Getting hooked on a book feels just like the early stages of falling in love: all of Monterrey reminds us of every detail. And when it comes to Edgar Allan Poe’s stories, you don’t have to go all the way to his native United States to find places that make you feel that adrenaline rush and sense of mystery he described so well in his stories.
Secret passageways, caves, old haciendas that have fallen into ruin… spots all over Monterrey that transport us to his universe. And this trend now seems more popular than ever in the city, thanks to experiences like the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy, where live readings of his stories are paired with signature cocktails designed for each tale.
14 November 2026 16:00 + more dates
Teatro Versalles
Poe’s universe is very much alive in Monterrey, and this list of five spots in the city that remind us of his writings proves it:
The Hidden Tunnels of the Bishop’s Palace
It’s a legend, but one that’s widely known. The Obispado (then called the Palace of Our Lady of Guadalupe) was built in the 18th century to serve as a place of rest and prayer. However, after the death of the friar who spearheaded the initiative, the building became a military fortress. So far, nothing out of the ordinary.
What makes this place worthy of a Poe story is that the building is said to be riddled with secret tunnels and underground passageways connecting to different parts of Monterrey—presumably to facilitate escape during armed conflicts or to ensure that religious relics were protected. Has any of this been proven? No, but there’s no shortage of people who speak of “hollow walls” or “sealed entrances.”
📍 Rafael José Verger S/N, Colonia Obispado
The former Hacienda de San Antonio del Muerto
Don’t let the name scare you—there’s nothing morbid here (but plenty of history). An hour from Monterrey, in Mina, Antonio de la Garza Elizondo wanted to build a hacienda in the middle of the desert that would serve both agricultural and residential purposes. The result was a historical and architectural gem that, unfortunately, was scarred by the countless battles it witnessed: Apache attacks, the Battle of Icamole in 1876, the one in 1975… The result? The walls were left half-ruined, as was the hacienda (whose chapel was restored in 2007).
📍 Mina Desert
The García Caves
Just over half an hour from Monterrey, the Grutas de García seem as if they were made to be the setting for a Poe story. Hidden high up on the mountain and discovered in the 19th century, these caves are over 60 million years old. At one time, they were part of the seafloor, which makes it easy to find marine fossils embedded in the rock. An experience in itself.
📍 On the way to Grutas de García, García
The Chapel of the Sweet Names
Designated a National Heritage Site since 1938, this is why its original architecture has been preserved in the face of the urban changes surrounding it. But the Capilla de los Dulces Nombres is much more than a time machine set in the 19th century, when it was built. It’s the perfect place to understand Franciscan architecture and Monterrey’s colonial past. A central spot in the city with a charm all its own.
📍 C. Mariano Matamoros at the corner of Dr. José María Coss, Colonia Centro
The UANL Astronomical Observatory
For those familiar with the side of Poe that goes beyond horror stories and haunted places, the UANL Observatory (or the clear skies of Iturbide, where the university observatory is located) is the ideal spot. In the mid-15th century, the author wrote *Eureka*, an essay in which he theorized about the cosmos. And what better place than a grand observatory to feel like you’re part of it all?
📍 Cerro El Picacho, Iturbide
