I did quite a bit of research on where to find the best cocktails and drinks in Antigua, Guatemala before our visit last summer. My research paid off. This post shares great cocktail spots in Antigua, Guatemala.

Nahuales Mixology & Mayan Cocktails, a Fuente Mall and Foodcourt, 4a Calle Ote. n° 14, open daily 6 PM – 11 PM.

By far, our favorite cocktails in Antigua, Guatemala were at Nahuales Mixology & Mayan Cocktails. Named for the Mayan concept of the “nahaul”, or the cultural concept that everyone’s birthdate shapes ones personality and energy and based on birthdate, everyone is assigned a “nahaul”. As best I can describe it, a nahual is a Mayan sign that includes a related spirit animal, stone, metal, number, color and other unique information.  We learned a lot about nahauls in Guatemala, and I never really understood it totally…but its important. Nahuales bar has the book of all nahauls onsite and can help you find your own nahaul.

In any case, Nahuales Mixology & Mayan Cocktails is located in central Antigua inside an Antiguan strip mall of sorts. While small, the bar is very cool featuring an interesting menu and often a live DJ. Many of the cocktails on the menu are named for specific nahuales.  We tried two cocktails each here, and they were very well made. Honestly, the best we had in Guatemala (except maybe tied with Cocktail Lobby in Guatemala City). The mixologist was also really great and even let us sample Guatemalan moonshine (which I didn’t even know existed). We highly recommend Nahuales for a true local cocktail bar in Antigua. Go to Nahuales Mixology & Mayan Cocktails for Mayan cultural information, excellent cocktails and a fun vibe.

Café No Sé, 1a Avenida Sur, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala. Open daily 14:00 – 1:00.

More of a beer bar and live music venue than proper cocktail bar, Café No Sé is a dive bar specializing in craft beer and its house Mezcal. Café No Sé is dark, lit by many small candles, and frequently host live bands in the evenings. It also has a loyal regular set of patrons who know the staff well. We strolled in pretty early on a Thursday evening. We were warmly greeted by the bartender and some of the regulars. The bartender prepared cocktails with Café No Sé’s house Mezcal, including a Paloma. The cocktails were very good, but the hospitality was better. Go to Café No Sé for Mezcal lovers, an “everyone knows your name feel” and live music.

Ulew Cocktail Bar, Inside Antigua Brewing Company. Open daily 14:00 – 00:00.

Ulew Cocktail Bar is a well-known “speakeasy” inside Antigua Brewing Company. Guests “knock” on a British telephone booth located just inside Antigua Brewing Company’s main entrance and enter the bar via the phone booth. Not that secretive, but fun nonetheless. Once inside, the space is fairly small and the cocktails are elaborate, taking a bit of time to prepare. There is a cocktail menu or you can ask the bartender for a recommendation or special. We went early on a Saturday afternoon and had no trouble getting in, but I imagine Ulew fills up during busy periods. Ulew is the most upscale bar that we visited in Antigua, and the prices matched that vibe. Go to Ulew Cocktail Bar for a fun experience, elaborate cocktails, an easy to find location right in town.

La Casa del Ron, 4a Calle Oriente #22 Antigua, Guatemala 03001, Guatemala. Open daily 10:00 – 23:00.

La Casa del Ron is a Guatemalan rum shop and cocktail bar located in Antigua, very close to our hotel, Hotel Casa Santo Domingo. The seating for the cocktail bar is truly between shelves of Guatemalan rum, particularly of the Zacapa variety. In any case, the drinks at La Casa del Ron are rum-focused and honestly really great and well prepared. This is a place to get solid cocktails without a lot of extra nonsense (like the phone booth display at Ulew). We each had two cocktails here before leaving for the airport on our last evening in Guatemala. Had we visited earlier, we would have come more than once. I would also point out that there is a La Casa del Ron outpost at the Guatemala City airport, which also makes wonderful cocktails and its on Priority Pass. Go to La Casa del Ron for quality cocktails, an upscale and quite environment and to try Guatemalan rum.

Antigua Brewing Company, 3a Calle Poniente 4, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala. Open daily 11:00 – 23:00.

While not a cocktail bar necessarily, I cannot write about Antigua’s best drinks without mentiniong Antigua Brewing Company, or “ABC”. ABC is an Antigua institution. Open since 2015, ABC is a craft brewery and restaurant serving bar food with a local vibe and craft beer, in addition to wine and hard drinks, in a spacious brewery and rooftop deck with volcano views. We were stuck here for a little over an hour during a storm in Antigua and tried ABC’s beers. The beer was surprisingly good, as was the food. Go to Antigua Brewing Company for a fun time, a place to meet other tourists and rooftop volcano views.

STEAL OUR TRIP

Nahuales Mayan Mixology: La Fuente Mall and Foodcourt, 4a Calle Ote. n° 14, Antigua Guatemala 03001, Guatemala. The internet previously indicated that Nuhales had closed, but it is open again as of February 2025.

Cafe No Se: 1a Avenida Sur, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala. Open daily 14:00 – 1:00.

Ulew Cocktail Bar: Inside Antigua Brewing Company. Open daily 14:00 – 00:00.

La Casa del Ron: 4a Calle Oriente #22 Antigua, Guatemala 03001, Guatemala. Open daily 10:00 – 23:00.

Antigua Brewing Company: 3a Calle Poniente 4, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala. Open daily 11:00 – 23:00.