Don’t worry, our time in Antigua Guatemala wasn’t all backpack food and CLIF bars. Antigua Guatemala is a place brimming with locally owned cafes, outdoor patios trimmed with lights, and delicious smells. It was basically our duty to try as many eateries as we could. And here, we thought we’d round up the best places to eat (and drink!) in Antigua Guatemala.
Bear in mind that I had at least three fresh avocados a day while in Guatemala. And I don’t see a problem with that. If you love guacamole, fresh corn cooked on the street, and a light cerveza that has a rooster on the label, Antigua Guatemala is for you.
Table of Contents
Best Places to Eat in Antigua Guatemala
The Antigua Farmers Market/ El Mercado / Street Food
This was, by far, my favorite culinary experience. On our first night in town, large stalls and kiosks were set up under the shadow of the big yellow cathedral and dozens of people gathered.
The language barrier made ordering a bit challenging (we couldn’t tell what anything was). But I ended up enthusiastically (and with a lot of smiling and pointing) getting elote – corn grilled and smothered in butter and salt – and an enchilada with beets on it. It was fabulous.
I could have eaten more food here, but we had plans to try some other spots, too. In general, though, I highly recommend this market if you are in Antigua Guatemala. I did hear that not all mercados are equal – that this is the best one, by far. And no worries on stomach issues on our end. In general, we avoided tap water while in Guatemala, but all the food seemed very safe and well-prepared.
- Antigua Guatemala Mercado: in the park outside of La Iglesia de la Merced (the large, bustling yellow church)
Fridas
This was my second favorite spot. We tripped in for a quick lunch and it was so good (note the avocados?).
Located close to the iconic arch, the convenience is great. And the food and atmosphere were fabulous.
We tried some mezcal drinks, guacamole, and tacos. Highly recommend all.
- Fridas Restaurant, Antigua Guatemala. http://www.restaurantefridas.com/Â 5a Avenida Norte #29
Calle del Arco
El Criollo
After our hike up Acatenango, we just wanted burgers and beer. We found El Criollo located in a hidden courtyard and it was one of the best burgers I’ve had. The beef was simple, fresh, and salty.
The owner was incredibly kind and while they don’t serve alcohol, they have an arrangement with Carmen, who owns a wine and beer shop next door. So we were able to enjoy two local businesses!
Funny enough, some other hikers from our Acatenango group were also eating there when we arrived. I guess the body just craves some massive protein calories post-hike.
- El Criollo. https://www.facebook.com/elcriolloguatemala/ 4a Calle Oriente #14, CC La Fuente
27 adentro
This was one of the first cafes we ate at while in Antigua Guatemala. The place itself was beautiful, with shaded outdoor seating and lush plants everywhere.
The food was good, too, and I definitely recommend this spot. I got tacos, with avocados, because obviously…
- 27 Adentro. https://27adentro.business.site/#menu 6ta Ave. Sur, #22
El Convento Boutique Hotel
This is where we stayed, so convenience was unmatched. I am not sure that we would have sought out the restaurant if we hadn’t been lodgers but after long days and during rainy downpours in the evening, being able to pop to this delicious restaurant was much appreciated.
Our first morning in Antigua Guatemala we ate a traditional Guatemalan breakfast (chapin) on the rooftop. There were diners from all over and I highly recommend this experience.
But we also enjoyed the lounge area – the entire hotel has sitting areas tucked away with greenery creating wonderlands and uplighting giving a mood that can’t be matched (you can see more in my saved Instagram stories).
One night we tried the fancy restaurant for dinner. We weren’t very hungry (likely due to ALL THE EATING we’d been doing), but the tartare and soup hit the spot, service was impeccable, and the brick ceilings overhead created an ambience of intimacy and history we loved.
- El Convento Hotel https://www.elconventoantigua.com/ 2a Avenida Norte #11
Other Restaurant Reviews & Thoughts
Por Que No
This is one we didn’t get. This restaurant appears on every list everywhere. And the restaurant space itself was really cool, but other than that…. ?Â
The food was pretty uninspired and didn’t seem to use locally available fresh ingredients, there is no bar (which can someone please explain WHY this shows up on best casual bars to hang out at?), it is on the edge of town, and there isn’t any outdoor seating.
I mean, do it if you must. We tried it because we had decision fatigue on where to eat, popped into a few places that didn’t seem to be the right fit, and because, again, this is on all the lists ever. But we were unimpressed.
- Por Que No. http://porquenoantigua.com/ 2a Avenida Sur y 9 Calle Oriente
Los Tres Tiempos
We enjoyed the terrace of Los Tres Tiempos for some speciality pizzas the night before our hike. The space was so pretty and service was friendly and helpful.Â
The food was decent. Nothing to win awards, but tasty and fun. It’s worth a stop for casual family fare.
- Los Tres Tiempos. https://www.lostrestiempos.com/ 5ta avenida Norte # 31
Best Places for Drinks in Antigua Guatemala
Fat Cat Coffee
This was my favorite place to get drinks in Antigua Guatemala and yes, it’s COFFEE! You can’t come to Guatemala and skip the coffee culture.
The place has such a cool, locals-hang-here vibe. The barista who helped us clearly loves coffee (in fact, he grows his own beans that are sold at the shop). He walked us through all the very different pour-over coffee options and then made recommendations.
We had deep, rich coffee alongside some Guatemalan breakfast bagels that were sumptuous. My bagel had avocados on it, because, of course…
- Fat Cat Coffee, Antigua Guatemala. https://www.facebook.com/fatcatcoffeehouse/ No. 14 A, 4a Calle Oriente
Ulew Cocktail Bar
This is a true speakeasy and likely the most modernized, “bougie” place you’ll find in Antigua Guatemala but I was all in. We heard about it through some hiker-friends, otherwise we would have missed it. The entrance is hidden.
You walk into a brewery, take a left, and enter through an old, red English telephone booth.
Inside, there’s no menu. You tell the bartender what your flavor profile is, what you are interested in having, and they create a speciality cocktail for you based on that. You don’t even know what it is!
I can’t get enough of this place.
- Ulew, Antigua Guatemala. http://ulew.com.gt/ 3 Poniente
Antigua Cerveza - El Bosque
While the craft cocktail bar was my jam, I am going to hazard a guess that this brewery was Mr. Family Trip’s favorite. We do breweries here in Virginia and this felt like an imported idea – complete with cornhole and firepits and large Connect Four games. But it also had its own Guatemalan twist. There were two places to order food (we tried both) that were good.
But the main thing about Antigua Cerveza – El Bosque is the overwhelming and stunning grounds. There are so many picnic tables, landscaped hidden areas, bistro lights, and vegetation-caused intimate shelters that it is so hard to believe it is in the middle of a bustling town. It is truly a paradise inside, like walking through a wardrobe into a totally different world.
- Antigua Cerveza- El Bosque. https://www.antiguacerveza.com/bosque-antigua Avenida el Desengaño #2Â
Guatemalans know how to use the land and what’s around to create some delicious food and flavor profiles. And as Antigua Guatemala sees more and more tourists and expats, the cuisine is simply exploding in styles and quality. But what we loved the most was the focus on locally-owned spots. Antigua had a Papa John’s, Domino’s, Wendy’s and Subway. But they were hidden and certainly not worth the time or the effort. They seemed to be somewhat ignored novelties while life happened inside cafes with rich, delicious tastes.
If you head to Antigua Guatemala, go with an empty stomach and an open mind… and I think I left some avocados behind for you… maybe…