Location: Centro Historico, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Central Mexico, Mexico (Great Location: 3 Flat Blocks To Jardin, Near Artisan Market) View Map
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms + Den, 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 4-5)
Keywords: House
Casita Laurita, built in 2008, is an architectural gem on one of San Miguel’s oldest and best loved streets, Calle Loreto. The three-story townhouse, designed by prominent Mexican/Norwegian architect Anja Fauske, has been called a "jewelbox" by architects and designers who have stayed here. Open the modest door and be amazed at the cool, spacious, airy, sophisticated house.
Casita Laurita was featured in the Great Homes and Destinations column of the global New York Times on April 21, 2010.
"Absolutely, the PERFECT place to stay in San Miguel for those who appreciate modern design and convenience! Truly a beautiful home. Feels like an oasis in the center of town.." --Emily Chan, recent guest at Casita Laurita
The 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath house is an easy and flat walk to the jardin, and steps away from the town’s famous artisan market. The house is Mexican modern style, built around a central courtyard, with clean design and exquisite details. The top terrace has a lovely 360-degree view of San Miguel and its famous Parroquia church. A second patio is private and cozy, perfect for dreaming, surrounded with lavender, jasmine, and other scented potted plants.
A sunny studio with a 13-foot wooden desk makes Casita Laurita a wonderful retreat for a writer. The gourmet kitchen is a splendid spot for a cook who wants to explore Mexico’s cuisine.
The house is modern but respecting historic style and materials. The entryway shimmers with patinaed glass and Moroccan-style lamps. The kitchen was designed by an award-winning food writer, with an island, toaster oven, French press and drip coffeemakers, good knives and cutting boards, and artisan plates. The kitchen table pulls out to accommodate nine; the island has stools for people who like to watch the cook. There's also a wine cabinet and lots of storage.
The stairs lead up to an airy office with a huge desk and napping couch, along with ergonomic keyboard and 2 comefortable and adjustable task chairs. Wireless Internet (and a cable modem in the closet if you need cable). This is also where you can find a great book to read on the terrace.
A passage over the courtyard (open to the sky) leads to the master bedroom, with its full bath, Queen bed, and two reading lights. Plenty of closet space. Artisan-made bed and furnishings. High thread-count sheets, sophisticated palette, spare design. Modern bath has shower and artisan tiles with concrete shelves, modern fixtures, and baskets for personal items. Organic soap.
The second bedroom doubles as a media center, with a cozy Moroccan pillowed nook for viewing films on the flat-screen TV. There is an extensive DVD library of films. The second bedroom has a double bed, also with good linens and a comfy, firm mattress.
Across from the second bedroom is a laundry area as well as a private terrace with scented potted plants. The top terrace has a teak sitting area with a sun umbrella and a wet bar.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Gas Fireplace (3) : Gas heaters in every room.
- Beds
- Queen Bed
- Double Bed
- Convertible Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV : Flat screen TV with basic cable.
- DVD
- Video Library : Excellent film library
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : Gourmet kitchen with excellent cooking pots, utensils, knives; coffeemaker, toaster oven, microwave, conventional oven, blender, teapot, french press, etc.
- Cooking Utensils Provided : High quality
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Catering Available
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio : Roof terrace with dining table and sun umbrella
- Balcony
- View/Location
- Monument View : Very, very central location for San Miguel
- Communications
- Cell Phone : Cell phone loaded with 100 pesos, pay as you go with a card.
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Maid service 2x/week. Wonderful office with 13-ft desk, ergonomic keyboard drawer, task chair; you may just finish your novel. Courtyard, two terraces, architectural gem. Near great organic market.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Not Suitable for Children : Open-air atrium not suitable for children under 10
- Smoking Not Allowed : Absolutely no smoking inside the house
- Activities
- Shopping
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Hiking
- Restaurants
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Other Activities
- Artisan market, cafes, restaurants, arboretum, nearby Spanish schools and art schools, dance classes, cooking classes, galleries, design center, near jardin. Great organic shopping right nearby.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Regular Season ............. $ 800/week ...$2800/month...
Christmas/New Years, Thanksgiving, Day of the Dead, and Easter .. $1000/week
$200 per night for weekends and up to three nights.
Payment for rent accepted by Paypal or personal check.6% tax added to total.
