One of the largest bookshops in the city, Sophos is a great place to spend an afternoon browsing through their extensive collection. From novels to manga, history books to art books; it's all available in a bright, modern store. Located on the second floor of the posh Plaza Fontabella, it's one of the few places that stock a good selection of English novels and books. The store has a glamorous coffee shop, where you can have a gourmet coffee while reading a novel from its wide selection of publications by Latin American authors. At Sophos you can also find your favorite music. The cafe terrace is quite a pleasant place to spend a few hours.
Amongst the many, many artesania shops in Antigua, Nim Po't clearly stands out, even at the first glance inside from the street… an enormous circular kite, traditional during the Santiago de Sacatepéquez celebration of Día de los Muertos, occupies the foreground of the deep warehouse space. It is a combination retail showcase for craftspeople, retail stores, and consignment shops. Nim Po't collects their products with care, including some of the bags, wooden carvings, bracelets, and many other items that are commonly sold in town, but also including previously worn huipiles (woven and embroidered blouses), cortes (woven skirts), fajas (woven and embroidered belts), and all the other textiles making up traditional indigenous clothing. These last are remarkable portrayals of traditional life in Guatemala because the traditional garb is hand-woven in patterns unique to each town, which each woman carries out according to her individual creativity. The weaving of a huipile, unlike the multitude of items for sale to tourists, can take months of work. Nim Po't is engaged in a project chronicling the materials and design motifs of villages throughout Guatemala, and is worth visiting both to explore their samples of textile work and to find some souvenirs of your trip. Prices are set fairly, as a visit to the Mercado de Artesanias will quickly demonstrate.
Just under the beauty of the Iglesia El Carmen, a bustling market of artisanal folk crafts winds between a couple entrances… you might have to ask for directions when you want to leave! An enormous selection of everything from weavings to woodworking, flutes to footwear, bracelets to backpacks, and purses to postcards awaits for the express purpose of being sold to you. Many of the crafters are there in person, selling their work, and are excellent resources for finding out about the history and process of creating your souvenir.
A ritzy shopping destination, Oakland Mall in the city's vibrant Zona 10 is a one-stop address for all fashion and dining needs. The sprawling mall is home to nearly 200 boutiques, apart from a slew of restaurants and cafes. The center features three floors of space bustling with locals and tourists alike. A striking waterfall, cinemas, an Italian carousel and an aquarium are some of its other key highlights to explore.
Distinguishable by its unique structural design and layout, Majadas Once offers a diverse selection of retail outlets, eateries and entertainment. With outlets of some of the biggest brands in fashion and electronics, there's no shortage of quality in what you find at this mall. A true one-stop-shop, here you can shop for all that you are looking for, with numerous options to choose. Once tired with all that shopping, head to one of the restaurants, and treat yourself to a palatable meal.
A modern shopping mall in the bustling capital, Centro Comercial Las Américas spoils its customers for choice, with a fascinating variety of retail outlets to choose from. Home to over 100 retail stores, and countless options for clothing, accessories, gadgets and home products to choose from, this truly is every shoppers dream destination. Along with stores, the mall is also home to several restaurants, a theater and an entertainment zone, which also makes perfect for a fun-day-out.