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Culture

Cover photo by Jeison Higuita

section type iconCustoms

Welcoming to foreigners? Yes LGBTQ friendly? While not illegal, members of the LGBTQ community can face discrimination.

Etiquette tips

If you’re visiting Mayan holy sites and churches in Antigua, make sure you follow the dress code. You should also always ask first before taking pictures of people in Guatemala. Particularly if you’re up in the Highlands where the Maya people live. Mayan people consider photographs without permission offensive, as they impact their spiritual beliefs.

How to great people

Simply saying “hola” is considered too casual. Try “Buenos días” (good morning), “Buenos tardes” (good afternoon), and “Buenas noches” (good evening) instead.

Tipping norms

Tipping is not necessary or expected in Guatemala but is appreciated.

section type iconFood

National dish

Chicken Pepian — Chicken in a spicy sauce with pumpkin seeds and sesame.

Chicken Pepian
© Robi_J

Must try local food

1
Kak'ik
Kak'ik

Turkey soup served with rice and tamales.

2
Jocón
Jocón

A stew with chicken and tomatillo (smaller, green tomato).

3
Chuchitos
Chuchitos

Traditional Guatemalan-style tamales.

4
Loroco
Loroco

An edible flower, widespread in El Salvador, Guatemala, and other countries in Central America.

5
Rellenitos de Platano
Rellenitos de Platano

A traditional Guatemalan dessert with plantains served with black beans.

1
Kak'ik
Kak'ik

Turkey soup served with rice and tamales.

2
Jocón
Jocón

A stew with chicken and tomatillo (smaller, green tomato).

3
Chuchitos
Chuchitos

Traditional Guatemalan-style tamales.

4
Loroco
Loroco

An edible flower, widespread in El Salvador, Guatemala, and other countries in Central America.

5
Rellenitos de Platano
Rellenitos de Platano

A traditional Guatemalan dessert with plantains served with black beans.

1
Kak'ik
Kak'ik

Turkey soup served with rice and tamales.

2
Jocón
Jocón

A stew with chicken and tomatillo (smaller, green tomato).

3
Chuchitos
Chuchitos

Traditional Guatemalan-style tamales.

4
Loroco
Loroco

An edible flower, widespread in El Salvador, Guatemala, and other countries in Central America.

5
Rellenitos de Platano
Rellenitos de Platano

A traditional Guatemalan dessert with plantains served with black beans.

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Restaurants to visit

Restaurant recommendations from nomads & locals. 4.0+ rating, great atmosphere and good food guaranteed.

Vegan
1
Hector's Bistro
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$$
$$
Hector's Bistroopen link

Beautiful outdoor seating and great lunch menu options.

2
La Cuevita de Los Urquizú
4.2 stars
4.2 stars
$$
$$
La Cuevita de Los Urquizúopen link

Traditional Guatemalan dishes in a beautiful setting.

3
La Casa de las Mixtas
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$
$
La Casa de las Mixtasopen link

A great local option for lunch.

4
Zocalo
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$
$
Zocaloopen link

Great tacos and lunch options.

5
Caoba Farms Restaurant
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$$
$$
Caoba Farms Restaurantopen link

Farm-to-table restaurant serving traditional dishes as part of their Caoba farm, hosting fresh produce markets every Saturday.

6
Samsara
Vegan
Vegan
4.7 stars
4.7 stars
$$
$$
Samsaraopen link

An entire menu of just vegetarian and vegan dishes.

7
La Bruja
Vegan
Vegan
4.7 stars
4.7 stars
$$
$$
La Brujaopen link

Plant-based cafe inside the La Fuente courtyard.

8
La Fonda de la Calle Real
4.3 stars
4.3 stars
$$
$$
La Fonda de la Calle Realopen link

Traditional Guatemalan dishes with vegetarian options available.

9
Once Once
4.8 stars
4.8 stars
$$
$$
Vegan
Vegan
Once Onceopen link

A plant-based restaurant popular for its dishes and ambiance.

1
Hector's Bistro
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$$
$$
Hector's Bistroopen link

Beautiful outdoor seating and great lunch menu options.

2
La Cuevita de Los Urquizú
4.2 stars
4.2 stars
$$
$$
La Cuevita de Los Urquizúopen link

Traditional Guatemalan dishes in a beautiful setting.

3
La Casa de las Mixtas
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$
$
La Casa de las Mixtasopen link

A great local option for lunch.

4
Zocalo
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$
$
Zocaloopen link

Great tacos and lunch options.

5
Caoba Farms Restaurant
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$$
$$
Caoba Farms Restaurantopen link

Farm-to-table restaurant serving traditional dishes as part of their Caoba farm, hosting fresh produce markets every Saturday.

6
Samsara
Vegan
Vegan
4.7 stars
4.7 stars
$$
$$
Samsaraopen link

An entire menu of just vegetarian and vegan dishes.

7
La Bruja
Vegan
Vegan
4.7 stars
4.7 stars
$$
$$
La Brujaopen link

Plant-based cafe inside the La Fuente courtyard.

8
La Fonda de la Calle Real
4.3 stars
4.3 stars
$$
$$
La Fonda de la Calle Realopen link

Traditional Guatemalan dishes with vegetarian options available.

9
Once Once
4.8 stars
4.8 stars
$$
$$
Vegan
Vegan
Once Onceopen link

A plant-based restaurant popular for its dishes and ambiance.

1
Hector's Bistro
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$$
$$
Hector's Bistroopen link

Beautiful outdoor seating and great lunch menu options.

2
La Cuevita de Los Urquizú
4.2 stars
4.2 stars
$$
$$
La Cuevita de Los Urquizúopen link

Traditional Guatemalan dishes in a beautiful setting.

3
La Casa de las Mixtas
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$
$
La Casa de las Mixtasopen link

A great local option for lunch.

4
Zocalo
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$
$
Zocaloopen link

Great tacos and lunch options.

5
Caoba Farms Restaurant
4.6 stars
4.6 stars
$$
$$
Caoba Farms Restaurantopen link

Farm-to-table restaurant serving traditional dishes as part of their Caoba farm, hosting fresh produce markets every Saturday.

6
Samsara
Vegan
Vegan
4.7 stars
4.7 stars
$$
$$
Samsaraopen link

An entire menu of just vegetarian and vegan dishes.

7
La Bruja
Vegan
Vegan
4.7 stars
4.7 stars
$$
$$
La Brujaopen link

Plant-based cafe inside the La Fuente courtyard.

8
La Fonda de la Calle Real
4.3 stars
4.3 stars
$$
$$
La Fonda de la Calle Realopen link

Traditional Guatemalan dishes with vegetarian options available.

9
Once Once
4.8 stars
4.8 stars
$$
$$
Vegan
Vegan
Once Onceopen link

A plant-based restaurant popular for its dishes and ambiance.

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Food festivals & markets

Mercado — A local market where you can experience the more authentic side of Antigua and shop anything from fresh produce and meat, to clothes, shoes and pirated DVDs.

Food delivery apps

Uber eats (Android | iOS)

section type iconArt & music

Where to listen to live music

Theatre & film

There are no cinemas in Antigua, but you can easily head to Guatemala City for a movie night.

Visual art

  • Casa Santo Domingo Museums — As mentioned in the introduction, this is a great hotel option that also has six permanent museums and two art galleries with temporary exhibits on site. This was previously the Convent of Santo Domingo.

  • La Nueva Fábrica

La Nueva Fábrica
© La Nueva Fábrica

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