The 12 best restaurants in Antigua, Guatemala

There are plenty of good places to eat in Antigua Guatemala whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even just a great cup of coffee – Guatemala produces some very good coffee.

Traditional Guatemalan food is influenced by the country’s Mayan and Spanish cultures but you’ll also find other influences from as far away as Africa. The same is true of the food in Antigua.

Corn, beans, rice, pork, beef, chicken, cheese and tortillas are the main ingredients found in most traditional dishes. Stews (caldos) and soups (sopas) can be found on most menus. If you like your food spicy, however, then you’ll be disappointed; Guatemalan cuisine doesn’t use chillies to the same degree as their neighbours in Mexico.

The following are the best restaurants in Antigua, Guatemala that we enjoyed.

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Guatemalan breakfast are simple and generally include eggs, beans and, of course, tortillas. Expect plenty of fresh fruit, too.

For lunch and dinner try chiles rellenos, chile peppers stuffed with rice, cheese, meat and veggies and served with tortillas and a tomato sauce or kak’ik, a traditional Mayan turkey soup.

The national dish of Guatemala is chicken pepian, chicken served in a pumpkin and sesame curry-type sauce. If you’re after desert then try pastel de tres leches, a cake soaked in three different kinds of milk including evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and cream.

Antigua caters to a lot of backpackers and students who arrive for long term stays to learn Spanish. As such there are a lot of good budget restaurant options around offering both local fare and international cuisine.

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The best restaurants in Antigua 

Arrin Cuan

Located around the corner from the Jade Museum, Arrin Cuan specialises in traditional Guatemalan food. The setting is very pretty, tables surround a grass-filled courtyard with volcano views. There are also dining rooms but get a table outside if you can.

I tried the ‘Cuatro Caminos’, a selection of four speciality dishes, which was enormous. The flavours in Guatemalan cuisine are much more subtle than some Latin American countries so if you like spice you might find it a little bland. That said, the dishes at Arrin Cuan are very good and the staff are lovely. There is also a kids’ menu.

See more details on their website and reviews on Tripadvisor.

Address: Casa #2 Callejón Concepción

Rincon Tipico

Another good option for excellent authentic Guatemalan food is Rincon Tipico. It’s really popular with locals and the courtyard is nearly always packed. Come for the roasted chicken, cooked over coals with garlic potatoes, the pork adobado (pork marinated with paprika and pepper), delicious, freshly made tortillas and their enormous breakfasts.

See more reviews on Tripadvisor

Frida’s

Brightly coloured Frida’s is the place to come for Mexican food. Well, to be honest, the food is more Tex-Mex but it is very good and it’s well worth coming here at least once during your stay in Antigua.

Come for the tacos, the cheese quesadillas, the enchiladas and the burros – a smaller versions of the burrito – as well as the margaritas. It’s a lively place, made all the more so when the mariachi band turns up. Live music nights happen during the week.

See more details on their website and reviews on Tripadvisor.

Address: 5a Avenida Norte #29, Calle del Arco

Vivero y Cafe de la Escalonia

Set within a lovely, lush garden is this convivial cafe that also functions as a nursery and shop. It’s a wonderful place to come for a simple, healthy meal. The menu features such staples as sandwiches, soups and salads. They also serve good breakfast. There’s a small playground at the back of the property, which is great for younger kids.

See more reviews on Tripadvisor.

Señor Crepa

For a quick snack, Señor Crepa is a good option. This small hole-in-the-wall is a guaranteed kid-pleaser – especially once they spy the wall of Nutella jars! Savoury options include ham and cheese, pesto chicken, and ham and egg.

There’s a large number of sweet crêpes on offer including your traditional sugar options as well as ‘Red Velvet’, ‘Snickers’ and ‘Meli Melo’. The staff are also very friendly. See more details on their website.

Address: #19, Poniente 4a

Dona Maria Gordillo (Dulceria)

La Dulceria de Dona Maria Gordillo, otherwise known as Doña Marí­a Gordillo’s Sweet Shop, is the place to go for dulces tipicos, local candy. The family-owned shop has been swelling traditional sweets since 1872 and it’s a delight to explore.

The sweets are made from local fruits (no chocolate here) and are mixed with ingredients including seeds, nuts and coconuts. Look out for tamarindo balls and yummy dulce de leche filled treats.

Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, it’s worth visiting just to see the characterful, original interiors. See more details on their website.

Address: 4a Calle Poniente

Cafe La Parada

Another good coffee option is the cheery Cafe La Parada, located opposite the Iglesia de Camino. This place brews a strong cup of coffee although it’s best to take away as there are only a few seats. Service is friendly and you can also buy pounds of coffee beans to go.

See more details on their website and reviews on Tripadvisor.

Address: 6a Avenida Norte

Epicure

This is a great restaurant for families with sandwiches, burgers, omelettes and salads on the menu as well as pasta and pizza dishes. All meals are made from scratch using fresh local ingredients and there’s a good selection of vegetarian dishes too.

There’s a deli at the front of the restaurant where you can stock up on snacks for the kids and the restaurant is located behind, set around a courtyard.

See more reviews on Tripadvisor.

Address: 5a Calle Oriente 11

El Viejo Cafe

Start your day with a smoothie and pancakes at this popular breakfast spot. You can also eat lunch and dinner here and the menu features hamburgers, sandwiches and salads as well as pasta dishes and other family-friendly fare.

There is a small kids’ menu but this reflects portion size rather than child-friendliness, most things on the menu will keep kids happy. You can also buy pastries and sandwiches to take away.

See more details on their website and reviews on Tripadvisor.

Address: 6a Avenida Norte

Panza Verde

If you feel like splashing out then head to Mesón Panza Verde, one of the most upmarket restaurants in town and one of the top restaurants in Guatemala. This is the place to come for fine wine and fine “international cuisine with a twist” dining. The restaurant forms part of the hotel of the same name and the menu features dishes such as Coq au Vin and homemade seafood pasta.

See more reviews on Tripadvisor.

Fat Cat Coffee

in our opinion, Fat Cat Coffee House makes the best coffee in Antigua. The staff in this small family-run cafe really know their coffee and offer all kinds of brewing methods including Chemex, V60, Aero Press, cold brew, nitro and more. Fancy brewing methods aside, Fat Cat just makes a very good cup of coffee.

Address: 4a. Calle Oriente #14

El Sabor del Tiempo

We had dinner at El Sabor del Tiempo one night and it was very good. In addition to the food, the highlight is definitely the terrace and its view over the town’s red-tiled rooftops. There’s a definitely Spanish feel to the place, both in decor and on their menu. Try the queso fundido, a dish of hot melted cheese served with mushrooms, ham or garlic.

See more details on their website and reviews on Tripadvisor.

Address: Av y Tercera Calle Poniente, Esquina 5