Guidebook for Antigua Guatemala

Marlenne
Guidebook for Antigua Guatemala

Food Scene

Absolute best Italian in the country. City folks come to Antigua just to come here, the burrata is to die for, the homemade pasta is insanely good. The place itself is without interest, as excellent Italian restaurants mostly are, just focused on the food, enjoy! Only one downside, its gotten pricier now that its gained in popularity...
30 locals recommend
El Cazador Italiano
30 locals recommend
Absolute best Italian in the country. City folks come to Antigua just to come here, the burrata is to die for, the homemade pasta is insanely good. The place itself is without interest, as excellent Italian restaurants mostly are, just focused on the food, enjoy! Only one downside, its gotten pricier now that its gained in popularity...
Caoba Farms is originally an organic produce farm turned into restaurant / coffee shop / produce shop / live music / farmer's market. You can go to purchase organic veggies or sit down and have a meal. Best for brunch, do try their avocado toast with poached eggs, it is delicious. In fall try their pumpkin pie, they make it with ayote, which is our local green pumpkin, its insanely good. Kids can go see the many farm animals they have as well as visit the playground they have set up.
71 locals recommend
Caoba Farms
Final 5 Avenida Sur
71 locals recommend
Caoba Farms is originally an organic produce farm turned into restaurant / coffee shop / produce shop / live music / farmer's market. You can go to purchase organic veggies or sit down and have a meal. Best for brunch, do try their avocado toast with poached eggs, it is delicious. In fall try their pumpkin pie, they make it with ayote, which is our local green pumpkin, its insanely good. Kids can go see the many farm animals they have as well as visit the playground they have set up.
This is also a restaurant but I only recommend the DELI to take out. They have probably the best bread and pastries in Antigua, it is pricey but it is good. They have imported cheeses, hams and other selected items. Good coffee to go as well.
36 locals recommend
Epicure
11 5a Calle Oriente
36 locals recommend
This is also a restaurant but I only recommend the DELI to take out. They have probably the best bread and pastries in Antigua, it is pricey but it is good. They have imported cheeses, hams and other selected items. Good coffee to go as well.
This new-ish restaurant is a gem as it still is relatively unknow, its tiny and gets filled up quickly. Food is delicate and well priced, its well worth the wait if its full or try to go on a different second night.
Le Comedor
2a Avenida Sur
This new-ish restaurant is a gem as it still is relatively unknow, its tiny and gets filled up quickly. Food is delicate and well priced, its well worth the wait if its full or try to go on a different second night.

Drinks & Nightlife

it is also a restaurant but they have live music on a couple of nights a week and the ambiance is rather nice to have a drink or two.
Cafe No Se gathers all the nightly creatures of Antigua, nothing spooky, just super fun, drinks are cheap and there is a Mezcal Bar within the bar, where you will be required to drink mezcal or you will be asked to leave. Popular with locals and tourists alike.
62 locals recommend
Cafe No Se
1a Avenida Sur
62 locals recommend
Cafe No Se gathers all the nightly creatures of Antigua, nothing spooky, just super fun, drinks are cheap and there is a Mezcal Bar within the bar, where you will be required to drink mezcal or you will be asked to leave. Popular with locals and tourists alike.
36 locals recommend
Angie Angie Cafearte
1a Avenida Sur
36 locals recommend

Shopping

The spot to shop for local magnificent textiles and other hand made treasures. Just make sure you visit the old handicraft market (it's attached to the new one) there is where to good stuff is at. You can negociate prices but try not to push too much, these items are truly worth the money. Warning: your newly acquires handcrafted Goods will be envied by all your friends back home, son bring them smtg!
61 locals recommend
Handicraft Market
61 locals recommend
The spot to shop for local magnificent textiles and other hand made treasures. Just make sure you visit the old handicraft market (it's attached to the new one) there is where to good stuff is at. You can negociate prices but try not to push too much, these items are truly worth the money. Warning: your newly acquires handcrafted Goods will be envied by all your friends back home, son bring them smtg!
Artisan co-op. Here you can find true gems and the product of the sales go actually to the artisans which is nicer than paying a middle man. Go visit, surely you will find something beautiful and the staff is very knowledgeable when it comes to textiles and their correspodning regions.
29 locals recommend
Nim Pot’
29 locals recommend
Artisan co-op. Here you can find true gems and the product of the sales go actually to the artisans which is nicer than paying a middle man. Go visit, surely you will find something beautiful and the staff is very knowledgeable when it comes to textiles and their correspodning regions.

Sightseeing

Famous church near calle del arco in Antigua. The particular architecture has Mudejar influences (Arabic-Spanish very ornate style). Fun Fact: look for the lions that the Spanish conquerors commanded the Guatemalan architects to place in the church, as many churches in Spain have as a symbol of power. Funny thing is that we had never seen lions at the time as they are. It. Active to Guatemala, so local sculptors made up a shape that today looks like a dog's body with a monkey face.
87 locals recommend
Iglesia de La Merced
87 locals recommend
Famous church near calle del arco in Antigua. The particular architecture has Mudejar influences (Arabic-Spanish very ornate style). Fun Fact: look for the lions that the Spanish conquerors commanded the Guatemalan architects to place in the church, as many churches in Spain have as a symbol of power. Funny thing is that we had never seen lions at the time as they are. It. Active to Guatemala, so local sculptors made up a shape that today looks like a dog's body with a monkey face.
gorgeous ruin that often times hosts concerts or even weddings. Check out their events calendar, you might be able to experience it. Also it super close to the house :)
Ermita la Santa Cruz
gorgeous ruin that often times hosts concerts or even weddings. Check out their events calendar, you might be able to experience it. Also it super close to the house :)

Parks & Nature

The easiest volcano to climb in Guatemala. It is still active so you must go with a local certified tourist guide. We can help book a private excursion for you (door to door shuttle, certified tourist guide and a doggy bag breakfast). Gorgeous views to the top, you can see lava from a close distance so do bring your marshmellows and a good pair of hiking shoes, and if you feel like it you can even ride a horse up, which is fun and much less physically demanding but so much fun. Have a hearty carb filled dinner the night prior and bring plenty of water with you. Don't forget to tip your guide, most of them come from a very humble background. Horses: Q100 Wooden stick to help you go up: Q10 (which you donate on the way back to the same person who sold it to you, look at it as a rental).
59 locals recommend
Pacaya
59 locals recommend
The easiest volcano to climb in Guatemala. It is still active so you must go with a local certified tourist guide. We can help book a private excursion for you (door to door shuttle, certified tourist guide and a doggy bag breakfast). Gorgeous views to the top, you can see lava from a close distance so do bring your marshmellows and a good pair of hiking shoes, and if you feel like it you can even ride a horse up, which is fun and much less physically demanding but so much fun. Have a hearty carb filled dinner the night prior and bring plenty of water with you. Don't forget to tip your guide, most of them come from a very humble background. Horses: Q100 Wooden stick to help you go up: Q10 (which you donate on the way back to the same person who sold it to you, look at it as a rental).

Essentials

Largest grocery store in town, you will find a good range of goods, for specialty items or imports you need to go to a deli. Bring your own grocery bags if you can.
La Bodegona
19-32 Avenida Elena
Largest grocery store in town, you will find a good range of goods, for specialty items or imports you need to go to a deli. Bring your own grocery bags if you can.