Food · Antigua · Guatemala
What to eat in Antigua
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Antigua, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Juan Francisco, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Pepián, Jocón and Kak'ik. Small comedores around the market and the western streets serve a menú del día of soup, a main such as pepián or chicken with rice, tortillas and a drink for far less than tourist restaurants. Lunch is the main meal for many Guatemalans, and comedor set menus are usually served at midday only.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Pepián
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- About 10% is customary in sit-down restaurants; check whether 'propina' or a service…
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Pepián
Guatemala's best-known stew: chicken or beef in a thick sauce of toasted pumpkin and sesame seeds, dried chillies and tomatoes, served with rice and tortillas. It is often called the national dish.
Where: Traditional restaurants and comedores across the centre; set-lunch comedores near the market serve it at the lowest prices.
Dish
2.Jocón
A green chicken stew made with tomatillos, coriander, green peppers and thickened with tortilla or seeds. It is lighter and tangier than pepián.
Where: Guatemalan restaurants and some comedor set lunches; it appears on menus alongside pepián.
Dish
3.Kak'ik
A Q'eqchi' Maya turkey soup coloured red with dried chillies and achiote, from the Alta Verapaz highlands. A piece of turkey leg is usually served in the bowl.
Where: Restaurants specialising in Guatemalan cooking in the centre; less common in comedores.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
4.Desayuno chapín
The standard Guatemalan breakfast: eggs, refried black beans, fried plantains, fresh cheese or cream, and corn tortillas, with coffee.
Where: Almost every café and comedor in town serves it all morning.
Dish
5.Tamales and chuchitos
Guatemalan tamales are moist corn dough with a tomato-based recado and meat, steamed in banana leaves; chuchitos are smaller and firmer, wrapped in corn husks. Red tamales are a Saturday-night and Christmas tradition.
Where: Market stalls and street vendors, especially on Saturday evenings; homes with a red lamp outside often sell tamales.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Rellenitos
Mashed ripe plantain shaped around sweetened black beans, sometimes with chocolate and cinnamon, then fried and dusted with sugar.
Where: Bakeries, market stalls and evening food stands around La Merced.
Street food · Vegetarian
7.Tostadas
Crisp fried tortillas topped with guacamole, refried beans or tomato salsa, finished with crumbled cheese and parsley. Cheap and often sold in threes.
Where: Weekend evening stalls in the plaza in front of La Merced and around the market.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Atol de elote
A warm, thick drink of fresh sweetcorn, milk, sugar and cinnamon, served in a cup — welcome on cool Antigua evenings.
Where: Street vendors around La Merced and Parque Central in the evenings and at festivals.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Antigua coffee (Café de Antigua)
Coffee from the Antigua valley grows at altitude in volcanic soil and is a recognised origin with its own designation. Many cafés roast their own beans and serve pour-overs alongside espresso.
Where: Roaster-cafés across the centre and on farm tours at estates such as Finca Filadelfia.
Dessert · Vegetarian
10.Dulces típicos
Traditional sweets of colonial convent origin: coconut-based canillitas de leche, marzipan fruits, candied figs and nougats, displayed in glass cases and sold by the piece.
Where: Traditional sweet shops in the centre and the dulces stalls of the handicraft market.
Dish
11.Fiambre
A cold salad of dozens of ingredients — cured meats, sausages, cheeses, pickled vegetables and beets — made for All Saints' Day on 1 November, when families share it at home and at cemeteries.
Where: Restaurants and markets around 1 November only; it is not served the rest of the year.
Food experiences
Comedor set lunch
Small comedores around the market and the western streets serve a menú del día of soup, a main such as pepián or chicken with rice, tortillas and a drink for far less than tourist restaurants.
Weekend evenings at La Merced
On Friday to Sunday evenings the square in front of La Merced fills with family-run stalls selling tostadas, rellenitos, atol and grilled corn, with the floodlit church behind.
Coffee farm and cupping
Estates on the edge of town run tours that follow beans from plant to cup, and several roasters in the centre offer short cupping sessions comparing Guatemalan regions.
Cooking class
Local cooking schools teach pepián, rellenitos and handmade tortillas, often starting with a shopping trip to the municipal market.
Quick bites and street food
- Desayuno chapín — Almost every café and comedor in town serves it all morning.
- Tostadas — Weekend evening stalls in the plaza in front of La Merced and around the market.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Desayuno chapín, Rellenitos, Tostadas, Atol de elote, Antigua coffee and Dulces típicos. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Lunch is the main meal for many Guatemalans, and comedor set menus are usually served at midday only.
- Restaurants on and around Parque Central and Calle del Arco charge noticeably more than places a few blocks away.
- Drink purified water and ask for drinks without ice at simple street stalls.
- Tortillas come with almost every meal; ask for 'tortillas de maíz' if a restaurant offers both corn and flour.
- Some restaurants add a service charge to the bill; check before tipping again.
Tipping
About 10% is customary in sit-down restaurants; check whether 'propina' or a service charge is already on the bill. Tip guides and shuttle drivers on tours if you are happy with the service.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Agua pura | Purified drinking water |
| Con permiso | Excuse me (to pass) |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Antigua famous for?
Pepián, Jocón, Kak'ik and Desayuno chapín. Guatemala's best-known stew: chicken or beef in a thick sauce of toasted pumpkin and sesame seeds, dried chillies and tomatoes, served with rice and tortillas.
+Is Antigua good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Desayuno chapín, Rellenitos and Tostadas.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Antigua?
About 10% is customary in sit-down restaurants; check whether 'propina' or a service charge is already on the bill. Tip guides and shuttle drivers on tours if you are happy with the service.