THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS - Guatemala - page 244

Just up the street, Hotel San Luis de la Sierra (2a Calle 7-00 Zona 1, tel. [phone],
[e-mail], $28 d) is lovingly cared for by María Rosa Calderón, a former
grade-school teacher who once lived in Guatemala City and taught Spanish to a future
Moon Handbooks author. The spotless rooms have fan, attractive furnishings, hot-water
private bathroom, cable TV, and reading lamps. There's a dining room serving breakfast
anddinner. Hotel Premier (2aCalle5-37Zona8,tel.[phone]or7769-0927,$33d),
on the way out to Zaculeu, has 36 rooms set around a pretty, opaque plastic-covered court-
yard graced by a fountain. The rooms have the comfiest beds in town, tile floors, cable TV,
wireless Internet, and hot-water private bathroom; some have views of the Cuchumatanes.
The attractive lobby has a restaurant/bar serving international dishes.
There are a number of hotels along the entrance into town near the bus terminal, includ-
ing the Hotel California (3a Avenida 4-25 Zona 5, Colonia Alvarado, tel. [phone], $33
d),withclean,modernroomswithcableTVandprivatehot-waterbathroom.There'salsoa
dining room and lobby lounge. Don't let its name scare you; unlike the famous hotel in the
Eagles tune, you can check out anytime you like and you can certainly leave. Also along
theentranceintotownis Hotel San Francisco (Km.260,CantónSanJosé,tel.[phone]/
88, $30 d), which is not as fancy as the armed guards posted at its doors would have you
believe. It has 51 spotless rooms with somewhat bland decor and private hot-water bath-
room and cable TV. There are an Internet center, a pool table, and a small gym as well as a
restaurant next to the parking lot. The main lobby is housed under a pleasant opaque-ceil-
ing courtyard, allowing for ample ambient light. The hotel's gardens are also the home of
an unfortunate caged spider monkey.
FOOD
Conveniently situated across from the main plaza's cathedral, Café Bougambilias (tel.
7764-0105, 6:45 A.M.-9:30 P.M.) is a great place for a quick snack or cheap eat with set
dishes that include steak or chicken, salad, and a drink for $3.50 or tortillas, burgers, and
sandwiches for $1.50. The cooking is done on the ground floor, which you can see as you
come in, with tables on the top two floors overlooking the park. Just off the square, La
Fonda de Don Juan (2a Calle 5-35 Zona 1, tel. [phone], 6 A.M.-10 P.M.) serves an
excellent and varied menu including Italian, Mexican, and Guatemalan dishes the likes of
pizza,pasta,andburgersinalivelyatmospherethatincludescheckeredtablecloths. Mi
Tierra Café (4a Calle 6-46 Zona 1, tel. [phone], 7 A.M.-9 P.M. Mon.-Sat., 2-9 P.M.
Sun.) is a friendly little restaurant that is ever-popular with locals, serving tasty nachos,
pizza, and fajitas in addition to delicious breakfasts, including delectable croissant sand-
wiches. Try the “muffin ranchero,” essentially a salsa-bathed egg sandwich with fried tor-
tillas instead of bread. The strong coffee is locally grown and extraordinary. For steaks,
seafood, and even some Chinese fare, check out Restaurante Las Brasas (5a Calle 6-104,