Raise Your Glass, Write Your Scene: 5 Mezcalerías to Inspire Your Script

Picture this: you settle onto a barstool, your open notebook poised for inspiration, and raise a glass of mezcal that smells of charred earth and wild agave.

Unlike tequila, which by law must come from blue agave in Jalisco, mezcal can be born from more than thirty agave varieties roasted in earthen pits, yielding its signature smoke-kissed aroma. In the last ten years, mezcal has gone from hidden gem to headline act, partly for its “no-hangover” buzz (though your mileage may vary) and partly due to mixologists who’ve turned it into the star of cocktails from smoky negronis to chile-pepper sours.

In San Miguel de Allende, this agave-spirit renaissance plays out across courtyards and sleek bars alike. Whether you’re here for our fall Screenwriting Intensive or simply starring in your own life, these four mezcalerías will tempt your palate and fuel your imagination.

la Mezcalería

Recently opened on Calle Animas, this revived newcomer brings a curated selection of rare and boutique mezcals. The minimalist wood-and-concrete design echoes a writer’s workshop with no distractions, just the essentials. Pull up a stool, let the mezcal tasting flight guide your senses, and let the hushed bartender's notes trigger a fresh scene in your notebook.

San Mezcal

Walk into genuine warmth at San Mezcal, a San Miguel favorite since its re-opening in 2021. The bar is stocked with more than 120 mezcals, each with a story waiting to be told. Bartenders share origins, tasting notes, and regional lore. Between sips of smoky Ensamble or sweet Espadín, you’ll pick up real-world dialogue and perhaps even a character’s backstory, delivered over the clink of glasses and late-night buzz. P.S. We're especially partial to their Amensia cocktail.

The Room

Dim and sexy, The Room lives up to its name. It’s an intimate, writer-approved hideout where every sip feels like a secret. Expertly balanced cocktails, from mezcal negroni to fresh aguachile shot pairings, coax juicy story details out of you. Whether you’re plotting a late-night confession or an inciting incident, this quiet sanctuary will unwrap plot layers sip by sip. P.S. it's the one bar (we know of) that pours THC infused cocktails.

Gixi Mezcaleria

Tucked inside a courtyard a skip and a jump from the jardin, Gixi specializes in wild-harvest agave varietals you won’t find anywhere else. Its vaulted brick ceilings and low lantern light feel part alchemist’s lab, part secret society. Ask for a “flight sorpresa” and let Gixi’s expert staff guide you through smoky, floral, and brine-kissed pours. By the time you discover an Ilegal or Tepeztate so rare it reads like lore, your next plot twist will already be percolating.

On-Location Writing Tips

1. Use mezcal as narrative fuel: Smoky notes can fuel dialogue about heritage. Sweet agave flavors suggest hope or optimism.

2. Sit with the bartender: Their stories—about agave farmers, regions, fermentation—are world-building gold.

3. Let the space inform your scene: A hush-filled tasting room hints at a secret meeting; a lively bar suggests a chaotic entrance or plot reveal.

   
   

San Miguel’s mezcalerías aren’t just places to drink—they’re immersive sets for your next screenplay. Let the mezcal loosen your voice, sharpen your senses, and inspire your next written scene. And don't blame us if you wake up with a hangover!

"You are born with sin, you die with holiness, and on the way, you drink mezcal,"