohemian people from the art world, but in reality you can find all kinds of people because in the end we are all united by the 'thirst for bad' and hanging out with friends.
The Spring
An iconic and unmistakable corner just up one of the many hills in the city, or as they call it “the prettiest corner with 100 years of tradition.” Something that characterizes this cantina, and for which we love it, is that here you can find a menu with seafood snacks, your octopus tostada, your fish taco al pastor… In fact, right now they have a couple of unmissable promos like “extra taco Monday” or “toast Tuesday”, or the excellent “margarita Thursday”. Complement it with your favorite beer or michelada and success is guaranteed. All this in a small space that arouses curiosity, and with a terrace for those who have a cigarette after their snack.
