# Things to Do in San Luis Potosi, Mexico > A trip to San Luis Potosi opens up a new side of Mexico: museums, history, and craft beer. Find out what to do in this colorful city. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/podorozh-do-sanluispotosi-vidkryvaiemo-novi-horyzonty-meksyky-vid-muzeiv-do-kraftovoho-pyva/ - Language: en - Published: 2024-05-27 - Categories: Culture, Historic Sites, Museums, Tours, Mexico, Food & Drinks --- Riviera Maya? Been there, done that. Mexico City? Too hectic. The state of San Luis Potosi isn't always the first place that comes to mind for travelers planning a trip to Mexico. But that's about to change. San Luis Potosi and its largest city and capital of the same name (though locals, known as potosinos, usually shorten it to just "San Luis") are on the cusp of a big moment. A handful of new hotel openings and a major new art museum are all signs that this once overlooked city is about to make its mark. Your mission? Visit before all your friends do. ## Check Out the New Leonora Carrington Museum Carrington, a British artist who spent most of her life in Mexico, is enjoying a fresh wave of popularity. She was a key figure in the "surrealist village" of Xilitla, so it makes perfect sense that San Luis, the state capital, earned the honor of opening the Carrington Museum, set inside a former prison. (Yes, on paper that sounds strange, but in practice it works beautifully.) The museum, which opened in March 2018, offers plenty of ways to get acquainted with her work: alongside abstract, surrealist bronze sculptures, you can see bright pink doors stenciled with her drawings, plus an interactive installation where one of her stories is brought to life through full-scale graphic animations reminiscent of Miyazaki's "Spirited Away." ## Explore the UNESCO-Listed Historic Center A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, better known as the Silver Road, was the route used to carry silver from the mines in the Mexican states of San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, and Guanajuato to the ports, and then back to Spain. This route, granted UNESCO status in 2010, includes the historic center of San Luis, so keep an eye out for the historic plaques in Spanish and English that offer more detail about specific buildings and structures throughout the area. ## Brunch at La Parroquia Brunch in Mexico tends to mean a big family meal after church rather than overpriced avocado toast. One of the best spots in the city for breakfast or brunch is La Parroquia, a local institution downtown that became so popular it opened a second location. Until noon you can enjoy a buffet with cereal, juice, and more. But you can't go wrong with the menu, which features perfect renditions of classic dishes like huevos divorciados (eggs on small tortillas, one topped with red salsa and the other with green), along with plenty of freshly baked sweet rolls and pastries. ## Buy Essential Oils at Botica Alhondiga ![](/storage/image/prev/july-article-image-60-1-2024.jpg) Thanks to its UNESCO status, many of the old buildings in the city's historic center have been kept in their original state. One place worth visiting is Botica Alhondiga, which has been a pharmacy since the 1800s and still keeps many of its old remedies and elixir bottles in glass display cases, so visitors can see what the place once looked like. These days Botica Alhondiga specializes in essential oils, so pick up a little jasmine or rose oil while you're here. ## Shop for Handicrafts at Mercado Hidalgo On weekends, the orange, art deco Mercado Hidalgo is the place to see and be seen in San Luis. The stalls along the market's outer wall serve food (though not all of them have seating, so be ready to take your snacks to go), while the middle rows are dedicated to handicrafts. The top picks are silver jewelry, wooden toys, and pozole bowls in bright blue and yellow hues. ## Take a Day Trip to Real de Catorce ![](/storage/image/prev/july-article-image-60-2-2024.jpg) Real de Catorce, a former mining town deep in the desert about halfway between San Luis and Monterrey, became the second town to earn Mexico's "pueblo magico," or magical town, designation. Once you get there (it's about a 3-hour drive from central San Luis, part of it along old cobblestone roads), you'll quickly see why. The mining town was abandoned after the revolution, and the only way to reach it is a thrilling ride in a rattling jeep known as a "Willy." Sitting inside as it takes sharp turns up the steep mountainside is exciting enough, but locals are famous for doing it while hanging off the roof or the side of the Willy, so give it a try if you dare. The best way to arrange your visit is through Autentico San Luis, one of the few local tour companies with English-speaking guides. Besides the abandoned buildings, there are also two churches, the older of which is bright white with a small cemetery out front, and it's a popular filming location for TV shows and movies. The main street is lined with small taco stands and souvenir shops (silver jewelry is very popular, as are the trinkets made by local potosinos, who attach intricate beaded patterns with glue in a painstaking process). ## Try Craft Beer at La Oruga Y La Cebada ![](/storage/image/prev/july-article-image-60-3-2024.jpg) While some might associate Mexico more with tequila and mezcal, craft beer is having a big moment across the country. Head to La Oruga Y La Cebada, which means "The Caterpillar and the Barley," to sample a few. We recommend 2 De Abril, Tres Patrones, and the local 7B (Siete Barrios), all while listening to music from the main square and taking in the occasional spontaneous fireworks. Serious beer lovers should also check out the 7B taproom nearby. ## Have Dinner at Cielo Tinto Cielo Tinto is one of those restaurants that would tempt even the snobbiest Mexico City resident out to the "provinces." Set in a former hacienda, Cielo Tinto ("Red Sky") holds on to much of its original glamour (chandeliers, tiled floors, an open courtyard in the center where you can sit beneath the stars), and the food lives up to it. Keep an eye out for refined takes on local dishes, such as chicharron made with octopus instead of pork. ## Swim and Unwind at Conrad SLP About fifteen minutes' drive from central San Luis, the Conrad hotel makes it easy to combine city and countryside adventures. The hotel's outdoor pool gets plenty of shade in the afternoon, so you can enjoy a swim without getting burned in the sun. Other features you shouldn't miss: refined cocktails at the Dry Martini Bar, a helpful bilingual staff, and incredibly comfortable beds. Leonora Carrington Museum, Calz de Guadalupe 705, San Juan de Guadalupe, Julian Carrillo, 78340 San Luis, S.L.P., Mexico, (+52) 444 102 7800 La Parroquia, Avenida Venustiano Carranza # 303 San Luis Potosi 78000, Mexico, (+52) 444 812 6681 Botica Alhondiga, Calle Miguel Hidalgo 403, Centro Historico, 78000 San Luis, S.L.P., Mexico (+52) 444 812 2852 Mercado Hidalgo, Av. Hidalgo S/N, Zona Centro, 78000 S.L.P., Mexico, (+52) 444 812 4094 La Oruga Y La Cebada, Av Universidad 169, Centro, 78000 San Luis, S.L.P., Mexico, (+52) 444 812 4508 Cielo Tinto, Av Venustiano Carranza 700, Avenida, 78230 San Luis, S.L.P., Mexico, (+52) 444 814 0040 Conrad San Luis Potosi, Real de Lomas 290, Lomas 4ta Secc, 78216 San Luis, S.L.P., Mexico, (+52) 444 123 7700