Dos Lunas Airport Bed & Breakfast/Hostel

Our address: 21 Calle 10-92 zona 13 Aurora II, Guatemala City.    Reservations: +(502) 2261-4248 or +502 2309-8000

Month: February 2019

Guatemala City Restaurants

Food Service

(Guatemalan food)

Where is the best place to eat Guatemalan food?  There are a few very nice restaurants in Guatemala City where you can enjoy delicious meals from the national kitchen:  Guatemalan food is a fusion of Maya, Hispanic, Sephardi, and Caribbean cultures, with German and Mexican influences. Guatemalan´s favorite food in general is the grilled steak, which is why you will find a large amount of steak houses all over the city.  Another favorite is ceviche; Guatemalans love ceviche but we recommend you not to eat this food on the street, as it is seafood.

A favorite snack is “chicharrones”.  (pork skin) with corn tortilla and “chojin”, that is a chopped radish salad served as topping to the chicharrones. Tortillas with chicharrones are accompanied by fried onions and fried jalapeño chillies, guacamole, etc.

GUATEMALAN RESTAURANTES IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

ZONE 1

PAN AMERICAN HOTEL

Pan American Hotel is located in the heart of the historic downtown, near the Plaza Mayor, between 5th and 6th. avenue and 9th. Street of zone 1.

The building was, until 1942, the Hotel Astoria and this beautiful hotel is one of the many witnesses of the changes that have occurred in Guatemala City. The elegance of the Pan American Hotel is reflected in the structure of the hotel with the geometric beauty of art deco. Inside is decorated with indigenous motifs, textiles and handicrafts, furniture that evoke the colonial era and photos of the place across more than a century of existence, witnessing the cultural evolution of Guatemala. The setting is harmonized with piano and marimba music in special events, and the entire hotel is decorated with candles and flowers. Its midday buffet makes available the flavors of Guatemalan cuisine.

Photo: Pan-American Hotel

The purpose of this place is to provide the visitor with a historic atmosphere and a nostalgic sense of the old times, when the city was called the “Silver cup”. Its staff wear beautiful regional costumes and at the entrance of the restaurant, you will find a young woman who prepares corn tortillas in a traditional way. There is a variety of Guatemalan native dishes that its menu offers, from appetizers, main courses, desserts to natural soft drinks and the great coffee that has made the country famous throughout the world.

CENTRAL MARKET

In the heart of the Historic Center of Guatemala City is the Central Market, which since the end of the 19th century is “The place” where traditional Guatemalan cuisine is prepared at very affordable prices, dishes like chopped radish with pork rind served in hot corn tortillas; rolled pork head and vinaigrette legs accompanied by corn tortillas, special dressings, desserts and drinks. Some dishes are only prepared on special occasions, but others are available all the time.

The theme of these places is that they offer food on foot since they follow the concept of fast food for consumption and not a restaurant experience. However, you can sit in the “comedores” at the market and enjoy a nice hot chicken soup, while some musical groups perform near the diners.

Some of the Guatemalan food that you can order in the Central Market are: 

  1. Pepian (chicken mole)
  2. Caldo de Gallina (Chicken soup)
  3. Patitas a la vinaigrette (Pickled pork muscles and lower legs)
  4. Tortillas con chicharron y chojin (Radish with pork rind in a corn tortilla)
  5. Revolcado (rolled pork head)
  6. Tostadas de guacamol (fried tortilla with guacamole)
  7. Tacos de papa (rolled up tacos stuffed with potato)
  8. Dobladas (fried tortillas stuffed with meat)
  9. Caldo de res (Vegetable meat boullon with vegetables)
Photo by Claudia Wood, Canada.

BAR EL PORTAL:

Known as “El portalito”, this is a nostalgic bar located in Pasaje Rubio, inside Portal del Comercio around the Plaza mayor.  This bar is famous for its “chibolas” (tap beer in a large round glass) and for its “mojitos”.

Back in the 50´s Che Guevara used to come to this place for a drink; many intellectuals have also used the “portalito” as headquarters.

This old-fashioned bar with an excellent service will transport you to the past, not just for its old-fashioned decor but for its overall atmosphere.  Live music is available usually at midday.


