I’ve just finished up a couple of weeks of work in Guanajuato, Guanajuato Mexico. It’s always hard to leave because I miss my friends, the city, and the food! Here are some of our favorite Guanajuato restaurants and other places to eat for those of you lucky enough to be there.
For the last 24 years, my family has been spending part of the year in the city of Guanajuato, the capital of Guanajuato state. We are all about eating well and eating all day long. From the time I started bringing my kids to this amazing colonial city when they were small, we have been indulging in all the delicious flavors it offers. Try these Guanajuato restaurants and businesses to satisfy your cravings at any time of day.
Guanajuato Restaurants to Start the Day
Cafes in Guanajuato
The biggest American coffee chain has a prime spot in the Jardin de la Unión, but do yourself a favor a walk 5 minutes to the street Sangre de Cristo and try Café Tal. There you’ll get a better latte, cappuccino or whatever coffee-inspired drink you’re craving.
Café Tal has consistently good wifi and a relaxed atmosphere. They are also fine with you hanging out to work there for as long as you like. Café Tal has also recently opened another cafe near Presa de la Olla.
Learn more on the Café Tal Facebook page.
Panaderías
Start the day off right with pan dulce. For me, one of the best parts of being in Mexico are the bakeries and the variety of delicious breads. There is no shortage of great bakeries in Guanajuato, but my favorite is the Panadería Internacional. You can find it on the street Benito Juarez, fairly near the Mercado Hidalgo. This local bakery has been selling traditional Mexican baked goods for decades.
Try conchas, orejas, and at this time of year, pan de muerto. I also have a weakness for the delicious sugar cookies called polvorones. They’re wonderful!
Gorditas en Embajadoras
If you’re at the other end of town, consider a breakfast of gorditas. There is a stand in the market at Embajadoras that makes these delicious grilled corn cakes filled with cheese and meat. You can get gorditas in other places in town too, but these are our favorites.
Tortas, Carnitas, Comida Corrida
If you’re spending much time at all in Guanajuato, you’re surely going to be in the Mercado Hidalgo, the biggest market in the city. In addition to souvenirs, household goods, and fruits and vegetables, you’ll find lots of locales selling delicious food.
There are carnitas, burritos, tortas, mariscos, enchiladas and lots of other options. The food is inexpensive and tasty. Of course, it is a real market, so the atmosphere is lively and seating isn’t always the most comfortable. But if you’re looking for something authentic and quick at a very reasonable price, the Guanajuato restaurants in the Mercado Hidalgo are the place to go.
We filmed two of our videos for Spanish learners in the Mercado Hidalgo. Check out Las frutas and Las verduras.
Dinner in Guanajuato Restaurants
If you’re looking for a place to relax with a lovely atmosphere and delicious food, I recommend trying Emma. This new restaurant is quickly becoming a city favorite because of the outstanding food and the amazing view.
As much as I enjoy the festive center of Guanajuato, I also love being able to look out at the bluffs and the city below. Emma is near Casa de las Leyendas, on the Carretera Panorámica. If you like to walk, it’s very doable or it’s a short taxi ride. With the gorgeous view and excellent atmosphere, this is a place I can sit for hours.
The food is Mexican, there is no doubt about that, but with contemporary, delicious flavor combinations and beautiful presentation. When I was there, there were national tourists and locals. International tourists hadn’t discovered the restaurant yet, but it won’t be long. You can learn more about Emma on their Facebook page.
Guanajuato Restaurants for Late Night Eats
In Mexico, we eat our biggest meal of the day during the afternoon, so that means there is plenty of time for a late night snacking. These are a few of our favorite options
Elote
You can’t go wrong with the elote, or corn, in the Jardín de la Unión. Choose in a cup or on the cob, and load up with crema o mayonesa, chile en polvo and limón. Heavenly!
Hot Dogs
I have no doubt that some readers are going to be horrified by my including hot dogs on this list, but hot dogs in Mexico are so delicious! My favorite stand opens around 10:00 pm at the bottom of Plaza de la Paz. The hotdogs are grilled and you can get them wrapped in bacon. Top with onion, chile, ketchup, mayo, creama, mustard, tomato. You won’t be disappointed!
Tacos
As you would guess, there are lots of great taco stands in Guanajuato. One of our personal favorites opens at night in Plaza Baratillo, near the university. The stand in front of the market in Embajadoras is also delicious. Again, it opens late.
There are so many wonderful places to eat in Guanajuato! If you’re lucky enough to be there, do some exploring and let us know what you find!
Guanajuato city photo by Pavel Kirillov CC BY-SA 2.0
