San Miguel now boasts a variety of national grocery stores, including Bodega Aurrera, City Market, La Comer, and Soriana. I suggest you make a trip to each one, see what they have and check out the prices. Some are relatively cheaper while others are more expensive but carry more imported items. The only way to know is to go.

Of course, for an even bigger box experience, you can always head to Queretaro for Costco and Home Depot. Be careful about leaving your belongings in your car, and/or consider tipping the parking attendant a little in advance to keep an eye on your car, and when you come back to find everything in order, tip them the remainder. It's a small price to pay for not getting your stuff stolen or damaged, and like it or not, this is how it's done here in Mexico.

Neighborhood Tiendas

Tienda simply means store in Spanish. Most neighborhoods in San Miguel have a tienda or two on every block. Although their selection of canned foods, household items, eggs, produce, and cold foods such as lunch meat, milk and cheese is often very small, you'll find these stores come in handy when you just need a few everyday items.

Buying there not only supports your local community, but it’s also a great way to get to know your neighbors.

Speciality Shopping

There are many stores in every neighborhood focused on one item, or "_______ -rias". Take a walk and see how many you can spot. You'll see carnicerías, (meat) pollerías (chicken), panaderías (bread and pastries), tortillerías (tortillas), pastelerias (cakes) and fruterías (fruits and vegetables).

There are also deli's, which carry cheeses, sausages, etc. In addition to cheese, Luna del Queso (Cheese Moon) is a popular store and carries many imported items used in international cuisine.

Super Bonanza also carries a wide variety of imported items, and has an impressive bulk section that includes spices, flours, seeds, and hard to find items like gluten (for baking bread) and dried fruit. They also carry uncommon (in Mexico) household products like oven cleaner, spray starch and fabric softening sheets. Bonanza is also a great place to get all kinds of candles.

The Markets

Mercado Sano (Healthy Market)

As you might have guessed, Mercado Sano carries organic produce, meats and other natural products. It’s home to many vendors and you’ll find a wide variety of items here, as well as a central food court. On Saturdays there’s also a bustling Farmer’s Market you won’t want to miss. The Mercado Sano is located at Ancha de San Antonio #123.

The Tuesday Market

The most famous market in San Miguel is known as the "Tuesday Market"(el tianguis or la placita). It’s located across the street from La Luciernaga mall, and on Tuesdays, you can’t miss it.

A popular tourist destination, it's a cross between a flea market and a superstore and should not be missed. Known for its giant selection of practically everything, it includes, but is not limited to: new and used clothing, knick knacks, pets, flowers, plants, craft and sewing notions, produce and grocery staples, and a large "food court" where you will be serenaded by all manner of musicians.

You can easily stay for hours, shopping, gawking, and eating your way through the entire place. Of course, you can also go there as a "serious" shopper, picking up whatever fresh produce, fish and chicken that you'll need for the week.

Open every Tuesday, rain or shine, most vendors are set up by 9:30 a.m. and start packing up around 3:30 or 4pm.

Daily Markets

There are two large “general” mercados (markets) open daily in town: San Juan de Dios, located between Guadalupe Ave. and San Antonio Abad, and Ignacio Ramirez, located between Callejon de Loreto and Colegio.

The main part of the San Juan de Dios market is covered, although there are also numerous outdoor booths.

The Ignacio Ramirez market is all indoors and backs up to the Artisans Market.

Both are open every day of the week. These markets are a great place to get fresh produce and cut flowers, as well as canned goods, household supplies, clothing and shoes.

The Artisans Market

If it's souvenirs you're after, don't miss the artisans (artisanos) market. Booths begin on Colegio street (just off of Loreto in Centro) and stretch up the stairs and into the Ignacio Ramirez market.

You'll find a large variety of handmade Mexican crafts, including embroidered tapestries and intricate beadwork, as well as hand painted dishware, silver, pewter and tin items, jewelry, paper mache, papel picado (colorful tissue paper cut into intricate designs) and more.