Guatemala City has three restaurants in the latest Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking (Sublime, Diacá and Mercado 24) and a fourth, Ana, at No.94 on the extended 51-100 list. For traditional food with published prices, Arrin Cuan’s 2026 menu lists pepián at Q100 and kak’ik at Q140. Altuna, a Spanish restaurant open since 1948 with branches in zona 1, zona 10 and Cayalá, prints tapas from Q60. Saúl Bistro opens daily in zona 10, and Cayalá adds a steakhouse, a cevichería and a burger counter. For a market lunch, the Mercado Central has comedores on its second floor. Every restaurant below is confirmed on its own website, the official 50 Best list or the Cayalá directory, read on 4 November 2026; the public market is described from a dated Prensa Libre report. Prices appear only where the restaurant publishes them.
TL;DR: For a tasting menu, book Sublime or Ana in zona 14 (Monday to Saturday), Diacá (Tuesday to Saturday) or Mercado 24 in zona 4. For Guatemalan classics at a published price, go to Arrin Cuan in zona 9, open daily. In Zona 10, Saúl Bistro opens daily from 7:00 and Altuna from noon, Tuesday to Saturday. In Cayalá, Altuna’s tapas run Q60 to Q109. For a market lunch, try the Mercado Central in zona 1, but read the zona 1 advisory first.
Quick summary
| Restaurant | Area | Type | Open | Published price | Confirmed at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sublime | 12 calle 4-15, zona 14 | Tasting menu and à la carte | Mon-Sat 12:30-15:00 and 19:00-22:00 | Not published | Own site; 50 Best No.19 (2025) |
| Diacá | Final 20 calle, km 8 Carretera a Muxbal (Cámara de la Construcción) | Local-produce cooking | Tue-Sat 12:00-22:00 | Not published | Own site; 50 Best No.37 (2025) |
| Mercado 24 | Ruta 3, Vía 5, zona 4 (Casa del Águila) | Market-driven cooking | Lunch Tue-Sun, dinner Tue-Sat | Average $37 a person (50 Best listing; no menu prices) | 50 Best listing; No.42 (2025) |
| Ana | 12 calle 2-99, zona 14 | Tasting menu and à la carte | Mon-Sat 12:00-15:00 and 19:00-22:00 | Not published | Own site; 51-100 list No.94 (2025) |
| Arrin Cuan | 5a avenida 10-22, zona 9 (also zona 1) | Traditional Guatemalan | Zona 9: Mon-Fri 7:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 7:00-20:00 | Pepián Q100, kak’ik Q140 | Own site and 2026 menu |
| Altuna | Zona 1, zona 10 and Cayalá | Spanish, since 1948 | Zona 1 and 10: Tue-Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun-Mon 12:00-17:00 | Cayalá tapas Q60-Q109 | Own site and menu; Cayalá directory |
| Saúl Bistro | 6 avenida 15-64, zona 10 (also Oakland Place and Cayalá) | Bistro | Zona 10: daily 7:00-22:00 | Not listed | Own site |
| Casa Escobar | Paseo Cayalá, local G1-107 | Steakhouse | Daily 12:00-22:00 | Not listed | Cayalá directory |
| Cevichito | Cayalá | Ceviche and seafood | Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon | Not listed | Cayalá directory |
| A Carbón y Leña | Mercado Gastronómico Cayibel, Cayalá | Burgers | Daily 12:00-20:00 | Not listed | Cayalá directory |
| Mercado Central | Zona 1, behind the cathedral | Market comedores | Not confirmed | Not published | Prensa Libre, 9 April 2016 |
The 50 Best restaurants, plus Ana at No.94
Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants announced its 2025 ranking from Antigua Guatemala on 2 December 2025. As of 4 November 2026 the official list page still shows that ranking: three Guatemala City entries in the top 50, and Ana at No.94 on the extended list. None of the four publishes menu prices online, so budget for a tasting-menu evening and ask when you book.
