Where to Eat and Drink in Antigua: My 7 Top-Picks

7 Best Places to Eat & Drink in Antigua

1. Drink Coffee at Alegría Café

Alegría Café is one of my favorite cafés in Antigua that I often frequent when I am looking for breakfast, or a quiet place to have a cup of coffee during my rest days, in between hiking volcanoes here. The café has a lovely backyard area where you can sit surrounded by colorful decorations, plants, and a glimpse of a historical church ruins located nearby.

The coffee here is excellent, with a variety of drinks made from Guatemala's famous locally grown beans. They also have food, with my favorite being their Breakfast Burrito! The staff are also incredibly friendly and welcoming and I went there so often they knew exactly what I want to order 🤣.

The price range at Alegría Café is around average to slightly expensive compared to other cafés in Antigua, but I think it is worth paying a little extra for the atmosphere, quality coffee, and overall experience. The café is open from 8 AM to 5 PM from Monday to Thursday, while from Friday to Sunday, it is open from 8 AM to 7 PM.

2. Hang Out at Cafe Boheme

Cafe Boheme is another of my favorite cozy little café in Antigua that I really enjoyed, thanks to its cozy space at the rooftop with a great view of Fuego and Acatenango Volcanoes. The interior is beautifully designed with warm décor, comfortable seating, and a charming bohemian style that makes it a great place to grab a coffee, read a book, or spend a few hours working.

At the rooftop area, you will find plenty of seats and tables surrounded by plants and vintage decors, while enjoying a lovely view over of Fuego and Acatenango Volcanoes rising in the distance, if the weather permits.

The price range at Cafe Boheme is around average compared to other cafés in Antigua and the café is open daily from 7:30 AM to 8 PM, so if you are looking for a place to come have early morning breakfast and coffee, this is a good place to be.

3. Enjoy a Drink with a view at Cafe Sky Bar

Cafe Sky Bar is one of my favorite rooftop spots in Antigua that offers an unobstructed 360-degree view of Antigua, with the colorful colonial city stretching out below and the surrounding volcanoes towering in the distance.

From the rooftop, you can see all three of Antigua's iconic volcanoes, Agua Volcano, Fuego Volcano, and Acatenango Volcano, which make for a pretty awesome backdrop as you enjoy a selection of their drinks. The view of the city itself is just as impressive, with landmarks like San Francisco the Great Sanctuary visible in the distance and the historic center stretching far beyond.

The price range at Cafe Sky Bar leans toward the expensive side compared to other cafés and restaurants in Antigua, but you are paying for one of the best views in the city. The bar is open daily from 8 AM to 10 PM, so if you are looking for a place with a view to grab a drink in the evening, make sure to drop by here.

4. Eat Guatemalan Traditional Food at Paty's Cafe

If you are looking for a place to try authentic Guatemalan food without the fancy atmosphere and tourist prices, Paty's Cafe is a great little spot to add to your Antigua itinerary. Located slightly away from the busiest streets of the old town, in the northern side, this little family-run restaurant serves serves traditional Guatemalan breakfast and lunch that are delicious and affordable.

If you only spend your time around the touristy areas of Antigua, you might assume that all food here is expensive. However, that is not always the case, and Paty's Cafe is a great example of that. Their typical lunch dishes come with a protein of your choice, fresh salad, guacamole, garlic breads, and chirmol, a traditional tomato-based salsa, with most dishes priced at around 48 GTQ (about 6 USD).

They also have English menus, so you won't have to rely on Google Translate like you might at other local restaurants. I stopped by for an early dinner, and it was exactly what I was looking for, delicious, affordable, and a great place to try some Guatemalan flavors. The restaurant is open from 7:30 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, closing earlier on weekends at 3:30 PM on Saturdays and 1 PM on Sundays.

5. Try Street Food at the Weekend Market Next to Iglesia de la Merced

For the weekends, one of the best places to be if you are looking for something to eat is the weekend street food market located right next to Iglesia de la Merced, one of the most prominent landmarks in the city. Here, you can skip the fancy dining rooms and enjoy simple, affordable Guatemalan street food alongside locals.

From 4 PM to 9 PM, on the weekends you will see lines and lines of street food stalls, and tons of people, both locals and tourists, gathering around this market, trying all the variation of Guatemalan street food, which is surprisingly diverse, all and a few dollars per piece! A great deal in a touristy city like Antigua!

Some things worth trying include chuchitos (small tamales wrapped in corn husks), tostadas topped with guacamole, beans, or salsa, grilled meats, and sweet treats like rellenitos, a fried plantain dessert filled with sweetened beans.

Me and my friend stumbled upon this market accidentally as we came down from watching the sunset at the top of Ingresia de la Merced, and we found this stall called "Churrasquitos Olguis", which is a local joint specialized in Guatemalan-style grilled meats, and we were intrigued by the line, so we decided to try it out and boy was it absolutely delicious!

We ordered the Búfalos sandwich with grilled chicken which cost only 25 GTQ (3 USD), but you can choose whichever meat you like in whichever way you want to eat, may it be with bread as we did or with tortillas, etc. It was one of the best foods we had in Antigua, so if you happen to visit Antigua during the weekend, be sure to come check out this market!

6. Enjoy Coffee, Bakery & Brunch at El Viejo Cafe

With so many beautiful colonial buildings around Antigua, sometimes the best travel moments come from simply sitting down with a good cup of coffee and taking in the atmosphere. El Viejo Cafe is one of those places where the experience is just as memorable as the coffee and foot they serve.

Established more than 25 years ago, this lovely café combines locally roasted Guatemalan coffee, homemade French-style pastries, which is located at the entrance, and a full restaurant menu inside a charming colonial setting with a lovely courtyard where you can enjoy their offering away from the busy streets of Antigua.

I came here for coffee and brunch, and it was great! Although the price leans more on the expensive side, you are really getting your money's worth here. The vibe is very chill and relaxing, and you can choose whether you want to sit in a restaurant or cafe environment, with separate dining zones in the courtyard and a cafe area at the French bakery entrance filled with vintage decor.

I'd recommend this cafe if you are looking for a bit of an upscale place to chill while in Antigua. The cafe is open daily from 6:30 AM to 9 PM.

7. Eat Tacos at Mexico Lindo Restaurant

If you are craving Mexican food while exploring Antigua, I recommend checking out Mexico Lindo Restaurant. After all, Guatemala and Mexico are neighbors, so finding authentic Mexican taco places is usually not a problem here 😉.

Mexico Lindo Restaurant's menu features a variety of Mexican classics, including tacos, enchiladas, sopes, chilaquiles, tortas, and more. You can order tacos with options like chicken, steak, and al pastor, served with traditional toppings such as cilantro, onion, salsa, and lime. Classic mexican style!

My friends and I came here after celebrating Semana Santa, and we really enjoyed it. The vibe is fun and colorful, the tacos were delicious, and the drinks were flowing, what more could you ask for, right? The place is open from 12 PM to 9 PM on weekdays, while they stay open later on weekends until 11 PM. If you have not been to Mexico and want to try some delicious Mexican tacos while in Antigua, come and check out Mexico Lindo Restaurant.