Guidebook for Antigua Guatemala
Food Scene
Hector's Bistro
Tartines
1C 4a Calle Ote. Nice terrace that overlooks a ruin.
Bistrot Cinq
7 5a Calle Poniente Good international cuisine. Could be a romantic dinner.
Argentine steak house. We recommend "entraña" or "bife de chorizo", their specialties.
9 residents recomanen
Ni Fu Ni Fa
Argentine steak house. We recommend "entraña" or "bife de chorizo", their specialties.
Saberico Delicatessen
Nice gardens. Healthy and tasty food. Informal.
La Fonda de la Calle Real
12 5a Avenida NorteTipical Guatemalan Food.
San Martín Antigua Guatemala
5 6a Calle PonienteThis is a Juice Bar. You can not live without trying the Passion smoothie (passion fruit, apple, mint. They also have wraps and salads. One of the highly achievements combining healthy and tasty.
10 residents recomanen
Pitaya Juice Bar
2-75 13 CalleThis is a Juice Bar. You can not live without trying the Passion smoothie (passion fruit, apple, mint. They also have wraps and salads. One of the highly achievements combining healthy and tasty.
Watch out. The new address is 2 Calle Sur, next to tanque la unión. Very good international cuisine.
12 residents recomanen
como como
#12 2a Avenida SurWatch out. The new address is 2 Calle Sur, next to tanque la unión. Very good international cuisine.
Metiz Bistro
4 Avenida NorteFrench style informal restaurante. Good panini and salads. Try de passion fruit juice.
Luna de Miel
Good variety of french crepes. Good value for money.
Texmex food. Biggest sport bar in town. Specially for fans of US sports.
56 residents recomanen
Monoloco Antigua
No.6 Interior, CentroaméricaTexmex food. Biggest sport bar in town. Specially for fans of US sports.
Pushkar
6a Avenida NorteNice restaurante and coffee bar. Nice garden and dishes.
Fridas
Mexican food. Live music. Good atmosphere.
This place is up on the hill. You can get here from Hotel Santo Domingo (free transportation). Nice views, "art gallery". They also have canopy and playground for kids.
85 residents recomanen
El Tenedor del Cerro
This place is up on the hill. You can get here from Hotel Santo Domingo (free transportation). Nice views, "art gallery". They also have canopy and playground for kids.
Angie Angie Cafearte
1a Avenida SurVery nice restaurante with home made high quality food.
Drinks & Nightlife
Best bar in town if you are looking for a kind of cripy and cool place. Live music. Speak easy bar / Illegal bar.
62 residents recomanen
Cafe No Se
1a Avenida SurBest bar in town if you are looking for a kind of cripy and cool place. Live music. Speak easy bar / Illegal bar.
Reilly's Irish Tavern
7 6a Calle PonienteTypical irish pub.
If you want to transform a tasty wine in a unique and unforgettable moment, go to Tabacos y Vinos. You will share a good moment (and wine) with your partner of you will meet cool people. RIGHT BELOW THE ARCH.
9 residents recomanen
Tabacos y Vinos
28B 5a Avenida NorteIf you want to transform a tasty wine in a unique and unforgettable moment, go to Tabacos y Vinos. You will share a good moment (and wine) with your partner of you will meet cool people. RIGHT BELOW THE ARCH.
Sightseeing
Iconic jewel. What used to be a monastery (150 monks) is now a 5 star hotel. Colonial ruin amalgam the amenities of the hotel. Also a museum. Free entrance unless you want to go to the museum. Don't miss the chapel and underneath grave. It is worth it day and night. If you are visiting for 10 minutes, go here.
97 residents recomanen
Hotel Casa Santo Domingo
28 A 3a Calle OrienteIconic jewel. What used to be a monastery (150 monks) is now a 5 star hotel. Colonial ruin amalgam the amenities of the hotel. Also a museum. Free entrance unless you want to go to the museum. Don't miss the chapel and underneath grave. It is worth it day and night. If you are visiting for 10 minutes, go here.
Very nice ruin were you can feel the way the nuns used to live. Highly recommended if you are interested on the culture edge of Antigua.
79 residents recomanen
Convent de les Caputxines
Very nice ruin were you can feel the way the nuns used to live. Highly recommended if you are interested on the culture edge of Antigua.
This is the iconic building of Antigua. Worth it day and night.
83 residents recomanen
Arco de Santa Catalina
28 5a Avenida NorteThis is the iconic building of Antigua. Worth it day and night.
If you like to feel the energy of the local market here you will find indigenous selling fruit, vegetables and seeds. Very colorful. At the end of the market you will also find the bus station. Colorful old buses all park in a line. You will get lost but you will find the way out. It is not dangerous but if you take a purse put it in front of you. Opens every day from 700 am to 600 pm.
11 residents recomanen
Mercado Municipal De Artesanias
4 PonienteIf you like to feel the energy of the local market here you will find indigenous selling fruit, vegetables and seeds. Very colorful. At the end of the market you will also find the bus station. Colorful old buses all park in a line. You will get lost but you will find the way out. It is not dangerous but if you take a purse put it in front of you. Opens every day from 700 am to 600 pm.