Sublime (No.19). The highest-ranked of the four. The 50 Best citation describes a 12-course tasting menu by chef Sergio Díaz, created with anthropologist Jocelyn Degollado. Per that citation, it opens with pre-Columbian references, moves through the colonial era and ends in the present day. There is also an à la carte menu. The restaurant’s contact page gives 12 calle 4-15 in zona 14, with lunch from 12:30 to 15:00 and dinner from 19:00 to 22:00, Monday to Saturday.
Diacá (No.37). Chef Debora Fadul’s restaurant is on the top of a tower block in the city, as the list describes it. It cooks dishes from anywhere through Guatemalan produce; the citation’s examples are a corn risotto and gnocchi made from yuca. Diacá’s own site gives Final 20 calle, km 8 Carretera a Muxbal, in the Cámara de la Construcción building, open Tuesday to Saturday from 12:00 to 22:00.
Mercado 24 (No.42). The name is a nod to Guatemala City’s 23 local markets: the restaurant counts itself as the 24th because the kitchen cooks from market-fresh produce. Chef Pablo Díaz came home in 2014 after cooking in Mexico and opened it a year later. Its 50 Best establishment page places it at Ruta 3, Vía 5 in zona 4, in the Casa del Águila, serving lunch Tuesday to Sunday and dinner Tuesday to Saturday. It is the one restaurant on this page in zona 4, which is not on Canada’s list of zones to avoid.
Ana (No.94). A 2025 new entry and winner of the American Express One To Watch Award 2025. Colombian chef Nicolas Solanilla describes his cooking as mestizo, drawing on his Colombian roots and Guatemalan produce, with à la carte and tasting menus that change with what is in season. Ana is at 12 calle 2-99 in zona 14 and opens Monday to Saturday, lunch 12:00-15:00 and dinner 19:00-22:00. Its FAQ says it does not take bookings for children under 10, and its tasting menu cannot be shared.
Traditional Guatemalan food at a published price
Arrin Cuan says it has served Guatemalan food for more than four decades. It started in zona 1, later opened in zona 9 and then in Antigua. The zona 9 branch, at 5a avenida 10-22, is open every day: 7:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and 7:00 to 20:00 at weekends. The zona 1 branch is at 5 avenida 3-27 in the Centro Histórico.
Its 2026 zona 9 menu prints the classic stews with a price:
| Dish (as printed) | Price | About US$ | About C$ | About £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepián | Q100 | 13.10 | 18.31 | 10.20 |
| Jocón | Q85 | 11.13 | 15.57 | 8.67 |
| Hilachas | Q85 | 11.13 | 15.57 | 8.67 |
| Subanik | Q110 | 14.41 | 20.14 | 11.22 |
| Kak’ik | Q140 | 18.33 | 25.64 | 14.29 |
| Caldo de gallina | Q100 | 13.10 | 18.31 | 10.20 |
| Buffet típico | Q175 | 22.92 | 32.05 | 17.86 |
| Licuados de frutas | Q35 | 4.58 | 6.41 | 3.57 |
| Café | Q20 | 2.62 | 3.66 | 2.04 |
Conversions at Banguat’s reference rates for 3 November 2026. A caldo de pata is listed for Fridays only.
New to these dishes? Our recipe pages explain pepián and kak’ik. For the drinks on the same menu, see our Guatemalan drinks guide.
Zona 10 and zona 1: Altuna and Saúl Bistro
Altuna. The Cayalá directory describes Altuna as a restaurant with tradition since 1948, known for Spanish food. Its own site lists three branches. Zona 1 is at 5a avenida 12-31, and zona 10 at Décima Avenida, Calle 0-45, as the site prints it. Both open Tuesday to Saturday from 12:00 to 22:00 and on Sunday and Monday from 12:00 to 17:00. The Cayalá branch is in the Distrito Moda (hours below). Altuna publishes a tapas and pintxos menu for Cayalá with prices:
| Dish (as printed) | Price | About US$ | About C$ | About £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patatas Bravas | Q60 | 7.86 | 10.99 | 6.12 |
| Gambas al Mojo de Ajo | Q98 | 12.83 | 17.95 | 10.00 |
| Pulpo Gallega | Q109 | 14.27 | 19.96 | 11.12 |
| Tabla de Jamón y Queso | Q340 | 44.52 | 62.26 | 34.69 |
Prices from the Cayalá tapas menu on Altuna’s site. Conversions at Banguat’s 3 November 2026 rates.
