Casa de la Espiga

Moe Houses in San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
4 Bedrooms and 4½ Bathrooms (Sleeps 8)

Rooftop

Step behind understated walls and experience an authentic Spanish Colonial gem. Dating from 1717 AD, Casa de la Espiga was once the local bakery hence its name, which translates to ‘House of the Grain Flower’. Its current owners, one of whom is a renowned interior designer, have lovingly restored this gracious and unique casa well beyond its original grandeur and today it's absolutely one of the prettiest in San Miguel.

Inside, two individual colonnaded courtyards with lush gardens, original stone walls, graceful arches and fountains lead to the interior rooms, which are designed to afford the ultimate in indoor/outdoor living - reminiscent of the house's Colonial past. An exotic Moroccan-inspired attached casita with a fantastic outdoor star-lit domed sitting room also graces the property.

Casa de la Espiga has been meticulously and beautifully furnished throughout with antiques and Mexican handicrafts. The owners’ personal collection of original art and artifacts, many from the treasure trove of San Miguel's talented artists, as well as from their own extensive travels, is a visual feast. This unique house is conveniently located in the heart of the Centro Histórico District and is just a three-minute walk from the Jardín, the town's main plaza.

Main House

Entrance Level

Large well-appointed living room with a hand-carved fireplace
Formal dining room crowned by a splendid cupola
Large, fully-equipped kitchen has walls lined with colorful Mexican tiles, indigenous ceramics and eclectic market paintings
Unique Moorish-styled powder room with antique sink handles from Syria set into a hand-carved stone and wood vanity
Primary bedroom suite accessed from the courtyard loggia. It has a king-size bed, fireplace, separate glass-ceilinged stone sitting room (where the bakery ovens were once located) and small bathroom with a shower. From its sitting room stairs lead up to the roof garden.
Library bedroom, across the courtyard, with a queen-size bed, fireplace, dressing area and bathroom en suite with a tub/shower. This room has a ladder up to a small loft library.

Second Floor

Expansive sun-drenched roof terraces with sitting areas and views of the town's stunning skyline and mountain sunsets
Rustic-styled separate studio bedroom with a king-size bed, corner chimenea, a beamed brick ceiling with skylights and bathroom en suite with a large cemento pulido (polished cement) tub with a shower. Doors open onto the roof terrace. This room is accessed by either of two staircases that lead up to the roof terrace.

Moroccan Casita (Attached)

Entrance Level

Outdoor star-lit domed sitting room with a fireplace facing the Moroccan-styled courtyard with its channel fountain (definitely one-of-a-kind in San Miguel!)
Sala with a bar and fully-equipped kitchenette. Winding stairs lead up to a mezzanine level with a cozy daybed and then up again to the below bedroom. Both the sala and the mezzanine view the courtyard through expansive doors and windows.

Second Floor

Bedroom with a queen-size bed and large mosaic tiled bathroom en suite with a shower, the base portion of which can be filled with about 1 ft. of water or so (a little less than 3 ft. in diameter). Doors open onto a balcony that overlooks the Moroccan-styled courtyard and connects to the roof terrace. This room can be accessed by either an interior staircase from the above mezzanine or the aforementioned other two that lead up to the roof.

Amenities

Wireless Internet access, cable TV, VCR, CD/DVD players, stereo with outdoor speakers, safe, linens, down/feather comforters and pillows in each bedroom, gas fireplaces, phone, washer/dryer, gas BBQ grill, hairdryers, books, videos, and CD's. Utilities are included (within reason) except in winter when there is a fuel surcharge. As part of my service, I am happy to arrange roundtrip airport transfers, tours, day and shopping trips, advance grocery shopping, the first couple of meals at home and massages and fiestas (mariachis, piñatas etc.) at the house.

Staff

Wonderful and really nice staff consisting of Josefina, the cook/housekeeper, who is famous for good food and spoiling guests, and her husband, Tomás. He's the gardener and houseman and helps out wherever he’s needed. Josefina comes six days a week, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, and Saturday, 9am to 12pm. Tomás comes Monday to Friday 9am until 2pm. They work 9am - 4pm (she for six days, he for 5) weekly and are off on Sundays and holidays. Josefina understands English a little better than she speaks it

Services Available at an Additional Cost

With their agreement, if you want the staff to work before or after regular hours, the charge is 80 pesos per hour overtime. If any staff agrees to work Sundays or holidays, the charge is 120 pesos per hour. If ‘special circumstances’ require additional help, Josefina’s daughter, Laura, may be available. Josefina will be happy to prepare meals at your request. Please provide notice one day in advance and supply her with the money for grocery shopping. She can also purchase breakfast items for you the day before if you ask her to, as breakfast is not part of her usual duties. And she can also do personal laundry and ironing. An excellent car service (with English speaking drivers) can be arranged to pick up and return guests to the airport as well as for day trips and sightseeing.

Distances

Notes