Photo by: Fresita la Hada, (nomada.gt)

ARRIN CUAN

Arrin Cuan, is recognized by Guatemalans and tourists that enjoy different dishes from the Guatemalan kitchen. One of the goals of this restaurant is to highlight the Guatemalan gastronomic heritage and share with national and foreign tourists, the great multicultural value that Guatemala has.

Since 1995, Arrin Cuan won three awards at the International Gastronomic Festival that is celebrated annually in Guatemala. Currently, Arrin Cuan offers 40 different typical dishes to their visitors.

Photo: Guatemala.com

ARRIN CUAN

Arrin Cuan. is familiar to Guatemalans and tourists that want to enjoy different dishes from the Guatemalan kitchen. The main goal of the restaurant is to highlight Guatemalan gastronomic heritage and share with national and foreign tourists the great multicultural value that Guatemala has.

Since 1995, Arrin Cuan has won three awards in the International Gastronomic Festival that is celebrated annually in Guatemala. Currently, Arrin Cuan offers 40 different typical dishes to their visitors

Photo: Guatemala.com

OTHER GUATEMALAN RESTAURANTS IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN:

ADOBE

7a. Avenida 9-45 Zona 1

http://www.facebook.com/restauranteeladobe

LA COCINA DE LA SEÑORA PU
6ª. Ave A.  10-16 zona 1
Sunday closed,
http://www. Senorapu.com

GUATEMALAN RESTAURANTS IN ZONA VIVA

ZONE 10

KACAO
2ª ave. 13-44 zona 10.
Website: http://www.kacao.gt

CASA CHAPINA
1a. Avenida 13-42 zona 10
http://www.restaurantecasachapina.com

STEAK HOUSE HACIENDA REAL
5a. avenida 14-67, zona 10
Tel. 23808383
http://www.haciendareal.net/gt/

Useful tip: This steak house has a free shuttle, hotel-restaurant-hotel, if you make your reservation and request this service.


Guatemalan coffee

One of the finest coffees in the world
Written by: Lorena Bleker
Edited and revised by Ailsa Naismith. Bristol, UK

Photo: Philadelphia Farm, Antigua Guatemala

Coffee is a personal taste, yet, there are ways to appreciate a good coffee.

Guatemalan coffee is rated by many experts as one of the best coffees in the world.  The coffee varies from region to region and harvested from different altitudes and that is why the flavors of Guatemalan coffee are so special and complex.

The flavor of Guatemalan coffee is medium to full-bodied, it is perfectly balanced in its acidity and in most harvests, you can appreciate the individual tones; we could say in general that; a cup of Guatemalan coffee will carry the chocolate, smoky and spicy tones. 

Some of the Guatemalan´s finest coffee is produced in the farms around Antigua Guatemala and the slopes of the volcanoes nearby.  If you go to Antigua Guatemala you can visit a few farms like Philadelphia Coffee or la Azotea Farm, which also holds a Coffee Museum. Coffee from Cobán is a high-quality acidic coffee, due to its altitude. The most famous representative of Cobán coffee is Kaffee Dieseldorf. The Huehuetenango coffee is noted for its finest acidity and unique flavors and the best coffee of this area, according to experts, is the one coming from El Injerto Farm.

Guatemala still holds old species of trees such as bourbon, thanks to sponsored programs that are enabling coffee producers to continue cultivating high quality trees for the gourmet market.

How did the coffee boom start in Guatemala?

The Germans in the 19th century introduced coffee to Guatemala. Their immigration to Guatemala began with the socio-economic crisis in Germany, during the transition to the industrial era. The first Germans arrived at the Belgian colony which was settled in Santo Tomas, Puerto Barrios, Guatemala in the 1840s,

Guatemalan Coffee

After their first arrival in Guatemala, the Germans also settled in the capital and in many other parts of the country and devoted themselves to their profession in crafts, business and commerce. This immigration increased significantly in the last decades of the 19th century due to the industrial and commercial expansion of the German Empire as well as the opportunities in Guatemala under the liberal regimes which favored concession of land to foreigners especially those from Europe and North America. The Germans introduced the cultivation of coffee and developed a big industry with trade and export. At the end of the century they controlled one third of the coffee production in Guatemala and exported two thirds of its production to Germany.

By the end of the 19th century about one thousand Germans lived in Guatemala, and by 1920s, the number grew to up to 3,000. The Germans founded associations, clubs, schools, a Protestant church and a German newspaper. Through these institutions they preserved the characteristics of their nationality, language and culture.