Saúl Bistro. Saúl Bistro’s own site lists its zona 10 branch at 6 avenida 15-64, open every day from 7:00 to 22:00. There is a second zona 10 branch at Oakland Place on Diagonal 6, and a Cayalá branch in Edificio B1 of Paseo Cayalá, also open daily 7:00-22:00. Its limited-time Christmas 2026 menu includes savoury and sweet crêpes and a filet mignon with a red-wine mustard sauce. The site publishes no prices.
Zona 10 is not on Canada’s list of zones to avoid, but the UK says no part of the city is free from crime, Zone 10 included.
Cayalá
The official Cayalá directory gives hours for each tenant. Four of its restaurants cover different kinds of meal:
- Casa Escobar. A steakhouse whose premium cuts are cooked slowly over oak charcoal, per the directory. It is at local G1-107 and opens every day from 12:00 to 22:00.
- Cevichito. Ceviche, fresh seafood and other dishes from the sea. It opens Tuesday to Friday 10:00-17:00 and Saturday and Sunday 10:00-18:00, and closes on Monday.
- A Carbón y Leña. American-style food, known for large burgers with its own sauces, in the Mercado Gastronómico Cayibel. It opens daily from 12:00 to 20:00.
- Café Barista. Coffee, breakfast, snacks and international dishes at local E1-108. It opens Monday to Thursday 7:30-21:00, Friday and Saturday 7:30-22:00 and Sunday 7:30-21:00.
Altuna’s Cayalá branch opens Monday 12:00-20:30, Tuesday to Saturday 12:00-22:00 and Sunday 9:00-20:30, per the directory. For the full list of more than 25 venues in the district, see our guide to restaurants and cafés in Paseo Cayalá.
Market comedores: the Mercado Central
A Prensa Libre feature from 9 April 2016 places the Mercado Central behind the Metropolitan Cathedral in zona 1. It counted 325 stalls on the second floor, comedores among them alongside butchers, florists and fruit and vegetable sellers. The market publishes no menus or prices, and the opening hours in that feature are a decade old, so confirm the hours locally before you plan around it.
Zona 1 is on Canada’s list of Guatemala City zones to avoid for non-essential travel (advisory last updated 13 October 2026), and the UK asks travellers to take care there. That applies to Altuna’s and Arrin Cuan’s zona 1 branches too. Zones 9, 10 and 14 are not on Canada’s list. Our Zona 1 guide covers the rest of the historic centre, and our things to do in Guatemala City page pairs a museum morning with lunch nearby.
Cafés
For coffee and a place to work, see our Guatemala City cafés guide, which covers Zona 10, Zona 4 and Cayalá venue by venue.
Getting there and paying
Canada’s advisory says to stick to reputable taxi firms or ride-hailing apps and not to hail taxis on the street. Our Uber in Guatemala guide has fares. For what a meal costs in a supermarket or a fast-food chain, compare with our food and drink prices guide.
