Your Guide to Food Shopping in Antigua, Guatemala
There are many places for food shopping in Antigua, Guatemala. It’s like being a kid in a candy store with all the beautiful and tasty produce throughout this town. This post is dedicated to helping you find the best spots for your groceries.
Mercado Central
First and foremost, you must visit Mercado Central. It has the best produce in the city at unbeatable prices. You can find just about anything in this market. It functions as a combined outdoor/indoor market with vendors selling produce, meats, and miscellaneous goods. There are also plenty of small comedores (restaurants serving local food). The sights, smells, and vibrant atmosphere of this place make it a must visit.
“Exotic” foods are plentiful and affordable, including lychees, passionfruit, mangoes, pineapples, and coconuts. You can also get the best-tasting tomatoes, red bell peppers, and carrots. You name it—they have it—and it’s fresher and cheaper than anywhere else.
Tip:
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Bring cash in small denominations, as some vendors won’t have change for large bills. Credit cards are not accepted.
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Bring a reusable shopping bag.
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You can get there via any “chicken bus” in town, as they all end up at the main bus terminal behind the market. Uber drivers and tuk-tuks will also know where it is.
Orgánica
This small organic store is located just a few blocks west of Antigua’s central park. Orgánica sells kombucha, fermented foods, organic pasta, and more. While their selection is limited, it’s a great spot to pick up a few unique items. Their colorful heirloom tomatoes are a standout feature—both beautiful and delicious.
Tip:
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They accept credit cards. Use a no international transaction fee credit card.
La Bodegona
This is a typical grocery store in this part of the world, offering a lot of processed food products. The produce here is not as good as at Mercado Central, but you’ll find basic necessities like cooking oils, paper products, and toilet paper. If you have kids, there’s an upstairs section with books, painting supplies, and toys—great for sparking creativity.
Tip:
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Stock up on essentials here, but head to Mercado Central for the best produce.
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The art supplies upstairs were a hit with our kids.
La Torre
La Torre is another major supermarket chain in Guatemala. It’s more upscale than La Bodegona, offering a greater variety of foods and products similar to what you might find in U.S. stores. However, it’s pricier than other options. It’s still a good choice if it’s closer to your accommodations.
Tip:
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A good option for staples and hard-to-find items
La Repostería
This is a fantastic bakery we frequented whenever we needed bread. We stayed in the small, local-feeling town of Santa Ana, about a 20-minute walk from the center of Antigua. The friendly staff here sold eggs by the carton of 30, which was helpful since getting high-quality eggs from Mercado Central without breaking them would have been challenging.
Tip:
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Cash only.
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Don’t miss their bread, donuts, and sweets!
Caoba Farms
Caoba Farms is a working organic farm located just a short walk south of Antigua’s central area. They offer a farm-to-table restaurant and a tienda (shop) that sells locally sourced fermented products, organic cereals, granola, fragrances, artisanal chocolates, no-sugar-added peanut butter, dairy products, and pasture-raised meats without added hormones or antibiotics. Of course, they also sell fresh produce straight from their farm.
Tip:
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Take a half-day trip here to explore the farm, enjoy the playground for kids, and have a meal at their excellent farm-to-table restaurant.
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Stock up on fresh, organic produce before you leave.
Local Tiendas
Local tiendas can also be a good source of produce, though it might require some trial and error to find the best ones. Ask locals about fresh produce drop-off days or keep an eye out for delivery trucks. On one lucky occasion, we found a tienda just as a truck was unloading fresh produce. We got in line with a few locals who clearly knew where to go for the best options.
Tip:
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Ask locals for tips on where and when to find the freshest produce.
Antigua, Guatemala, offers a wide range of grocery shopping experiences, from the vibrant Mercado Central with its unbeatable produce prices to supermarkets like La Torre. Don’t miss out on the local tienda and take a morning and explore Caoba Farms with their farm to table restaurant and tienda.
