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Every now and then, one discovers a place that they’re surprised so few people know about. San Luis Potosí is exactly that place. It’s got all the gorgeous Spanish Baroque-style architecture, incredible food scene, fun nightlife and great street food that you’d expect of major destinations in Mexico – except no one seems to know about this beautiful city and the best restaurants in San Luis Potosí that help to make it so special.
One thing we can promise is that San Luis Potosí is more than just the major industrial center that it is associated with. This is a city with a strong local culture of its own that very much deserves to be explored, much like San Miguel de Allende. You’ll be glad you visited before the tourists flock en masse.

The dining scene in San Luis Potosí isn’t as diverse as what you might find in Mexico City (though the Mexican staples from chilaquiles to enchiladas are aplenty), though what San Luis Potosí lacks in diversity, it makes up for in restaurants that have a style of their own. We’ve surveyed locals to put together this list so you can make the best of your time in this city.
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Breakfast and brunch
Café Bostonia
Locals will tell you that Café Bostonia is one of the first eateries in downtown San Luis Potosí that created a higher end feeling without the price tag. But it doesn’t just stop at simply the urban chic and cozy comfort that this restaurant exudes: their breakfast and brunch offering is second to none in the city and is reliably fresh and delicious.
You’ll find quite a few locals at Café Bostonia looking for respite from the bustling centre of the city that is just outside. If you need a place to work, read or journal, pull up a table in the back room and settle in. When you need a break, move your eyes up and around the room to take in the beautiful local art that adorns the walls. You can even buy the art if you’re so moved.



They also have alternative milk options for those of you who want your coffee without cow’s milk. If you’ve looked for that before in Mexico, you’ll know that it’s not particularly easy to find. And make sure to get their famous Boston Chai which you may very well find yourself going back for. They’re also right in the middle of all of the best of San Luis Potosí.
BRUNA
Located outside downtown San Luis Potosí in an area tucked away from all of the madness of the center, BRUNA excels at creating innovative dishes that would not be out of place in the capital city. There is a covered terrace for you to sit outside and enjoy your simple breakfast – try the Jamaican omelette if you’re up for something exciting and with a kick.



Aside from the innovative food, one of the reasons that BRUNA is one of the best restaurants in San Luis Potosí is on account of being a place that locals truly feel is reasonably priced and isn’t just cycling through people. You can take a second to chill at BRUNA, and when the sun is bearing down, that can count for a lot.
Croque La Vie
One of the reasons we feel San Luis Potosí is going to find itself on to the tourist map is because of its time as a French colonial city. It’s even in the name: San Luis Potosí is named after Louis IX of France, the King of France in Mexico. Not a lot of that French influence remains, but where you can definitely find it is in the restaurant scene.
Croque La Vie is the manifestation of that lingering French influence on the dining scene, and they do what they set out to do very well. I absolutely love a croque monsieur and a croque madame, and I’m glad to say that Croque La Vie does not disappoint in delivering some of the best. It would rival France – and I mean that.
You’ll find French toast or pan frances all over San Luis Potosí, but Croque La Vie is absolutely the place to get it. And it’s also the only place you’ll get fusion croque monsieur like the croque de cochinita made with purple onions and a serrano and jalapeno sauce. It is so delicious and incredibly unique.
One of the other reasons we think Croque La Vie is one of the best restaurants in San Luis Potosí is because you somehow feel transported to a quaint Parisian street corner while also enjoying that characteristically lively Mexican charm. It’s very hard to achieve a blend of those to worlds, in my opinion, but somehow Croque La Vie has done.
Cuatro Almas
Located very much outside the tourist zone, Cuatro Almas is a true local breakfast and brunch eatery that delivers every single time. You’ll want to order the chipotle chilaquiles for a special experience that will make you understand why this is one of the best restaurants in San Luis Potosí.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know whether a restaurant is as great as they say, but when a critical mass of locals tells you that this is the place to go to enjoy modern San Luis Potosí with great food, you know it’s going to be wonderful. The quality of food is absolutely terrific because they’re catering for locals.
Lunch and dinner
Gran Central
The biggest concern that one might have about Gran Central is that locals routinely call Gran Central “an institution” in San Luis Potosí, and it’s usually the case that an institutional restaurant isn’t serving up the best quality food on offer. But we’re pleased to confirm that Gran Central is the exception that bucks the trend. Every single dish you’ll be served at Gran Central is thoughtfully prepared and is simply incredibly tasty.
Make sure you try their street taquito which is a joyous explosion of flavor and encapsulates the innovative cuisine that makes San Luis Potosí so special. The ambiance of the restaurant is also second to none in the city, but what you’re really here for is the tableside Caesar salad and the red meat.
So many restaurants in San Luis Potosí masquerade as steakhouses, but Gran Central is at the top of the food chain of steakhouse which is why it is one of the best restaurants in San Luis Potosí. The bone marrow is also a feature on their menu and isn’t to be missed (if it’s your cup of tea).
Although they have a terrace, we would highly recommend that you dine indoors (especially for dinner) so you can appreciate the thoughtful décor and surprisingly great views, particularly of the beautiful churches that dot the short skyline of the historic center.
Casa Blanca
Casa Blanca is the place to go when you won’t take anything less than Grade A Mexican service. And if great service isn’t enough to persuade you, the terrace is the perfect place to sit (if the weather is right) and enjoy the amazing food on offer.