By 1940 the German community was a visible and influential force in Guatemalan society and its economy. During the World War II, under the strong economic and political pressure from the United States, the Guatemalan government confiscated all the assets and properties from them.  Many Germans were deported back to Germany, just a few were left behind in Guatemala and kept their farms.  It has been said that the ones left; claimed to be Jewish Germans, therefore they could stay.   The Dieseldorff is one of the German families, allowed to stay, and their farms near Coban are still producing good quality coffee.

According to the German embassy, nowadays there are approx. 5000 Germans registered and living in Guatemala and an unknown number of descendants from the earlier immigration.  Guatemala currently has a strong community of Germans who make up the majority of European immigrants in the country, and it is also the most populous German communities in all Central American countries.

Where to buy good coffee in Guatemala City?

 There are a few places in zone 13 where you can buy good coffee to take home.

The coffee you enjoy at Dos Lunas, comes from Antigua Guatemala. We also sell coffee in portions of 200 grams. In beans or ground.

Photo: Finca el Injerto

The Guatemalan coffee, ranked best worldwide, comes from the Finca el Injerto in Huehuetenango.   You can enjoy a cup of their best harvest for Q30.00 (approx. USD4.00 cup) A pound of this coffee cost Q140.00 or approx. USD18.50

For more information visit their website:  https://fincaelinjerto.com/

And their list of products:  https://fincaelinjerto.com/collections/all

If you want more information about Dieseldorff Kaffee, find them at: https://www.facebook.com/DieseldorffKaffee

Guatemalan Coffee

Between Dos Lunas and the airport there is one Coffee Roasting company called Godoy’s coffee.  They also have a coffee tour and you can taste their coffee while there.  For more information visit their website: www.godoyscoffee.com

A few more places are good options for a nice cup of coffee:

If you visit the Historic Center, these are a few places where you can enjoy a good cup of coffee:

  1. Café León”.   8a. ave. 9-15, zona 1.  http://www.cafeleon.com/catalogo.html
  2. Café del Centro.  8ª- Avenida 9-12 zona, 1
  3. La Tacita de Plata.  11 calle 6-11 zona 1.  @latacitadeplataguatemala
  4. Café de Imeri.  6ª calle 3-34, zona 1.  @deimeri.caferestaurante
Photo: Guatemala.com

If you are interested in where some of the best coffee in the world comes from, this book is for you.  “The history of coffee in Guatemala”, by Regina Wagner.

 English version is available in Amazon.com



Useful Links

Information Booth

USEFUL LINKS

Photo:  Guatemala impresionante

GUATEMALA CITY MAPS

(Free Guatemala city map available at Dos Lunas)

http://www.geovisitguatemala.com/

https://sig.muniguate.com/home/?mod=map_museos

https://sig.muniguate.com/proyectosDIGM/cultura/monumentos/

Historic route map

http://rutahistorica.muniguate.com/ruta_de_ilustracion/menu_principal.html

List of Guatemala City museums

https://sig.muniguate.com/home/?mod=dir_museos

MORE LINKS ABOUT GUATEMALA CITY

Photo: Guatemala impresionante


www. guatemala.com  (spanish)

www.visitguatemala.com

Guatemalan restaurant with live folkloric show

https://www.guatemalaespectacular.com/

La Aurora airport

AIRPORT LINKS

Photos: Guatemala impresionante

AIRLINES (Operating at La Aurora airport)

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES:

Local airline

FLIGHT STATUS

www.flightradar24.com
www.flighstats.com
https://origin.flightaware.com/

Embassies in Guatemala

EMBASSIES IN GUATEMALA

USA: https://gt.usembassy.gov/

CANADA:  https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/guatemala/index.aspx?lang=eng

GERMANY:  https://guatemala.diplo.de/gt-de

ESPAÑA:  http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/GUATEMALA/es/Embajada/Paginas/inicio.aspx

U.K. : https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-guatemala

ITALIA:  https://ambguatemala.esteri.it/ambasciata_guatemala/it/

SWITZERLAND: https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/guatemala/de/home.html 

FRANCE:  https://gt.ambafrance.org/-Ambassade-de-France-au-Guatemala-

SWEDEN:  https://www.swedenabroad.se/sv/utlandsmyndigheter/guatemala-guatemala/

ISRAEL:  https://embassies.gov.il/guatemala/Pages/default.aspx