Hortus

The main draw of Hortus is its location — it sits right on the main square of Jardín Allende. The restaurant took over a corner space inside an 18th-century mansion where diners can now enjoy a Mexican Mediterranean blend of flavors while overlooking the buoyant pedestrian plaza just a few steps away from San Miguel de Allende’s central neo-Gothic parish. Hortus takes a casual approach to its Italian influences while sprinkling Mexican flair here and there, and the menu follows a seasonal compass with a foundation of local ingredients. Look out for options like fresh ricotta cheese dip with squash blossoms, shrimp tagliatelle with sea-urchin sauce, and red snapper with habanero. Choose the main salon for a sit-down lunch or dinner, the small bar for an afternoon cocktail or a glass of Mexican wine, or the pastry window for a morning cup of coffee and a sweet bite on the go.