I have to be candid and say that this is hardly your cheap Mexican eatery. The food they’re serving up at Casa Blanca is a higher standard, and that means you’re going to pay a higher price tag. And if you’re traveling with young children, this is absolutely the right place to go because they will love the treehouse on the ground floor (they’ve built a little house).
TrasHumante
If you’re looking for the most fashionable of the best restaurants in San Luis Potosí, TrasHumante is hear to answer your call. This is a restaurant for those looking for contemporary design in a vibey space but with all of the innovative food that San Luis Potosí is known for (or should be better known for).
One of the coolest things about TrasHumante is the cocktail mixology which punches above its weight. What they’re serving up is generally fantastic, but it’s even better when the mixology happens at your table. This is the San Luis Potosí experience that you didn’t know existed, and it’ll make you very content with your decision to visit.

Menjurjeria Milagros
Menjurjeria Milagros is the place to go if you’re looking for a party, great food and great drinks. The atmosphere is lively and exciting, and is the place that young locals say is the place to be if you want something over the top. This is the type of place that you can expect to see a few sparklers on top of deserts that are being served – and that’s part of the experience here.
This is one of the best restaurants in San Luis Potosí if only for the very elaborate presentation of the drinks and the creativity of the mixology. You’ll love the atmosphere – provided you go with a big group of friends or go with the expectation of finding a big group of friends to join on to.
Either way, stay into the evening to experience the nightlife of the town.
Artemisia at CASA H
The thing about CASA H is it’s one of those if-you-know-you-know places. Hiding in plain sight, Artemisia is one of several venues (including an art gallery and a cafe) inside the hotel but is not somewhere you’d know to go. If there is one place that we would describe as the place to be (or the scene) where you can find the cool (and probably wealthier) kids of San Luis Potosí, it’s CASA H. And that means you should make a reservation if you want to be there at the right time.
The internal courtyard is a beautiful place to dine, but where you really want to be is on the terrace overlooking the city including the bustling Jardin de Tequisquiapan just across from the restaurant which is always bustling with its street vendors and impromptu performances.



You truly can’t go wrong with Artemisia. It’ll be one of the best memories you have in the city and is absolutely one of the best restaurants in San Luis Potosí. And if you’re not sure what to get (all of the options are amazing), make sure to try their Fideuà which is essentially paella made with pasta instead of rice. It’s absolutely fantastic and characteristic of what makes the dining scene in San Luis Potosí so great.
Wine Park
Wine Park is simultaneously a great restaurant and an amazing night out. It’s also not easy to find views of greenery in San Luis Potosí (this being a major industrial center in Mexico), but Wine Park’s location right across from Parque Tangamanga means you can get a direct view into the park and the Lago de Los Patos within it, making it one of the best restaurants in San Luis Potosí for the view alone (and also the fact that it can feel a little bit like an oasis in literally the desert).
Given the name, this is the perfect place to visit if you want a nicer glace of wine while also enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. The décor is rustic, open and chic all at the same time, which means it’s probably one of the better places to go for a date night. Locals also love the separate bar area if you’re looking for a place to host a larger group.
Special Mention: The Best Bakery in San Luis Potosí
We can’t not mention Pastelería Las Castañas Carranza at the start of downtown San Luis Potosí which truly punches above its weight in every category and would give the bakeries in Mexico City’s trendy Polanco or Roma Norte a run for their money. Located just inside the historical center, every single dish they make and bread they bake is done excellently. Everything is fresh and delicious, and the team behind the operation are lively and excited by what they do.

There are a few special baked goods that Las Castañas does that are characteristic of the food in San Luis Potosí. Make sure to ask them to try some of these special flavors (many of which are made with custard). And if there’s a wait to get inside, don’t simply walk away: the best things in life are always worth waiting for.
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