From here you will see all Antigua surrounded by the volcanos. You can go walking (20' walk, not recommended at night) or with tuc tuc (Q20 aprox). Better in the morning were the sky is more likely to be open.
171 residents recomanen
Cerro de la Cruz
From here you will see all Antigua surrounded by the volcanos. You can go walking (20' walk, not recommended at night) or with tuc tuc (Q20 aprox). Better in the morning were the sky is more likely to be open.
San Jose El Viejo
Nice ruin.
If you are going to Tikal then you have the excuse to visit Flores Island. Nice old style architecture. Nice restaurantes to the lake.
13 residents recomanen
Flores Island (Guatemala)
If you are going to Tikal then you have the excuse to visit Flores Island. Nice old style architecture. Nice restaurantes to the lake.
Coffee Farm were they will explain you how the cultivate and roast the coffee. They also have a museum that explain the lifestyle of the mayans.
16 residents recomanen
La Azotea Coffee
Coffee Farm were they will explain you how the cultivate and roast the coffee. They also have a museum that explain the lifestyle of the mayans.
Shopping
This warehouse is a cooperative that gathers all the artwork from the artisans from the villages around Antigua. No discounts, only 10% if cash. Textiles, woodworks, and many other items.
29 residents recomanen
Nim Pot’
This warehouse is a cooperative that gathers all the artwork from the artisans from the villages around Antigua. No discounts, only 10% if cash. Textiles, woodworks, and many other items.
Arts & Culture
To learn about the importance of kakaw for the mayas and prepare your own chocolate. Now in 5º avenida norte. Nice to go with kids. The problem is that since you can not travel with chocolate you will have to eat it without sharing with your friends and family in your country... Too bad.
43 residents recomanen
ChocoMuseo
To learn about the importance of kakaw for the mayas and prepare your own chocolate. Now in 5º avenida norte. Nice to go with kids. The problem is that since you can not travel with chocolate you will have to eat it without sharing with your friends and family in your country... Too bad.
Parks & Nature
Active nice volcano. While I'm writing these lines you can see lava (or the shine of)- Highly recommended. Not very demanding (1 hour climbing). For sure you will see the cold lava. Usually you have a morning tour (pick up at 600am, drop off at 12:30), recommended during the rainy season, or afternoon (pick up at 200pm, drop off at 800pm) recommended during the dry season since you will see the sunset from the volcano.
59 residents recomanen
Pacaya
Active nice volcano. While I'm writing these lines you can see lava (or the shine of)- Highly recommended. Not very demanding (1 hour climbing). For sure you will see the cold lava. Usually you have a morning tour (pick up at 600am, drop off at 12:30), recommended during the rainy season, or afternoon (pick up at 200pm, drop off at 800pm) recommended during the dry season since you will see the sunset from the volcano.
This volcano demands from 4 to 6 hours of climbing (depending if you are in a good shape and in the climbing abilities of your group. Old town Outfitters and OX are the most recommended tour agencies. If you can stay overnight you will ever forget it. Why getting yourself in a 4-6 hours of climbing? Because from the top you will have a first raw view of the Fuego volcano smoking amongst other views.
8 residents recomanen
Acatenango
This volcano demands from 4 to 6 hours of climbing (depending if you are in a good shape and in the climbing abilities of your group. Old town Outfitters and OX are the most recommended tour agencies. If you can stay overnight you will ever forget it. Why getting yourself in a 4-6 hours of climbing? Because from the top you will have a first raw view of the Fuego volcano smoking amongst other views.
In my opinion, the trilogy of Guatemala is Antigua+Tikal+volcanos (we should add the indigenous / mayan culture as the fourth and very important pillar). In tikal you will learn and feel the way the mayan used to live. You can go by shuttle or by airplane (300 usd).
71 residents recomanen
Tikal
In my opinion, the trilogy of Guatemala is Antigua+Tikal+volcanos (we should add the indigenous / mayan culture as the fourth and very important pillar). In tikal you will learn and feel the way the mayan used to live. You can go by shuttle or by airplane (300 usd).
Although Tikal is the most famous mayan ruin, Yaxha is another highly recommended ruin park to understand the mayan lifestyle.
22 residents recomanen
Yaxha National Park
Although Tikal is the most famous mayan ruin, Yaxha is another highly recommended ruin park to understand the mayan lifestyle.
Lago Atitlan is in fact the top of a mega volcano. Don't worry, it is not active and almost nobody knows this. The lake is nice. Panajachel is the biggest village surrounding the lake. In Sololá you will find nice textiles, San Marcos is the most "spiritual" village of the lake and in San Pedro you can enjoy the scenery in a hippie or electronic experience.
49 residents recomanen
Lake Atitlan
405 Calle SantanderLago Atitlan is in fact the top of a mega volcano. Don't worry, it is not active and almost nobody knows this. The lake is nice. Panajachel is the biggest village surrounding the lake. In Sololá you will find nice textiles, San Marcos is the most "spiritual" village of the lake and in San Pedro you can enjoy the scenery in a hippie or electronic experience.