Antigua
Put your Gallo beer down for one moment and get to the forefront of Guatemala's craft-brewing revolution at the Antigua Brewing Company. Sup its signature…
Must-see nightlife in Guatemala
Guatemala City
This small spot for craft beers and cocktails is dedicated to the author Julio Cortázar, as aficionados will know from the name Rayuela (one of the author…
Quetzaltenango
On the plaza end of the elegant Pasaje Enríquez, alive day and night with a healthy mix of Guatemalans and foreigners quaffing Cabro by the liter, the…
Quetzaltenango
For chocolate aficionados, this is a shrine. Made from scratch on the premises, the chocolate is velvety smooth and served in a variety of beverages: the…
Panajachel
This cafe has made Panajachel a major crossroads for coffee aficionados. When he's not roasting beans, the Bay Area owner/head barista spends his time…
Western Highlands
This 'museum' serves some of Huehue's best coffee, and that's saying something. More than just a place to get a well-prepared cup, it also provides some…
Antigua
This alternative cafe is a vertically oriented space that takes up an absurdly narrow corner of an old building (grab the rope to reach the upper level)…
Antigua
Holding a key corner of Antigua's nightlife corridor, Reilly's packs in both Guatemalans and gringos on weekends. The sprawling pub has several bars, but…
Quetzaltenango
This offbeat cafe-bar is a point of reference for travelers and language students, with quirky decor and art installations. It serves a good range of…
Antigua
Tucked right next to the Santa Catalina arch is this small but perfectly formed wine bar with an extensively sourced cellar. Wine by the glass starts at…
Antigua
Just off Parque Central, this sprawling bar tavern has wall-length sofas, murals of literary and sports heroes, and board games. Upstairs is a popular and…
Panajachel
As the name suggests, this party center unfolds beneath a thatched-roof shelter (actually two), with a beachy ambience. It's popular with volunteer…
San Pedro La Laguna
To savor a shot of the coffee grown on the surrounding slopes (and roasted here), head for this thatched-roof structure on the way up from the Pana dock…
Antigua
Something of a local institution, this downbeat little bar is a point of reference for Antigua's budding young Burroughses and Kerouacs. It's also the…
San Pedro La Laguna
D'Juice Girls are young Hebrew-speaking Tz'utujil women who squeeze the tropical fruits of Guatemala into supernutritious combos, such as carrot-ginger…
Guatemala City
This superhip (but not studiously so) little watering hole is set in a colonial arcade that's said to have a hundred doors (hence the name) and is…
Antigua
It's quite a party most nights at this split-level disco near the Santa Catalina arch: plenty of selfies, vapor shots and EDM form the scene. To take a…
San Pedro La Laguna
Bar Sublime is the current epicenter of San Pedro's party scene. During the day its lakefront terraces are pretty relaxed and you can enjoy good…
Antigua
Crowds move to Latin rhythms or EDM most nights at this boisterous hall, encouraged by the skills of the DJs and abundant cheap liquor (happy hour 5pm to…
Western Highlands
Opposite the Royal Park Hotel, this upper-level, open-air lounge has a friendly, relaxed vibe and a terrace/counter facing the street, a good spot for…
Flores & Santa Elena
One of a pair of lively nightspots round the west side of the island, this room gets heavy most evenings, when young Guatemalans decked out in their…
Flores & Santa Elena
Longest running of the bars along the southern bank, El Trópico supplies tacos and cerveza (beer) to a mostly older Guatemalan clientele. It's quiet at…
Santiago Atitlán
Quila's is a casual gathering place where expats and lake dwellers can bond over sports TV or table tennis. Good burgers and other bar food is served in…
Quetzaltenango
There's no mistaking what's on offer at this refreshingly unfashionable spot. The pool tables are worn and the cues crooked, but this ramshackle clubhouse…
Guatemala City
Genetic has been hosting Guatemala's gay crowd since the '70s, although these days it gets a mixed crowd and is one of the best places in town to go for…
Guatemala City
You can't actually stay here, but the downmarket renovated lobby of this classic hotel is one of Zona 1's better-looking bars. It also hosts one of the…
Antigua
Ensconced in the nightlife patio just northeast of Parque Central, this highly agreeable little lounge puts the focus on two great pick-me-ups: there's an…
Quetzaltenango
With specially designed viewing counters overlooking the Parque Centro América, this lively cafe-bar on the upper level of the Pasaje Enríquez makes a…
Antigua
Spirits are high at the aptly dubbed Snug, a real hole-in-the-wall bar and favourite expat drinking scene. Green walls, harps and Guinness add a hint of…
Antigua
As much Guatemala weekender spot as tourist hangout, the 'wacky monkey' serves up a good blend of comfort foods and local dishes, as well as ice-cold…
Panajachel
Like a Hard Rock by the lake, this lively little pub hosts plugged-in bands nightly from 9pm. It's popular with Guatemala City youth, who settle in for…
Antigua
The liveliest dance floor in town is packed with Guatemalan youth toward the weekend. DJs pump out cumbias (Colombian dance tunes) and reggaetón most…
Monterrico
This venue, located at Johnny's Place, heats up on weekends, with plenty of reggaetón, house music and drinks specials keeping the crowd moving. The food…
San Pedro La Laguna
This boisterous pub on the path between the two docks has one of the most happening happy hours in town (5pm to 8pm). Every night has a different theme;…
Quetzaltenango
This tiny pub packs in a mixed crowd, so count on a bilingual evening. Whether there's live music, a heated trivia quiz (Tuesday) or karaoke (Thursday),…
Guatemala City
A well-established gay disco-bar in a former private house near the city center with drag shows and theme parties most weekends. Once called Black & White…
Cobán
About as close as this town gets to a mega-disco, with balcony seating and bow-tied waitstaff.
Flores & Santa Elena
One of several nightlife venues along the southern bank, Jamming sports a reggae theme, though there's more beer guzzling than ganja smoking. It attracts…
Panajachel
This open-air lounge at the end of Calle Santander is the place to enjoy those dream-like volcano sundowns. In high season, there's live music Friday to…
Panajachel
This Korean-run cafe is heaven for coffee connoisseurs. The youthful staff set up a formidable range of espresso variations, from 'Brown Cloud' (a small…
