Must-see restaurants in Guadalajara

  • Alcalde

    Guadalajara

    A favorite top-end restaurant in Guadalajara, the 'Mayor' is chef Paco Ruano's local venture, having cut his teeth at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona and…

  • Tortas Ahogadas Migue

    Guadalajara

    Take it from tapatíos (native Guadalajarans) in the know: this bright yellow-and-orange cafe serves the city's best tortas ahogadas, Guadalajara’s beloved…

  • Lula Bistro

    Guadalajara

    Guadalajara’s most inventive restaurant is this super-chic eatery west of the center. Sleek and industrial though the setting is, it’s the food people…

  • Fonda Doña Gabina Escolatica

    Guadalajara

    This narrow, barnlike restaurant on a delightful Zapopan side-street of pastel-colored houses is bedecked with sunny colored textiles and specializes in…

  • Birriería las Nueve Esquinas

    Guadalajara

    Many restaurants in the village-like Nueve Esquinas (Nine Corners) neighborhood specialize in birria, meat stewed in its own juices until very tender…

  • Casa Luna

    Guadalajara

    Set in the heart of Tlaquepaque, Casa Luna spreads throughout an open courtyard under the shade of a large tree and inside as well. The cuisine is Mexican…

  • El Sacromonte

    Guadalajara

    This favorite alta cocina (gourmet restaurant) establishment in Colonia Americas has whimsical takes on classic dishes – quesadillas sprinkled with rose…

  • La Panadería

    Guadalajara

    A self-proclaimed ‘bread laboratory,’ this tiny high end bakery offers a delicious range of baked goods from around the world: buttery croissants, melt-in…

  • Peko Peko

    Guadalajara

    This hopping little restaurant specializes in big, steaming bowls of ramen noodles with loads of toppings that keep vegans to meat lovers equally…

  • Casa Fuerte

    Guadalajara

    This elegant and sprawling place leans toward fine dining, with a full cocktail bar, refreshing garden patio and a rather stately feel. It’s popular with…

  • Café Candela

    Guadalajara

    A boho cafe in a patio-like setting with cozy couches, repurposed tables, and chilled out tunes. Dishes use whole foods and minimal fats and sugars –…

  • Dogos El Chino

    Guadalajara

    A classic Tapatio experience – and must do post-bar hopping – is a two-for-one plate at El Chino, a street stand grilling up rows and rows of dogs wrapped…

  • Taco La Paz

    Guadalajara

    Guadalajara may be a fair distance from the ocean, but fish and seafood remain a passion. For prawn and fish tacos, this simple eatery can't be beat and…

  • La Fonda de la Noche

    Guadalajara

    Set in a rambling art nouveau house, this restaurant is a stunner in every way. The cuisine is largely from the Durango region and it would be fair to say…

  • Karne Garibaldi

    Guadalajara

    This branch of a large and bright local cantina chain is wildly popular with Mexican families and has two specialties: carne en su jugo (‘meat in its…

  • Mariscos Progreso

    Guadalajara

    On Saturday and Sunday afternoons it feels like half of Guadalajara has packed into this Tlaquepaque patio seafood restaurant with an open fire. Dressed…

  • La Chata de Guadalajara

    Guadalajara

    Quality comida típica (home-style food), affordable prices and ample portions mean this family diner always has a queue out front. Fortunately, hard…

  • Mariscos el Social

    Guadalajara

    The chef, known as 'El Socio', started serving his sensational ceviche and delicious shrimp and octopus cocktails from his stainless-steel cart on…

  • Café Madrid

    Guadalajara

    An upgraded 1950s-style cafe that is open all day, but best for a huevos rancheros breakfast (fried eggs on a corn tortilla with a tomato, chili and onion…

  • Maria Mitotes

    Guadalajara

    This festive open-air restaurant serves up delicious Mexican antojitos (snacks), prepared homestyle and served on traditional clay dishes. Come here for…

  • Papas y Miel

    Guadalajara

    A tiny vegetarian cafe channeling Miami Beach with its hint of art deco, pastel walls and flamingo accents. Dishes are beautifully presented,…

  • Allium

    Guadalajara

    This sleek fine-dining addition to Guadalajara’s growing gourmet circuit directed by chef Sebastian Renner Hamdan puts emphasis on locally produced food:…

  • Chiles & Beer

    Guadalajara

    Despite it's unfortunate name, this is one of the best places in Tlaquepaque for fresh seafood. It's best known for its aguachiles (spicy ceviche) – 17…

  • Hueso

    Guadalajara

    The preserve of acclaimed chef Alfonso Cadena (in fact, it's described as his taller, or 'workshop'), this restaurant gets consistently rave reviews for…

  • Zaguán

    Guadalajara

    Touted as one of Tlaquepaque's best eateries, this restaurant and gallery places a lot of emphasis on colors, tastes and textures and is largely…

  • i Latina

    Guadalajara

    This eccentrically decorated place requires a sharp double-take with its wall of ceramic pigs, a giant swordfish and lots of kitsch, fun touches. The…

  • Tomate Taquería

    Guadalajara

    A bustling, sit down taquería serving up fresh tacos or, if you're really hungry, taco meat by the kilo (with unlimited corn tortillas and all the fixins)…

  • La Cafetería

    Guadalajara

    A French bistro style cafe with shabby chic decor and a pleasant patio shaded by huge flamboyan trees. The menu consists of a creative combo of foods from…

  • El Cargol

    Guadalajara

    You can pay homage to Catalonia (that Spanish collector of Michelin stars) in the unlikely environs of Chapultepec at the family-run 'Snail.' The Catalan…

  • Anita Li

    Guadalajara

    Next door to gourmet Guadalajara restaurant I Latina is its lighter, brighter sister restaurant, Anita Li (I Latina spelt backwards) offering a fusion…

  • TlaquePasta

    Guadalajara

    This upmarket restaurant, open to all at the Quinta Don José in Tlaquepaque, specializes in Italian fare, though it has a fair number or other…

  • Pig's Pearls

    Guadalajara

    Tapatíos rave about the burgers here – there are a dozen to choose from – so who are we to argue? Sit in the industrial-chic terrace in fine weather or…

  • Chimbombo's Grill

    Guadalajara

    This bustling streetside grill is the place to come for steaks and spicy tortas ahogadas. Steaks are rubbed with olive oil, splashed with soy sauce and…

  • Casa Bariachi

    Guadalajara

    This bright barnlike restaurant-bar has romantic lighting and leather chairs, along with piñatas and colorful papel picado (cut-out paper) hanging from…

  • Coffee Legacy

    Guadalajara

    This cool, hipster-ish cafe has one foot under a shaded Parisian awning and the other in a shabbily chic old house in Chapultepec. It's perfect for a…

  • Viva Chapata

    Guadalajara

    Enjoy craft beers and chapatas (Mexican sandwiches) underneath the watchful eyes of Emiliano Zapata – a pop-art-style mural of the Mexican revolutionary…