Top Rated Shopping in Guatemala

The little shop filling the entranceway to Sabe Rico is a sweet place, in all senses of the word. It stocks specialty foods both packaged and homemade, including gluten-free products ranging from chocolates and granola to bread and pasta. The already impressive establishment is increasingly amazing as patrons walk deeper; the shop gives way to a courtyard, then two separate garden areas filled with lush greenery and charming shaded tables. The menu lists a delicious variety of dishes, and pleasant surprises like teas brewed from herbs grown organically just a few feet from your table... or, with luck, the pure white rabbit who was too cute to cook might pop out of the vegetation to lend a fanciful feel to your dining experience.

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.

It is touted to be the first American-style mall in the town and was established in 1988. Centro Comercial Megacentro may not be big but it does have nice options for shoppers. It features boutiques, beauty shops, salons and a food court. The prices are reasonable compared to other malls.

Super Gangas y Mas is a supermarket in Zone 4. Check out their sections for party and gift items, candles, confectionery, grocery, toys, seasonal gifts and more. It is spread across three levels and has a small parking space.

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.