Low Season (Aril & May) $675/week...$2000/month
$500 US Refundable Security Deposit collected at time of booking, along
with 50% of down payment/balance due 30 days before rental.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 2008
Why the Owner Chose Centro Historico
Casita Laurita is on one of San Miguel's best streets--Calle Loreto. It runs through the artisan market, is convenient to the design center, and three blocks to the jardin in the center of town. It's a great location, and yet retains an authentic feeling of Mexico. It's wonderful to be right near the market and to live on a small, curving street with little traffic.
The Unique Benefits at this House
The house is comfortable and relaxing, with three terraces, and the top has a splendid view of all of San Miguel. The office is beautiful, and a wonderful place to work. I love how the plants drip down the atrium, everything is simple and elegant, and the kitchen has everything a cook could desire. I like to go up to the Morrocan-style media room, which doubles as a guest room, and be cozy watching movies on the flat-screen TV. The neighbors are friendly and there has not been a robbery on my street in 30 years. I always feel safe walking around by myself at night. Please note that this house is not for people who have mobility challenges, as there are a lot of stairs. This also isn't the house for you if you require a large livingroom with a giant TV.
Owner's Map of Centro Historico
Laura first came to San Miguel de Allende with her family when she was ten years old, to learn a little Spanish and a different culture (smart parents!). It was a wonderful childhood experience that made her forever interested in languages and travel. When she returned to SMA in 2007, she fell back in love with the magical town and bought a run-down lot in the Centro on an impulse. Everyone thought she was crazy, until a year later, when they saw the amazing house she'd built with her architect and friend, Anja Fauske.
Property Photos
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- Entryway--powder room tucked under the stairs - San Miguel, Mexico Vacation Home, near Artisan Market
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- Outdoor seating area in the atrium. - San Miguel, Mexico Vacation Home, near Artisan Market
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- Casita Laurita/Calle Loreto - San Miguel, Mexico Vacation Home, near Artisan Market
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- Central open atrium flows into kitchen/dining room
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- Gourmet kitchen/island, dining area, couch in front
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- master bedroom with en suite full bath
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- Office with 13' foot desk, ergonomic chair and keyboard, WIRELESS, napping couch
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- Second bedroom/media room/flat screen TV/en suite full bath
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- Geraniums and open-air atrium
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- Terraces with lovely spots to soak up the sun--lavender, jasmine, rosemary.
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- Upstairs bedroom across from terrace leads up to the top terrace with view.
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- View from the top terrace
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- View from top terrace
Traveler Reviews (6)
The perfect 10
Guest: cristina
(Chicago)
Date of Stay: 07/02/10
Review Submitted: 07/11/11
I stayed at the Casita for 2+ weeks and enjoyed every moment. It is a beautiful retreat in the middle of the city. It is a quiet, well designed house with luxurious amenities. Traveling alone, I felt safe in the house and the neighborhood. The walk home after dinner is nice. Both the manager on site and the housekeeper were helpful and nice. I would definitely come back.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
Mellow Paradise in a Groovy Town
Guest: Larry Smith
(Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 04/29/11
Review Submitted: 05/14/11
I stayed at Casita Laurita for nine amazing days recently to sort of hibernate and work on a project, and this house was ideal. The house is designed with lots of great pods to hide away in (to sleep, to write, to stare out at San Miguel from the lovely roof terrace), as well as an open air "living room" on the first floor, which was created for chilling in the morning with a book and cup of coffee. As I'm sure others have noted, plants and flora abound, creating a feeling of mellow paradise. The location is ideal -- minutes on foot from all the action in town, but still in what's largely a quiet block for of locals (and you'll quickly get to know some of the wonderful shopkeepers and restaurant owners -- you can eat for a week within blocks of the apartment and not get bored). Casita Laurita and San Miguel Allende were two of the smartest decisions I've made in a while, and I can't wait to go back.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing.
Everything you need in SMA
Guest: Rosemary & Bill
(Toronto, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/01/10
Review Submitted: 11/28/10
Casita Laurita was a perfect house for our one month stay in lovely SMA in November, 2010. Beautifully designed for a narrow lot and very tastefully appointed, it has the feel of a warm, comfortable boutique hotel.The lovely central atrium & patio areas provide natural light and greenery throughout. We appreciated being in a non-touristy area of town that is close to the Artesanal Market and a 5-10 minute interesting walk to the Jardin. Delightful! Highly Recommended.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing.
Casita Laurita is MUY' BUENO!!!
