New hotels and farm stays show off the bold flavors of Querétaro

August 14, 2025

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barbaro-chef-moises — Moisés Guadarrama, a chef at Bárbaro. Credit: David Alvarado for Travel + Leisure

This Lesser-Known Mexican City Is a Food Lover’s Paradise—and No, It’s Not Oaxaca or Mexico City…

After a long day spent navigating the cobblestoned alleys of Querétaro, Mexico, I floated in the pool at Hotel Hércules for so long that the sun went down and the seafood bar closed. I sipped my Caballo Bayo—a refreshing English pale ale brewed on site and flavored with cacao—until hunger got the best of me.

I dried off and decamped to the hotel’s restaurant for house-made charcuterie, local cheeses, and olives from the 40-year-old trees that surround a marble sculpture of the hotel’s namesake demigod in the courtyard.

Two scenes pedestrian traffic light on a street outdoor dining with two people at a table — From left: The traffic lights in Querétaro feature the Lele doll; lunch at Bárbaro.David Alvarado

Restaurant table near a window with a scenic view and a person serving a plate of tacos with limes — From left: A table with a view of Tierra de Alonso; pork barbacoa tacos at Bárbaro.David Alvarado

I grew up visiting friends in Querétaro (which is the name of both the city and its surrounding state), taking the three-hour bus from Mexico City, and eating messy pambazo sandwiches late at night in the city’s busy squares. Lately, I’d been hearing that Querétaro’s well-preserved Baroque architecture was the backdrop for a culinary awakening, with third-wave coffee roasters, farm stays, artisanal cheese shops, and innovative breweries and wineries. So I decided to go back and see it for myself.

Click here to read the complete, original article by Naomi Tomky on Travel + Leisure

Source: Travel + Leisure

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