Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lia, tel. 2368-0757,
www.mexx.com
,
10 A.M.-8 P.M. daily) and the European-inspired
menswear store
Saúl Méndez
(12 Calle 1-25 Zona 10, Edificio Géminis, tel. 2379-8722,
10A.M.-8P.M.daily).SaúlMéndezisalsofoundinthesameshoppingcenterastheabove-
mentioned Mexx.
Guatemala City has some excellent shopping malls carrying the most basic or most ex-
clusive items one could need, in addition to fashionable boutiques and department stores.
None of the latter (curiously) seem to result from Guatemalan investment. These include
Simán(ElSalvador),Carrion(Honduras)andSears(UnitedStates).Thecity'slargestshop-
ping mall is
Pradera Concepción
(Km. 17.5 Carretera a El Salvador, 10 A.M.-7 P.M.
Mon.- Thurs. and 10 A.M.-9 P.M. Fri.-Sat.), with a variety of familiar stores and restaurant
chainsincludingSearsandT.G.I.Friday's.Openedin2003andexpandedin2006,thelarge
Galerías Miraflores
(21Avenida4-32Zona11,9A.M.-9P.M.daily)alsoharborssomeof
Guatemala's most exclusive stores, including a Simán department store, the international
Zara boutique, a L'Occitane store, and an Apple Store. Across the way is the
Las Majadas
shopping center with a Sears, Fetiche perfume store, and a T.G.I. Friday's.
In Zona 10, east up the hill toward the Carretera a El Salvador, is
Galerías La Pradera
(20 Calle 25-85 Zona 10, tel. 2367-4136, 10 A.M.-8 P.M. Mon.-Sat. and 10 A.M.-7 P.M.
Sun.), an upscale shopping mall scheduled for remodel in 2010-2011. Though not as up-
scale as its Zona Viva location might suggest,
Gran Centro Los Próceres
(16 Calle 2-00
Zona10,tel.2332-8742)nonethelesshassomegoodshopsandeateriesandisconveniently
situated near the major Zona 10 hotels.
Zona 10's newest and most upscale shopping mall is also Guatemala City's nicest.
Oak-
land Mall
(Diagonal 6, 13-01 Zona 10,
www.oaklandmall.com.gt
,
10 A.M.-8 P.M. Mon.-
Thurs., 10 A.M.-9 P.M. Fri.-Sat. and 10 A.M.-7 P.M. Sun.) features 170 stores spread
across three floors, in addition to several movie theaters. Among its stores and restaur-
ants you'll find a large aquarium, towering waterfall, and even a carousel imported from
Italy. Also in this sector is the very pleasant
Plaza Fontabella
(4a Ave. 12-59 Zona 10,
tel. 6628-8600,
www.plazafontabella.com
), built as an outdoor mall in neo-colonial style,
where you can enjoy Guatemala's spring-like climate and a decent selection of stores and
restaurants while strolling the cobblestone pedestrian walkways.
You can shop the jam-packed stalls in downtown Guatemala City's
Mercado Central
(8a
Avenida and 6a Calle, 6 A.M.-6 P.M. Mon.- Sat., 9 A.M.-noon Sun.) for textiles,
típica
clothing, and leather goods. A safer and more enjoyable option can be found near the air-