Must-Eat Restaurants in Antigua, Guatemala
There are many reasons to love Antigua, the charm, colorful streets, delicious coffee, beautiful scenery, and friendly locals. But the food. Ohh man the food! Antigua isn’t a large city, but the dining scene is vibrant and impressive. I was lowkey blown away and surprised by the meals I had there. So after eating around town, here’s a list of must-eat restaurants in Antigua, Guatemala for your trip.
Hector’s Bistro $$
This restaurant has all the vibes and the food is consistently mouthwatering. It’s a beautiful place with an open courtyard in typical Antigua fashion. At night it has an inviting romantic ambiance and makes for a great location to have dinner before going out for cocktails.
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Hector’s offers pizza, pasta, vegetarian fare, fish, poutine, wings, burgers, sandwiches, y mucho mas. They also serve breakfast too so come by the morning after. They seriously have it all. I ate the steak and veggies and it was perfect!
The beef was tender and flavorful, accompanied by a side of fresh chimichurri to dip into. The veggies are roasted well and their camotes (sweet potato fries) were light and crispy. Add a limonada con menta and I spent around 130Q ($17). Worth every quetzal!
Hector’s now shares space with Cervecería 14 a brewery located in Ciudad Vieja. If you can’t make it to the brewery, here’s your chance to try their craft beers at Hector’s. Spring for the Impunidad IPA if you like hoppy beer. Can you tell I like this place?
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Hector’s Bistro hours are daily 7am-10pm. Fri & Sat until 11.
Kombu Ramen Shop $
No list of the best restaurants in Antigua would be complete without mentioning Kombu Ramen. This trendy eatery is famously known as the best ramen in Guatemala. Something I really wasn’t expecting to find.
They have several varieties, shoyu, vegan, spicy, and miso. You can walk out after slurping down a bowl and a drink for right around 120Q pp including tip. The guys that work the front are characters. You can tell they enjoy what they do and the service here is great.
Kombu Ramen Hours are from 12pm-3pm and 6pm-9pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Samsara (Vegetarian) $-$$
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan in Antigua, this small corner restaurant is the place to be for comida saludable (healthy food). Even if you’re not on a veggie diet, the food here is bomb with flavors from around the world.
In a city chock-full of coffee, Samsara has an extensive tea selection. They offer single cups and full teapots. I had a pot of last sunset tea.
A blend of green tea, jasmine, apples, and forest fruits. For lunch, I had the kimchi bowl! A mix of basmati rice and quinoa with kimchi slaw on top. You can add tofu, tempeh, or mushrooms if you want some protein.
On my next visit, I tried the wok veggie bowl and I loved it! Don’t miss the Amaranth bliss balls for dessert. They’re soo good.
Samsara hours are 8am-10pm. Closing early on Mondays by 8:30pm.
Barriga Llena $$
Next up is Barriga Llena from Chef Mario Godinez. If you know some Spanish you might have heard the saying barriga llena y corazon contento. (My stomach is full and my heart is content).
That phrase is what the name is based on and it’s exactly how you feel walking out here.
On the menu, you’ll find pollo frito, juicy crunchy fried chicken. It’s incredible! Probably the best I’ve had outside of New Orleans. He also makes a delicious black garlic dipping sauce to dunk your fries in!
The mais de criollo is a nice vegetarian dish with tomatoes, bright fresh herbs, and queso fresco on soft thick tortillas. I didn’t have room left in my stomach to order the pork dumplings, but they look legit!
A bonus of eating here is that it’s an open kitchen, so if you sit at the bar you can watch your food being made. Certainly one of my favorite must-eat restaurants in Antigua!
Barriga Llena hours are from 12pm-9pm. Open til 10pm Fri/Sat. Closed Mondays.
XQ No? (Por Qué No? Cafe) $$-$$$
Iykyk this is a favorite among locals and tourists. It’s very popular. XQ No? has a bar vibe, with high-end cuisine. It’s only open from 6pm-10pm and it’s tiny. So it’s smart to go right when it opens or make reservations.
They make an excellent Caprese pesto salad and an even better shrimp diablo. The night I went I sat at the bar next to another solo traveler and we had a wonderful conversation about food, travel, life, and love. A sweet spot, even if you’re dining alone!
Por Que No Cafe hours are daily from 6pm-10pm
Nana $$-$$$
Nana is the brainchild of Chef Rodrigo Aguilar and his wife Sharon. “Glocal food and Vintage” is the slogan of this hip eatery. Part restaurant, part recycled clothing store, it’s full of global flavors made from local ingredients, and fashionable threads.
I ate several things on my visit to Nana, including a Peruvian-inspired anticucho of smoked tuna in miso with shishito peppers on a stick. Umami heaven! Next, I ate a beef arepa on a blue corn tortilla with tzatziki sauce and mustard seeds, a tender tasty mix of creaminess and acidity.
They have a full bar so you can get your drink on too. Being a tomato lover, I paired it with a Michelada that went down easy on their shady patio. Undoubtedly Nana is a must-eat restaurant in Antigua.
