wareontheglobe Guatemala

Where To Find The Best Cocktails in Antigua, Guatemala.

wareontheglobe Leave a comment

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.

Cute 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.

This is an explanation of nahuales from the Museo Mira Flores in Guatemala City.

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.

The entrance to Nahuales.

Nahuales bar.

The interior.

The menus.

Guatemalan moonshine. Also, look at that perfect ice sphere.

One of the Nahuales cocktails.

Continue reading →

Airport Lounge Review: Casa del Ron, Guatemala La Aurora International

wareontheglobe Leave a comment

When flying out of Guatemala City in July 2024, we visited on of the best Priority Pass airport lounges that we have visited in a while – Casa del Ron! This post reviews our, albeit brief, experience at Casa del Ron.

Casa del Ron at Guatemala La Auror International Airport. I’m certain its sponsored by Zacapa rum.

Casa del Ron

Casa del Ron is a store/bar chain in Guatemala specializing in Guatemalan liquors, particularly rum. In fact, Casa del Ron is a great place to buy hard-to-find bottles of Zacapa rum (possibly Guatemala’s best rum) and other Guatemalan specialities. Dan and I visited the Casa del Ron in Antigua for drinks and they were high quality. Unknown to us on our visit to Casa del Ron in Antigua, there is also an outpost at the Guatemala La Aurora International airport (i.e., the Guatemala City airport), and its on Priority Pass. We obviously visited.

A delicious cocktail at Casa del Ron in Antigua.

The Cases del Ron Lounge & Checkin

Continue reading →

Foodie Recommendations for Antigua, Guatemala.

wareontheglobe Leave a comment

We spent last July 4th in Guatemala, specifically traveling via luxury van from Lake Atitlán to Antigua. Antigua is one of Guatemala’s former capitals. It was destroyed by a terrible earthquake in the late 1700s, but its since been rebuilt and is an adorable Spanish Colonial city about an hour from the Guatemala City airport, making it very popular with tourists and expats. Due to the tourists and expats, Antigua has a very decent culinary scene, many would argue the trendiest in the country. Indeed, you can find everything from hip coffee shops to delicious, incredibly cheap street food to Vietnamese pho. This post reveals what and where we at in Antigua, as well as whether we would return to said locale. Happy eating!

Antigua, Guatemala. This is one of its most famous attractions- the Santa Catalina Arch.

Panaderia San Antonio

Without further ado, I will jump right in with Panaderia San Antonio. San Antonio – for short – is a tiny takeaway-only bakery right on Parque Centrale (next to Cafe Condessa). San Antonio opens daily at 5:30 AM, baking fresh bread-based goodies until the early evening. We, however, came for its “breakfast sandwich” – a Chile Rellenos. And no, this is not the Mexican variety. The Guatemalan chiles rellenos (or at least San Antonio’s) is a sandwich made with freshly baked Guatemalan bread – a bit crusty, but still soft and pillowy. The bread is stuffed with shredded pork meat, scrambled eggs, an unknown starch to hold it all together and wonderfully spicy pickled vegetables. I came here multiple days and always asked for it “spicy” (extra pickled veggies). The sandwich was only about $2 USD. San Antonio only accepts cash and I had to order in Spanish (don’t worry – they are super friendly and I ordered known very MINIMAL Spanish). This is my favorite thing that I ate in all of Guatemala. Come for breakfast, for a budget meal and to try local food. I cannot say enough good things about this place and would return every morning for breakfast.

Panaderia San Antonio. It doesn’t look like much.

The sweet counter at San Antonio. We tried a couple – they were good but quite sweet.

The most delicious aforementioned breakfast sandwich. It is so good!

Here is another photo. It is served in takeaway plastic wrap.

La Casa de las Mixtas

Continue reading →

An Afternoon Eating Real Guatemalan Street Food In Antigua.

wareontheglobe Leave a comment

Of course we took a food tour when we visited Antigua, Guatemala earlier this year. The tour was exclusively street food focused, which Dan loved. You can easily recreate the tour yourself if you are a bit adventrous and speak a little Spanish. Otherwise, I will link the tour below.

Antigua, Guatemala.

Our first stop was at a real Antiguan bakery that has been around since 1940 (and opens daily at 5:00 AM). And, it was delicious. The name of the bakery is San Antonio Panaderia Lo de Cuchi Cuchi. It is famous for its homemade bread, and its take away only. Located right in the center of Antigua, San Antonio is super popular with both locals and tourists. If you are visiting, bring cash and know a little bit of Spanish.

The entrance to San Antonio.

San Antonio’s sweet counter.

We tried two dishes at San Antonio. The first “bite” of our tour was something that a tourist can pretty easily find all over Antigua, particularly in restaurants and shops offering traditional Guatemalan food (such as Rincon Tipico),Colochos de Guayaba.  Colochos for short are gummy-like circles made from guava fruit and topped with powdered sugar. These were midly sweet and very tasty. They were also super cheap. A definite must try in Antigua.

A Colochos de Guayaba from San Antonio.

Continue reading →

24 Hours in Guatemala City: What To Do, Where To Eat & Staying Safe

wareontheglobe Leave a comment

I spent a little over 24 hours in the ever unpopular Guatemala City, Guatemala in June. I almost skipped Guatemala City in favor of tourist friendly Antigua, but I needed Marriott nights and couldn’t resist the opportunity to explore a new city. After visiting, I had a great time and found more than enough to do in 24 hours. That being said, I don’t think Guatemala City is a “must see” for tourists in Guatemala, but I also do not think it needs to be avoided like the plague. This article details my 24 hour experience in Guatemala City and how to recreate it for yourself!

Tasty street food in Guatemala City’s Mrecado Central.

24 HOURS IN GUATEMALA CITY ITINERARY

First, Dan and I arrived in Guatemala City after midnight due to a delayed flight, we simply checked into the Westin Camino Reale and slept our first evening. Despite arriving quite late, we woke up early the next morning and were pleasantly surprised that it was not raining, as it was rainy season and the forecast called for rain… And indeed, it would later rain. In any case, we enjoyed in the Westin’s hotel breakfast, which was great and even included fresh coconuts (!) and checked out the pool for later.

A coconut bar at breakfast!

The Westin pool.

Continue reading →