We have seen the iconic image of Parroquia over and over again every time they talk about San Miguel de Allende, for years!
It is therefore only understandable that locals and foreigners who live in our beautiful city seek to diversify the view of the splendid Gothic-style Parish a little, and it is here that we bring a very different and artistic alternative.
This is La Colonia Guadalupe, an area of the city where urban artists, lovers of good cruelty-free food and locals swarm and coexist with each other, creating a synergy similar to that experienced in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City.
An indication that you have arrived there is the urban art murals that abound in this art district. On these walls, street artists paint as if they were their canvases, creating on many occasions varied results with a modernist and kitsch aesthetic that is magnetic to the human eye.
Pre-Hispanic mythology also abounds in these artistic expressions, mixed with hypnotic visual effects that will make you unable to stop looking at them. And yet, humor is present in these murals with the expressions of the characters and the use of humor characteristic of Mexicans, as a clear example of seeing the giant face of a girl whose hair is a tree that frames her face, thus integrating nature itself into this artistic construction. Or what about the metal pots of the trees that are decorated as if they were cans of jalapeño peppers!
A must when you are in a neighborhood that seeks to promote a modern and healthy lifestyle is to do your grocery shopping in Gil's Shop where you can find provisions at good prices that you would not find elsewhere, such as white fig jam, craft beers and the exotic Mangosteen, straight from India!
For our coffee lovers, there is also an excellent option to visit: The Café of La Mancha which undoubtedly refers to the place of origin of Don Quixote as well as alluding to the unavoidable stain that this beloved grain usually leaves.
As for lovers of contemporary art, you cannot miss visiting Rag Gallery and Island Museum where they will be able to contemplate pieces by various multidisciplinary artists specialized in graphics and painting as well as video mapping in exhibitions that go "Beyond the Image" to invite reflection on what the pieces awaken in the visitor as well as the trigger that inspired the artists to create them.
The place is so loved by locals due to their passionate love for coffee and all its processes and the delicate service that the barista gives to all the great variety of coffee that is there. Another excellent activity is to keep up with the local's social networks and their enriching workshops such as extraction methods and coffee profiles.
Proceeding with our highlights of Colonia Guadalupe, it is necessary to mention The Duck Art Supplies which as its name indicates is the place where you have to go as artists to replenish all the equipment you work with.
Finally, we could not conclude these suggestions without suggesting Ghost Dog, a comfort food restaurant that has gained notoriety for its delicious dishes, among which we recommend the Molly Pitcher, French toast and omelette for breakfast paired with its French press coffee, and for lunch, you can't leave without trying its hamburgers in a relaxed atmosphere on its divine patio.
Be in Saint Michael It is a great opportunity to take advantage of the urban and youthful spirit of the ever-living city and that is why spending a few hours at ease exploring Colonia Guadalupe should not be missing from your list of activities.
