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FlavoursofPlaces
Project type
Travel Flavour
Date
Jan25
Location
Mexico
The Fairytale story of Guanajuato
Guanajuato: Mexico’s Painted Labyrinth of Music, Murals, and Magic
When you arrive in Guanajuato, don’t expect your taxi to drop you off at the door of your guesthouse. It probably can’t. The city is a maze of aquamarine, coral, and sun-yellow houses, stacked like watercolour dreams across the hills of the valley. Streets twist and turn into narrow alleys, tunnels, and staircases that seem to go both up and down at once. Getting lost isn’t just likely—it’s part of the fun.
We stayed at Casa de Pita, which feels less like a guesthouse and more like staying in someone’s home—complete with a shared breakfast in a rustic kitchen, creaky wooden floors, and all the charm of an old, traditional Mexican house. Around the corner were spectacular murals (as you’ll find almost everywhere in Mexico—true heaven for art lovers) and the sweetest little coffee shop, Vamos con Lala, where we sipped espresso with a giant painting as our backdrop.
The whole city feels like you’ve stepped onto a theatre stage, and everyone around you is part of the play. One moment, you’ll see a couple strolling through town carrying a massive iguana, and the next, you’re surrounded by street performers and musical theatre troupes reenacting the legends and songs of Guanajuato’s past.
Life Is Art Here
From the main square, you can admire the Teatro Juárez, grand and imposing, while enjoying dessert in a posh (but surprisingly affordable) restaurant. Outside, a serenade might drift up from the cobbled streets below. Guanajuato celebrates Día de los Muertos not just once a year, but in spirit—every day. Sitting beside the skeletons of the past, you feel like you’re truly connecting with your ancestors.
Everywhere you turn, there’s life—coffee roasters, tiny squares filled with laughter, handmade lemonade, and cocktails in colourful cafés that feel like living paintings. You half expect to turn a corner and run into Frida Kahlo herself.
And the people—oh, the people! The locals are joyful, warm, and fully present. They meet to talk, sing, hug, and share beers and tacos. Nobody’s scrolling on their phone while socializing. Whether they’re sipping coffee from a flask on a bench or enjoying tequila in a fancy bar, everyone belongs.
The City Beneath the City
Cars aren’t allowed in Guanajuato’s historic centre. To get around, vehicles dive into the underground network of tunnels—once silver mines—that now serve as roads beneath the city. It’s like stepping into a secret world that mirrors the one above.
And above ground? Pure colour. The entire city feels like it’s been dipped in a watercolour palette—360 degrees of painted bliss.
Sundown from the Sky
Take the cable car (funicular) up to the viewpoint at sunset. As the sky turns rosy pink and gold, the city below transforms into a pastel dream. Stay for a beer on a quiet rooftop bar, one of the few where you might just have the view all to yourself.
Taste Everything
Here’s my travel motto: eat less, but taste more. Don’t chase “the best” restaurant; follow your curiosity instead. Guanajuato’s markets are filled with local snacks that are bursting with flavour. I tried tacos, non-tacos, mezcal, tequila (tip: don’t swallow the worm or scorpion!), craft beers, and even a Chinese takeaway—and every bite was pure joy.
Your camera roll will explode with colour and happiness—murals, faces, food, doors, rooftops, and alleys that look like they were painted by dreams.
A Little Detour
If you have time, take a bus (which in Mexico is shockingly comfortable, affordable, and punctual—to the minute) to León, about an hour away. It’s more of a working city, not charming like Guanajuato, but it’s where all the cowboy boots are made. You can grab a handcrafted pair for about 30% of the price, toast the leather craftsman with a cold beer, and head back to your painted fairy-tale town.
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