T+L’s Hotel Review of Rosewood San Miguel de Allende

As a longtime favorite of Travel + Leisure readers—it was voted the No.1 city hotel in Mexico in our annual World’s Best Awards, while the city is a WBA Hall of Fame Honoree—Rosewood San Miguel de Allende has a lofty reputation.

But despite the sky-high expectations set by this acclaim, this luxury stay lives up to the hype with ease. From the moment I walked through the hotel’s doors and passed under its stone archways leading to the inner courtyard, I was mesmerized. Its terracotta-red hacienda-style facade looks like it’s been part of San Miguel de Allende’s ancient cityscape for centuries, when in fact the hotel opened in 2011.

The stately design, crafted by local artisans, invokes this charming city’s colonial architecture through beamed ceilings, handcrafted furniture, lush gardens, and terraces that look out on the city’s cobblestone streets and its most famous church, Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel.

The outstanding food and beverage program—highlighting regional flavors and local producers—adds to the hotel’s rich cultural ethos and transforms each stay into an exciting culinary journey. Add in an extensive spa menu featuring Indigenous healing traditions, along with the warm and friendly staff, and you get a clear sense of why this hotel lives up to its reputation.

Here, my full review of Rosewood San Miguel de Allende. 

The Rooms 

Guest rooms range from the 570-square-foot Colonial Room category, featuring a king-size or two queen beds, a private balcony, and a soaking tub, to the grand 2,900-square-foot Rosewood Suite, a magnificent top-floor retreat with a plunge pool and city views. All guest rooms and suites come with a balcony, patio, or rooftop terrace, ideal for sipping your beverage of choice while admiring the sights and sounds of the city below. The hotel also offers several two- to five-bedroom luxury residences for those seeking privacy and more room to spread out.

I stayed in a Deluxe Colonial Room with exposed wood beams, a fireplace, a cozy tub lined with candles, and a balcony overlooking the hotel’s gardens. The beautiful decor aside, my favorite part of the room was the thoughtful housekeeping service. One day, I came back to a new travel-size tube of toothpaste and mouthwash; the housekeeper noticed I was almost out of toothpaste and left these replacements on my vanity, along with a note. And that’s just one of many examples of how the staff—from the front desk and restaurant to those behind the scenes—made my stay memorable. 

Food and Drink

Pirules Garden Kitchen is a gorgeous, airy restaurant at the back of the hotel, overlooking the pools, lush grounds, and the city’s skyline in the distance. A breezy outdoor bar draws guests into the dining room, where chef Odín Rocha has crafted a seasonal and sustainable culinary experience. Dishes here celebrate local ingredients—all sourced from within 60 miles of the hotel—and traditional flavors that come together in beautifully presented plates.

Located in the heart of the hotel, the all-day 1826 Restaurant pays tribute to Mexico’s culinary traditions with dishes like pozole rojo with pork ribs, oxtail birria stew, and Oaxacan tlayuda with beef and sausage. Across the hall, you’ll find 1826 Tequila Bar, which offers light bites plus signature cocktails, highlighting the country’s agave spirits.

Outside, the poolside Agua offers drinks and classic lunchtime eats like nachos, burgers, sandwiches, and tacos.

And finally, no stay at this hotel—or visit to San Miguel de Allende—is complete without drinks or a meal at Luna Rooftop.  With incredible views of the town’s hilly skyline, punctuated by the famous church of San Miguel Arcángel, this is the perfect spot to watch the sunset, with a delicious drink in hand. (I recommend the mezcal pepino, a refreshing cucumber cocktail.) The menu here features a fusion of Mexican and Mediterranean cuisines—I especially loved the suckling pig tacos and the pizzettas. 

Activities and Experiences 

Tucked away among palm trees and gardens, there are two pools: the bi-level main pool with a Jacuzzi and a separate family pool. A fitness center and two clay tennis courts are available to travelers who want to stay active on vacation.

Pirules Garden Kitchen hosts cooking and mixology classes, as well as farm-to-table experiences where guests visit a local farm and gather ingredients for a meal prepared back at the hotel. Tequila, mezcal, and Mexican wine tastings are also available to book.

Art lovers will appreciate the hotel’s collection of sculptures and paintings by local artists, but for a hands-on experience, there are painting classes, craft workshops, and a mojigangas workshop, dedicated to the oversized papier-mâché puppet figures, often seen in weddings and other celebrations in San Miguel de Allende.

Local food, culture, and art tours, along with ATV and horseback riding excursions, are also available.

The Spa 

Sense, a Rosewood Spa, has treatments ranging from classic facials and massages to journeys rooted in local culture and cosmic experiences. The Lost Remedies menu is inspired by Indigenous Otomi knowledge of the cosmos and herbal healing techniques.

I booked the Sensorial Immersion Earth ritual, a 90- or 120-minute treatment that had me lie down in a bed of rose quartz crystal. It was a combination of sound therapy with Tibetan bowls, massage, color therapy, and vibrating tuning forks.

Other holistic experiences offered at the spa include Reiki, tarot readings, birth chart sessions, and a cacao ceremony.

Family-friendly Offerings 

Rosewood San Miguel de Allende offers several family-friendly experiences like crafting and cooking classes. There are also certified babysitters available to book for in-room care. Connecting rooms and suites are available, and up to two children aged 12 and under can stay in their parents’ room at no additional charge. Rollaway beds are offered for an additional charge, while cribs are complimentary and available on request. 

Accessibility and Sustainability

As a destination, San Miguel de Allende is hilly with uneven cobbled streets and sometimes narrow sidewalks, which may pose a challenge to some travelers with limited mobility. The hotel offers Colonial Rooms (Colonial King or Colonial Double) for guests with disabilities, which feature fully adapted bathrooms. Elevators are available.

Rosewood San Miguel de Allende has several sustainability initiatives in place as part of its Rosewood Sustains and Rosewood Empowers programs. These include a waste recycling program, the elimination of single-use plastic water bottles, and employment opportunity programs.

Location

Located in the heart of San Miguel de Allende, the hotel is a short walk from many of the city’s top attractions. It takes just 10 minutes to reach the iconic pink Gothic church of San Miguel Arcángel and the adjacent Jardín Allende. However, I recommend taking your time to leisurely wander the hilly cobblestone streets and adjust to the relatively high elevation (6,234 feet). 

If you plan to stay in San Miguel de Allende, renting a car won’t be necessary—the center of the city is compact and walkable. Taxis are plentiful and affordable, and the hotel can assist guests with booking an airport transfer. Guanajuato International Airport (BJX), also known as León/Bajio International Airport, is about an hour and 15 minutes from San Miguel de Allende by car. Some visitors also fly into Mexico City International Airport and drive to San Miguel de Allende; the trip takes around three to four hours, depending on traffic. 

Book Now

Rosewood Hotels does not have a loyalty program, but you can book seasonal offers (which may include complimentary nights, resort credits, or a percentage off your stay) via the hotel’s website.

Rosewood San Miguel de Allende is also part of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, allowing cardmembers to get perks like daily breakfast for two, early check-in and late check-out (when available), and a room upgrade on arrival.

Nightly rates at Rosewood San Miguel de Allende start from $438.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.