LA ANTIGUA GUATEMALA - Guatemala - page 146

ald sitting on the bench outside Antigua's McDonald's has at least on one occasion crossed
its legs and come to life, scaring unsuspecting passersby out of their wits.
CAFÉS AND LIGHT MEALS
For coffee on the go or a nice sit-down atmosphere, Café Barista (on parque central's
northwest corner) serves some favorites, including caramel macchiato, mochas (hot or
iced), and tasty pastries. One of Antigua's best-known cafés, Doña Luisa Xicotencatl
(4aCalleOriente#12,tel.[phone],7A.M.-9:30P.M.daily)servesdeliciousbreakfasts,
snacks, pastries, and light meals in a delightful garden courtyard. There are fresh-baked
breads and cakes available all day from the bakery at the front of the building. Next door,
La Fuente (4a Calle Oriente #14, tel. [phone], 7 A.M.-7 P.M. daily) is a good place for
breakfast and vegetarian fare as well as for a cup of coffee accompanied by an ever-so-sin-
fully delicious chocolate brownie topped with coffee ice cream and chocolate syrup.
On the west side of the central park, Café Condesa (Portal del Comercio #4, tel.
7832-0038, 7 A.M.-8 P.M. Sun.-Thurs., until 9 P.M. Fri.-Sat.) is a great place to get some
pep in your step with an early breakfast and coffee or to refuel later in the day. There are
excellent cakes, pastries, sandwiches, and salads served in a pleasing garden atmosphere
or you can enjoy the all-day breakfasts. A Sunday brunch is served 10 A.M.-2 P.M. and
includes scrambled eggs, home-fried potatoes, silver-dollar pancakes, quiche, homemade
bread,andmuffins,justtonameafewitems.Ifyou'reonthego,grabacupoftheexcellent
coffee at the Condesa Express next door.
For fresh bagels, bagel sandwiches, and great coffee, stop at The Bagel Barn (5a Calle
Poniente #2, 6 A.M.-10 P.M. daily). There is wireless Internet if you're traveling with a
laptop and movies are shown in the afternoons and evenings. Another Antigua standby is
the Rainbow Café and Bookshop (7a Avenida Sur #8, tel. [phone], all meals daily),
serving delicious menu options including eggs Florentine, Israeli falafel, and the chocol-
ate bomb for dessert. Try the outstanding Greek chicken fillet stuffed with spinach, bacon,
raisins, feta cheese, and covered with a creamy oregano and lime sauce ($8). Live mu-
sic, poetry readings, and other cultural events are held on-site. On the pricier side, Caffé
Opera (6a Avenida Norte #17, tel. [phone], www.cafe-opera.com , closed Wed., $6-15)
isapopularplaceservingsomedeliciouscoffeefrappébeveragesinaneclecticatmosphere
stuffed with operathemed posters and artwork. The panini are recommended. Under the
sameownershipastheCaféNoSé(whichismoreofabar), Y Tu Piña También (cornerof
6a Calle Oriente and 1a Avenida Sur) is a juice bar also serving snacks, pastries, and light
meals. The mango chutney chicken is good if you're on the hungrier side. Finally, a trip to
Antigua wouldn't be complete without a stop for some dulces típicos (typical Guatemalan
sweets) from Doña María Gordillo (4a Calle Oriente #11).