Sources
- Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, 1-50 list, https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/latin-americas-50-best-restaurants-2025-1-50-list.html, read 4 November 2026
- Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, 51-100 list, https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/latin-americas-50-best-restaurants-2025-51-100-list.html, read 4 November 2026
- Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, official list page, https://www.theworlds50best.com/latinamerica/en/list/1-50, read 4 November 2026
- The World’s 50 Best, Mercado 24 establishment page, https://www.theworlds50best.com/discovery/Establishments/Guatemala/Guatemala-City/Mercado-24.html, read 4 November 2026
- Sublime, Contacto, https://www.sublimerestaurante.com/contacto, read 4 November 2026
- Diacá Restaurante, https://diaca.gt/, read 4 November 2026
- Ana, home page and FAQ, https://ana.gt/ and https://ana.gt/faq/, read 4 November 2026
- Arrin Cuan, home page and 2026 zona 9 menu, https://arrincuan.com/ and https://arrincuan.com/menu-arrin-cuan-zona-9/, read 4 November 2026
- Altuna, home page, contact page and Cayalá tapas menu, https://www.restaurantealtuna.com/, https://www.restaurantealtuna.com/contacto and https://www.restaurantealtuna.com/s/Menu-Tapas-y-Pintxos-Altuna-Cayala.pdf, read 4 November 2026
- Saúl E. Méndez, Gastronomía: Ubicaciones and Menús, https://gt.saulemendez.com/gastronomia/ubicaciones/ and https://gt.saulemendez.com/gastronomia/menus/, read 4 November 2026
- Ciudad Cayalá, Directorio (Altuna, Casa Escobar, Cevichito, A Carbón y Leña, Café Barista), https://cayala.com/directorio/, read 4 November 2026
- Prensa Libre, Los números del histórico Mercado Central (9 April 2016), https://www.prensalibre.com/revista-d/los-numeros-del-historico-mercado-central/, read 4 November 2026
- Government of Canada, Travel advice and advisories: Guatemala, https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/guatemala, read 4 November 2026
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Guatemala: safety and security, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/guatemala/safety-and-security, read 4 November 2026
- Banco de Guatemala reference exchange rates for business day 3 November 2026 (USD 7.63621, CAD 5.46087, GBP 9.8002 quetzales)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best restaurants in Guatemala City?
Three Guatemala City restaurants made Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, announced on 2 December 2025: Sublime at No.19, Diacá at No.37 and Mercado 24 at No.42. A fourth, Ana, placed No.94 on the extended 51-100 list and won the American Express One To Watch Award 2025. The official list page still showed that 2025 ranking on 4 November 2026.
Where can I eat traditional Guatemalan food in Guatemala City, and what does it cost?
Arrin Cuan has branches in zona 9 and zona 1. Its 2026 zona 9 menu lists pepián at Q100, jocón and hilachas at Q85, subanik at Q110, a full kak’ik at Q140 and a typical buffet at Q175. Q100 is about US$13.10, C$18.31 or £10.20 at Banguat’s 3 November 2026 rates.
Where should I eat in Zona 10?
Two of the restaurants on this page have Zona 10 branches. Saúl Bistro is at 6 avenida 15-64, open daily 7:00-22:00 (its own site). Altuna, which the Cayalá directory describes as a Spanish restaurant with tradition since 1948, lists a Zona 10 branch open Tuesday to Saturday 12:00-22:00 and Sunday and Monday 12:00-17:00 (Altuna’s contact page, read 4 November 2026).
Which Guatemala City restaurants are open on Sunday or Monday?
Per their own sites or the Cayalá directory (read 4 November 2026): Arrin Cuan in zona 9 and Saúl Bistro in zona 10 open every day. Ana and Sublime open Monday to Saturday, and Diacá Tuesday to Saturday. Mercado 24 serves lunch Tuesday to Sunday and dinner Tuesday to Saturday, per its 50 Best listing. Altuna’s zona 1 and zona 10 branches open 12:00-17:00 on Sunday and Monday.
What does a meal cost in Cayalá?
Altuna’s Cayalá tapas menu lists Patatas Bravas at Q60, Gambas al Mojo de Ajo at Q98, Pulpo Gallega at Q109 and a ham and cheese board at Q340, as printed. Q60 is about US$7.86, C$10.99 or £6.12 at Banguat’s 3 November 2026 rates. The other Cayalá restaurants on this page publish hours but no prices.
Can I eat at the Mercado Central in Guatemala City?
Yes. Prensa Libre (9 April 2016) placed the market behind the Metropolitan Cathedral in zona 1, with its comedores (simple eateries) on the second floor alongside butchers, florists and produce stalls. Zona 1 is on Canada’s list of Guatemala City zones to avoid for non-essential travel (advisory last updated 13 October 2026), so go by ride-hail or a reputable taxi, as Canada’s advisory recommends.
