Old Money Restaurants in Mexico city / San Ángel Inn, a southern classic for enjoying margaritas in a colonial building.
San Ángel Inn was not always the high-end restaurant we know today.
By Anna Lagos / Photos courtesy by San Ángel Inn
Originally, it was part of the Hacienda de Goicoechea, where the land was dedicated to agriculture and the production of pulque. In 1776, Ramón Goicoechea unified the estates and, despite the division of its land, the original estate's main house has withstood the passage of time, maintaining its elegance.
In 1906, the 40 hectares were acquired by the San Angel Land Company, a company that divided a whole colony where the wealthiest of the time built their summer mansions and country villas, calling the place Altavista. Thus, San Ángel became one of the most attractive areas in the Valley of Mexico, near where the Xitle volcano erupted over a thousand years ago. The old main house of the Hacienda Goicoechea was declared a Colonial Monument in 1937. By then, its owner was the musician and writer Carlos Prieto, who organized lavish music concerts for the affluent class of the time. Later, from 1955 to 1961, the facilities were used by the Jesuits for the Schools of Architecture, Design, and Art History of the Universidad Iberoamericana.
It was in 1963 when a group of businessmen saw the opportunity in this historic building to create the San Ángel Inn restaurant, inaugurated on June 13, 1963. They started with two dining rooms and a bar. Over time, the place expanded by adapting more rooms, the central courtyard — now the heart of the restaurant —, and a back terrace, adapted during the pandemic as a new and quiet corner for diners.
San Ángel Inn offers much more than Mexican food. It is a classic sensory experience of Mexico City, where visitors are transported to another era, surrounded by lush gardens, hanging plants, rose bushes, and the soothing sound of a fountain in the central courtyard. On weekends, music is played from an elegant grand piano, alternating with trio performances.
Do not miss the martinis and margaritas that go well with the Mexican and international cuisine of the place. We recommend the tostadas de pata; the escamoles, Aztec soup, the soft shell crab, and the filet paillard, dishes that have remained favorites among an adult, formal, and very old money clientele.
- Location: Diego Rivera 50, San Ángel Inn, Álvaro Obregón, 01060 Mexico City, CDMX
- Contact info: 55 5616 1402
- Service hours: From 12:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
- Ideal for: San Ángel Inn is the perfect place for those looking for an environment full of history and beauty. It is ideal for romantic dinners, family gatherings celebrating special moments, as well as business lunches aimed to impress. It also attracts tourists eager to dive into the authenticity of Mexican cuisine.
- Cuisine: Specializes in traditional Mexican cuisine.
- Payment: Credit cards, debit cards, cash
- Accessibility: Offers a wheelchair to those who may need it. The Mexican menu is available in braille.
- Parking: Valet parking is available
- Reservations: Recommended, especially for dinners and weekends.
- Nearby public transport: Metrobús La Bombilla / Carolina Herrera bus stop
