THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS - Guatemala - page 188

ForAmerican-style delisandwiches, checkout Panajachel Meats (Calle Principal, next
to Rumba Bar, tel. [phone], 10 A.M.-4 P.M. Tues.-Sat.), where you'll find Cuban sand-
wiches, pastrami, Italian subs, and BBQ pulled pork on the menu. The meats and cheeses
are imported and the breads are baked fresh daily.
Italian
Circus Bar (Avenida Los Arboles, tel. [phone], www.panajachel.com/circusbar ,
noon-midnight daily) has the best pizza in town as well as excellent pasta and seafood.
There's a relaxed vibe and colorful decor that conveys the feeling of being under the big
top. A reasonable alternative for pizza, particularly for carryout or delivery, is Pizzeria
Florencia (Calle Santander, across from Telgua, tel. [phone]), where you'll also find
Argentinean empanadas and cheeseburgers.
For authentic Italian food, head to Restaurante La Lanterna (inside Hotel Dos Mun-
dos, Calle Santander, tel. [phone]), where there's excellent homemade pasta and a nice
assortment of Italian wines. The large dining room has one of Panajachel's most pleasant
atmospheres and the service is impeccable.
Pan-Asian
For scrumptious Pan-Asian cuisine, check out Las Chinitas (Calle Santander, tel.
7762-2612,8A.M.-10P.M.daily),whereyoucansavorMalaysiancurriesandThaidishes,
among other dishes, at moderate prices. It's a busy spot for dinner. A perennial favorite,
Café Bombay (Calle Santander, 100 meters from the lake, tel. [phone], 11 A.M.-9 P.M.
Wed.-Mon., $2-7) is an inexpensive vegetarian restaurant serving a varied menu that in-
cludes tasty falafel, pita sandwiches, lasagna, burritos, curries, pad thai, and miso soup.
American and European
On Calle Santander, closer to Calle Principal, is La Terraza (Edificio Rincón Sai, tel.
7762-0041, lunch and dinner daily), with a second-floor balcony overlooking the street be-
low and serving steaks, lake fish, and European fare including Spanish tapas.
HalfwaydownCalleSantander, Guajimbo's (tel.[phone],7A.M.-10P.M.Fri.-Wed.)
serves South American-style parrilladas (barbecued meats) including steaks, chicken, and
sausage. There are also vegetarian dishes and good breakfasts. On Calle Principal, close to
the intersection with Calle de los Arboles, Atlantis Café Bar serves a good mix of inter-
national dishes, including decent burgers, pasta, pizza, and sandwiches along with a wide
range of cocktails from its elegant wooden bar. The decor is eclectic and there are also
some good desserts.
There are a number of eateries on Calle del Lago with similar seafood/meat menus and
outrageous decor, none of which I can bring myself to recommend. An exception is the