Guest: Heather
(San Francisco, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 09/25/10
Review Submitted: 10/12/10
Casita Laurita is the absolute perfect location and stellar property to explore the beautiful artsy town of San Miguel de Allende! My friend & I spent 2 weeks at casita laurita in Sept/Oct 2010 and only regret was leaving the narrow house & hip town. The casita is architecturely interesting, perfectly done & easy place to call your casa away from home for short or long stay! The house has 2 bedrooms, comfy beds, gourmet kitchen (which we maximized given 2 blocks walk to market for great vegetables/fruits/food), several outdoor spaces to enjoy morning coffee, sun & evening cocktail, awesome office area with internet access & Paula made sure everything was sparkly clean & towels were fresh. Guillermo, the property manager, was so helpful in arranging airport sedan transport & answering questions starting with initial tour of property & easily reachable by cell phone. It was very easy to rent house & great to have all the upfront information for planning purposes. Also, appreciate the details of the house with iPod/tv/dvd, access to bottled water in darling pottery & some really cool art work...EVEN better than pics on the site! So much to do...so little time! We were 5 minute walk from lovely Cafe Muro for breakfast, Sazon cooking school for 2 yummy classes on salsas & tacos, jardin was great spot to enjoy outdoor lunch and late night fireworks, rented bikes to explore organic farms & outlying area (mountain bikes which were definitely needed), hiked from botanical garden, wonderful house & garden tour from biblioteca, great coffee/pastries at La Petit Four, art galleries at Fabrica la Aurora, yoga at Bella Artes, day trip to Mission Dolores & Guanajuato for vibrant visuals of colorful houses & Diego Rivera Musuem, spent 2 hours with talented local photographer: Rober de Gast to hone photo skills, delicous dinners out, music around town, too many art galleries to recount, dancing at the Mint & met lots of fun interesting and very friendly locals & tourists to make for an amazing 2 weeks! (The "Atencion" weekly paper available at biblioteca has list of fun daily activities for every type of adventure: art, spiritual, food, yoga, etc...) I would absolutely recommend a stay at casita laurita (which I initially read about in Laura Fraser's awesome memoir "All Over the Map") & can't wait to go back! Awesome to find a perfect little gem of a house & vacation town that is so VERY safe, friendly & affordable!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing.
Beautiful home in a fantastic location to visit San Miguel
Guest: Brandi
(San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/15/10
Review Submitted: 08/31/10
We stayed in San Miguel for 10 days in August 2010. The property manager was so helpful and booked a very nice, affordable, car (with seatbelts and air conditioning) for our drive from Leon to San Miguel. The driver even made a quick stop so we could buy some snacks and water. The house itself is a gem. The lot is small but it is designed so beautifully that each space feels open and airy and full of light. Each of the two bedrooms has its own spacious bath and the office has wifi. Also, for traveling in warm weather, the windows have screens which keep out mosquitos and keep fresh air moving through the rooms. It is Mexico so bring earplugs and a sleeping mask if you are a light sleeper. But soon you will adjust to sleeping in later, staying out later and relaxing into the rhythm of Mexico. The main square (Jardin) is a short walk away, and there are restaurants and shopping just a stone's throw away. The cost of living is cheap so eating out, taxis and shopping will all seem quite affordable. The city's architecture, art and friendly people will soon enchant you. We couldn't think of a nicer place to stay when in San Miguel. Everything about our stay was comfortable, beautiful and easy! What more could you ask from a vacation! Don't miss the hot springs outside of town (La Gruta for grown ups or Xote on the weekend for kids), the Botanical Gardens, Benito Juarez Park or if you like horseback riding, http://www.ranchodelacapilla.com/horsebackriding.htm . Just a morning or evening sitting in the Jardin watching people is a perfectly lovely way to spend the day.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
Better than imagined!
Guest: Kim in SF
(San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/01/09
Review Submitted: 05/04/10
This house is more beautiful than the photographs. Really. First, the location. It's in the center of town. Yes, it's noisy, but in a charming way. I wanted to be in the thick of things and it was ideal. I felt more like a local than a tourist. Second, the comfort. The house has everything I needed - fully stocked kitchen for someone who really cooks, great nooks to read in, patios to sunbathe on, books, DVDs, washer and dryer. Great place for friends to visit or to just hang out and do nothing. Third, the beauty. This house is gorgeous. Everything from the linen to the dishes to the plants appear to be carefully chosen and much-loved. If I had to identify drawbacks, I would say this house is not small child or handicap-friendly. There are a lot of stairs that are impossible to avoid. Also, the kitchen is a bit dark, but this can be a welcome respite from a long day spent in the sun.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #206814
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