Nana hours are Weds & Thurs 12pm-9pm. Fri/Sat til 10. Sunday brunch 10-2pm. Closed Mon & Tues.
Luna De Miel $
The best creperia in town is Luna de Miel near Iglesia La Merced which offers a wide variety of savory and sweet crepes.
As inviting as the inside of the restaurant looks, I strongly suggest you go upstairs and sit under the giant avocado tree on the terrace. On a clear day, you might see Volcán de Fuego erupting. They even have an electric retractable awning in case it rains.
I ate the luna pepián crepe and drank the luna energia smoothie. Both were outstanding! The food comes out fast with friendly service.
Luna de Miel hours are from 12pm-9pm on weekdays. 11am-9pm on weekends.
La Casa de las Sopas $
The house of the soups! La Casa de las Sopas is a must-eat restaurant in Antigua if you want to try pepián de pollo a hearty chicken stew that is the national dish and the most recognizable item in Guatemalan cuisine. A blend of two cultural flavors, Spanish and Maya.
Another one to try is jocón a stew with a green tomatillo base, cilantro, and ground pumpkin seeds. Sit on the patio and slurp some soup!
La Casa de las Sopas hours are from 11am-9pm daily.
Once Once (Vegan) $$
Step inside this gorgeous chic restaurant for some of the best health food in Antigua. This is plant-based cuisine at its best with an artistic presentation. Chef Nelson Estrada is really doing some creative things with vegan cuisine at Once Once.
The mole enchilada, a vegan version of the Oaxacan classic hit the spot for me. Although my favorite thing on the menu is the cauliflower wings. They have the best crunch and the buffalo sauce has the exact level of spice. It’s not mild, but it won’t catch your lips on fire either. It’s worth visiting just to try those!
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The only thing I wasn’t impressed with was the Fuego sushi roll. It was sort of bland, slathered in too much unagi sauce, and overly sweet for me.
Once Once hours are 12pm-3:30pm for lunch and 6-9pm for dinner. Closed on Mondays.
Café Boheme $-$$
This is a centrally located French cafe with a secluded rooftop. It was one of my favorites for breakfast in Antigua. They have an acai bowl that is to die for! Complete with goji berries and chocolate on top.
Cafe Boheme has an extensive menu, but being that it’s a French joint, don’t miss the buttery croissants. It’s a cool place to sit in the sun with a morning beverage or relax inside and get some work done. Vibey music too!
Cafe Boheme hours are from 7:30am to 8pm daily.
Cactus Tacos $-$$
If you like tacos, (who doesn’t) be sure not to miss this Mexican taqueria. If there are better tacos in Antigua, I didn’t find them. The birria tacos are out of this world!
The meat is marinated in adobo before being cooked in a broth. They come with a generous amount of queso fundido and a side of broth to dunk the tacos into. So satisfying!
One thing I like here is that you can order tacos mixtos, so you can try two different kinds in one order. I had shrimp and bacon and tacos al pastor together another time. Both were exceptional!
Cactus Taco Shop has two succulent salsas, an avocado and cilantro salsa verde, and a spicier red chipotle version. The owner is from Mexico City and he obviously knows what he’s doing. They also have a quality mezcal selection.
Cactus Tacos hours are daily from 12pm-10pm. Sundays 12-9pm.
Caoba Farms $$
This restaurant is located on an organic farm. They grow everything themselves! So the herbs and veggies are extra fresh. My friend and I split a Mediterranean platter. The pita was soft, the hummus creamy, and the falafel crunchy! It was enough for both of us.
Eating at Caoba Farms is nice on warmer days because you’re sitting in a well-shaded garden. The pizzas are wood-fired, the food quality is high, and they have Antigua Brewery beers on tap. Wander through the greenhouses when you’re done.
There’s also a butterfly garden, yoga, and artisanal markets on weekends.
Caoba Farms hours are 8am-5pm Wednesday through Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Como Como $$-$$$
Next up on our gastronomic adventure is Como Como in the historic center. Owners Suzanne (Guatemalan) and Eric (Belgian chef) have combined their talents to create a lovely relaxed European restaurant.
To sample their Belgian cuisine try the beef stew with frittes. Other items people rave about are the frutti di mare pasta, tuna tartare, and the filet mignon with herb butter. Como Como also has a solid selection of Belgian beers and a great wine list.
It’s located directly across from the Santa Clara ruins. Maybe stop by for lunch after you go there! Service tends to be a bit slow, so don’t go in a big hurry.
Como Como hours are 1:30pm-9pm Wed-Sunday. Closed Mondays. Dinner only Tuesdays 6-9pm.
Café Sol $$
Cafe Sol is a coffee shop that made my best coffee shops in Antigua list, but I had to add it to must-eat restaurants in Antigua too. Mostly because it’s a high-quality breakfast spot!
They serve a range of things including a cream cheese bagel with strawberries and honey. Avocado toast, and soft brioche bread sandwiches with sauteed veggies and eggs. Stop by Cafe Sol for some of the best coffee in Antigua and a flavorful meal.
Cafe Sol hours are from 8am-5pm daily.
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