Where to Eat in Antigua Guatemala – and More!

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Where to Eat in Antigua. Antigua, Guatemala, that is. 

When a sailor friend (on whose boat I lived for a while in the Caribbean) sent me a message asking where my traveling hat was currently parked, I wrote back “Guatemala! I’m currently in Antigua. It’s gorgeous.”

“I don’t get it,” he replied. “Where are you – Antigua, or Guatemala? You just said you were in both.”

Written like a true sailor, his version of Antigua is a Caribbean island. But if you go to Guatemala and head inland a few hours, you’ll find Antigua, Guatemala – an exceedingly charming town that I had the pleasure of visiting for almost a month.

Many things struck me about Antigua, but the food was the most surprising. Here’s what I discovered, including where to eat in Antigua Guatemala.

This post was originally published in 2019. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.

Go Hungry.

Antigua Guatemala is an incredibly touristy town that feels more local than the preceding words might indicate.

Perhaps this is because many of the tourists in Antigua are actually Guatemalan, many visiting for the day or the weekend from nearby Guatemala city. Or perhaps it’s because, despite the fact that most of the locals who work in Antigua can’t afford to live there, they live in nearby Jocotenango which is an easy bus/bicycle ride away, and thus they spend their downtime chilling out in Antigua’s Parque Central and other visible spots.

What this means, however (for better or worse), is that Antigua is largely comprised of hotels and restaurants.

What surprised me, was the sheer variety of restaurants available; it was almost easier to find international foods than Guatemalan cuisine! I ate the most amazing homemade Italian pasta and gnocchi I’ve ever had, in Antigua Guatemala (and not in Italy, as you might suspect). I also had terrific Chinese food, baked goods, and even Indonesian cuisine.

It was a stretch for me to eat such international flavours in Guatemala (I always try to eat local cuisine), but on the whole I enjoyed a great cross-section of restaurants and coffee shops that include Guatemalan fare, as you’ll see below.

Bring Money.

I was thankfully advised of the general cost of Guatemala (and Antigua in particular) by a budget-travel friend of mine who had just visited and was blown away when she calculated how much she and her hubby had spent on food ($700 US for a month of travel around Guatemala). She also said that she had trouble finding (well-priced) accommodation with user-friendly kitchens, which forced them to eat out more than they’d anticipated.

While you can certainly find cheap places to eat and stay in Antigua, you’ll likely have to stay outside of town (which poses risks when walking at night), and/or sift through the plethora of higher-priced restaurants to find the cheapies. Look.  You can do anything super cheap or super expensive. I went to Antigua with a mid-range budget, and I’m glad I did. The place was gastronomically delightful. Give yourself that gift when you visit Antigua.

And remember: everything is relative. Guatemala is the third country I’ve visited in Central America (the other two being Costa Rica and Panama). Of the three, Guatemala was the cheapest. Could I find a cheaper cost of living in neighbouring El Salvador? Yeah, probably. How about Belize, on the other side? Mmm….maybe not. But like all things about travel, it’s contextual.

Confused yet? Read this post and create your own long-term travel budget.

Best Restaurants in Antigua Guatemala

While the hotel I stayed at in Antigua (more on this delightful place later) had a shared kitchen, between the sheer variety of places to eat and not feeling particularly inspired by the kitchen, I chose to eat out for most of my time in Antigua. I would enjoy a late-morning brunch at a cafe where I could connect to the Wifi and work for a few hours, and then I’d enjoy dinner at any number of restaurants.

While I almost never write articles that summarize places to go/eat/do stuff, I was inspired to write this expose on Antigua Guatemala restaurants, because I would never have found most of these places on my own.

Instead, I was tipped off by a few different people, including a Guatemalan friend-of-a-friend, my (Antiguan) Spanish teacher, and an expat I met up with who has lived in Antigua for many years. I sampled the dozen or so insider recommendations this trio gave me, and also discovered a few places on my own. From there, I distilled this list down to the places I visited more than once. Here they are:

Remember: when you’re in a country (such as Guatemala) where the water isn’t drinkable, you must scrutinize the food you’re eating. Salads are generally out, unless you like to play with fire. Generally speaking, the adage goes “if you can’t peel it or boil it, don’t eat it.” See also: How to Stay Healthy on the Road.

Where to Eat in Antigua Guatemala – Best Places for Breakfast and Coffee

These places all had decent coffee (you do know that Guatemala is world-renowned for their coffee, right?), free WiFi, reasonably priced breakfasts, and didn’t mind when my boyfriend and I camped out for a few hours with our laptops. See also: How to Earn a Location Independent Living

Where to go for Guatemalan Cuisine

Guatemalan food is quite delicious. Below are two places, one cheap, and one more expensive. Both are frequented by Guatemalans as well as tourists.

The Rest of the Best of Antigua Guatemala Restaurants

While most of these restaurants are owned – or at least operated – by local Guatemalans, the cuisine isn’t typical of Guatemala. That doesn’t mean you should give them a miss however – these Antigua restaurants are 100% worth visiting, and compare to their international counterparts. Seriously!

Where to Stay in Antigua

Is Antigua safe? How about Guatemala on the whole? That’s a topic that I’m going to save for another post, as it’s a complicated question, with an even more complicated answer. The most-repeated advice I received was not to walk alone at night, especially on less-populated streets.

What this means when searching for a place to stay in Antigua, is the more central your hotel is, the more you’ll enjoy Antigua. What this also means is that you should be prepared to spend a bit of cash.

I adored Posada San Sebastian, which was rustic, small, and very friendly. It was also a museum of sorts, as the owner (Luis) is a collector and restorer of Guatemalan artifacts.

Take the entrance way, for example, unmistakable with its collection of dozens upon dozens of tiny wooden chairs. The story goes, that in Guatemala’s war-times (not so long ago), local schools couldn’t afford desks and chairs for the children. So, the kids would bring their own little chairs to school each day. Posada San Sebastian is a monument to many curious tales such as these.

One of my favourite things to do every morning was to head up to the rooftop terrace to do my daily yoga/exercise, with a 360 degree panorama of charming rooftops, including Antigua’s volcano Fuego, which is Central America’s most active volcano and inspired in me equal parts curiosity and terror.

If Posada San Sebastian doesn’t have space (they’re a small boutique hotel so they book up quickly), you’ll find plenty of centrally-located places to stay in Antigua Guatemala. You can start your search here.

Booking.com

Note: If you use the links here to make a reservation through Booking.com – which I use and recommend myself – I will receive a small commission, which doesn’t affect your price. Thank you in advance for supporting The Professional Hobo in this way!

Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

This not meant to be a comprehensive listing of everything to see and do in Antigua; here are a few ideas, as suggested by insiders and/or experienced by fellow travelers.

Buy Second-Hand Weavings and Cheap Handicrafts at Nim Pot’

Nim Pot’ is a well-known handicraft market in central Antigua, and totally worth a visit to get well-priced authentic artisan products.

What not everybody knows about Nim Pot’ is that you can get gently used locally-woven fabrics (these are the real deal!) at incredible prices. The tables with piles of pre-priced fabrics should be on your left as you walk in. They are used, so hold the fabric up to the light and look for structural integrity. I bought material to cover my dining room chairs, make cushion covers, with enough left over to make a tote and even some scarves – all for under $20USD. I love that the material is used as well – it has a story.

Even more so, I love that Nim Pot’ does not negotiate. Everything is pre-priced, and reasonably-priced at that.

Hike Cerro de la Cruz

It’s an easy hike (under 30 mins from the centre of town) and a must-do if you’re in Antigua; you’ll get some lovely views. The best times to go are generally in the early morning (before the view gets too hazy), or close to sunset – just be aware that the road closes at 6pm.

Do an Overnight Volcano Acatenango Hiking Adventure

I didn’t do this, and I probably should have, as anybody I know who has done it attests to this excursion’s magnificence. Volcano Acatenango is the 3^rd highest volcano in Central America, and is conveniently located next to Fuego – Central America’s most active volcano. By camping near the top of Acatenango, you’ll get epic views of Fuego at both sunset and sunrise. Be warned however: the hike is very demanding and it’s cold at the summit. You must do this with a guide.

Pacaya Volcano Trek

This is a much easier excursion, which can be done in half a day or so. You’ll get some great views of Antigua’s volcanoes, and you may even get to see some flowing red lava. Roast marshmallows on steaming lava! It is recommended that you do this excursion with a group, and prices are cheap – as low as $30, all-in.

Note: If you click these widgets to Viator.com and book an excursion, I will receive a small commission, which doesn’t affect your price, and helps me to keep this website up and going. Thanks for your support!

Have you been to Antigua? Where is your favourite place to eat there? Feel free to share in the comments!

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