The energy in Guanajuato, Mexico is tangible and warm, welcoming all visitors and locals into its arms. Within, the restaurants in Guanajuato do the same.
I had been wanting to visit Guanajuato since I moved to Mexico. I had heard about the narrow streets and colorful houses and I knew I had to see them for myself.
In fact, many people say that Guanajuato is the most beautiful city in all of Mexico, but my vote still goes to San Cristobal for that designation.
If you’re visiting for the first time, below is a list of many of the restaurants we have visited and truly loved. All of them have excellent food and service, and are the best of the best when it comes to where to eat in Guanajuato.
Also, if you’re short on time or just want to experience the best of Guanajuato street food we worked with a truly great walking food tour while during my time in Guanajuato called Mexico Street Food Tours. I do a lot of walking food tours around the world but we especially loved this one because of not only the insanely delicious food but also the amount of history we learned about the city.
The company has two different tours available- the street food tour that we did or a bars and tacos night tour that I hope to do next time I’m in town.
Click here to learn more about the two tours and book one for yourself. You won’t regret it and be sure to tell them I sent you!
Before your trip: check out my packing list for Mexico and read this post about whether or not you need travel insurance for Mexico.
12 Must Try Guanajuato Restaurants
Los Campos
Plaza Baratillo, De La Alameda 4a, Centro
La Vie En Rose
Cantarranas 18, Zona Centro // +52 473 114 3534
La Vie en Rose is a French bakery with a restaurant upstairs. The restaurant has been described as “a bit of Paris in Mexico” and I actually found the description to not only be charming but spot on as well. Upon entering the bakery for the first time, I nearly forgot that I was in Mexico and felt as though I’d just stepped into Paris, France.
I know, you’re probably thinking it’s crazy to have a French themed restaurant first on the list of restaurants in Guanajuato, Mexico, but that’s just how amazing they are. And if the pastries and desserts aren’t enough for you, you have to try the coffee.
Mexico Lindo y Sabroso
Paseo de La Presa, Barrio de la Presa // +52 473 731 0529
If you’re looking for Guanajuato restaurants that bring you the best that Mexico cuisine has to offer, you are going to love eating at Mexico Lindo y Sabroso. Their menu is filled with over forty authentic Mexican dishes all made from scratch. They are open from 9am till 10pm, so stop in any time for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
No new creations, gastronomy, or experimental dishes here. All recipes used are traditional and authentic, so every guest can have a chance to “go back in time” and enjoy dishes that have lasted for generations in Guanajuato, Mexico.
Metate
Come to Metate, one of the best Guanajuato restaurants for tacos, mezcal and wine. They have an outdoor, stylish rooftop dining area that, weather permitting, offers gorgeous views of the city at any time of the day.
Enjoy the best that Mexico has to offer with your choice of tacos: beef rib, bbq pulled pork, pulled chicken, or go vegetarian with smoked mushrooms or picadillo stuffed chile. Their prices are pretty reasonable, too. 1 taco for 30p, 3 for 80p, and all you can eat for 150p per person.
For sides you have plenty to choose from as well, like burnt guacamole, cowboy beans, pozole puree, or fried plantains (made with butter and rosemary). Your taste buds will be your new best friends after a visit to Metate!
Habibti Falafel
Sostenes Rocha 21, Centro Histórico // +52 473 732 9418
This falafel restaurant was actually very nice, even if it is just a little “hole in the wall” type of restaurant. The Lebanese and Middle eastern cuisines found here was delicious, the atmosphere was very cozy, and the serving staff was delightful. The portions they serve are really big for the price, so you might want to plan on taking some of your food home with you.
You can get your falafels wrapped in a tortilla, or a big leaf of lettuce, whichever you prefer. And to drink you can get either your choice of Italian soda, or some homemade lemonade made right in the store. One of the best veggie-friendly places in the city.
If you’re looking for a restaurant with various vegetarian and vegan options to choose from, or just need a break from all the tacos, we recommend stopping into Habibti Falafel at least once. It’ll be a nice break from the super heavy and spicy foods that is typical of Mexican cuisine.
Escarola
Positos 38, Zona Centro // +52 473 732 0632
We even noticed some gluten-free options on their menu, so they really are a one-stop-shop kind of restaurant. They will also gladly oblige should anyone in your group have any other allergies.
If you’ll be nearby on Sunday, you should definitely stop in for some Sunday brunch. This little artsy restaurant truly has it all.
La Erre
Avenida de Sopena 10 // +52 1 322 157 6526
La Erre is one of the best restaurants in Guanajuato that serves gastronomic Mexican cuisine, striving to provide truly original dishes from traditional inspirations. You can enjoy creative dishes that combine a unique blend of flavors and trends you won’t find anywhere else. Eat on the ground floor or go up to their roof top dining room.
Located right around the corner from the local theater, this is a great place to stop in either before seeing a show, or right afterwards. Either way, you’ll enjoy great service and great foods at very reasonable prices. They also have healthy options on their menu, including some vegetarian dishes.
Enchilada Doña Lupe
Antigua Plaza de Gallos, Zona Centro
Enchilada Doña Lupe is one of the top places to eat in Guanajuato for the towns signature dish- enchiladas mineras. Enchiladas mineras (or mining enchiladas) are a dish that local wives used to prepare to deliver to their husbands working in the silver mines.
Enchiladas mineras are a heavy dish but one that you should try at least once during your visit, as it’s a rather iconic dish.
Enchilada Doña Lupe opens only for dinner at 6pm, but are a big hit for locals and foreigners alike.
Where to Find the Best Coffee, Ice Cream and Cocktails In Guanajuato-
Oveja Negra
Cantarranas 70, Zona Centro // +52 473 141 6939
The Oveja Negra, which translates as Black Sheep Bar, is a small place with an authentic local feel. The goal of this bar’s creators is to offer a safe and diverse place for the younger crowd to come enjoy culturally diverse music, while drinking some of the best bear and cocktails around.
At Oveja Negra, there’s always a new cocktail to try, as they always making something new to draw in the younger crowd of customers. This means that every time you visit there will be something new and exciting to try, or you can keep ordering your favorites.
This is a great place to hang with locals and really immerse yourself in some of the Mexican culture. If you haven’t eaten yet, they do offer a full dinner menu, but this is primarily a spot to come after you’ve eaten and just hangout with your friends.
Cafe Tal
Paseo de La Presa 124 // +52 473 690 7390
If you’re a coffee connoisseur, or you just enjoy a great cup of coffee, you won’t want to miss Café Tal. As a member of the Specialty Coffee Association, they make their own specialty blends of coffee, using coffee grown in Coatepec, Veracruz.
If you don’t have anywhere to go, come and order a “filtered coffee of the day” for only 19p. Bring a good book to read or your computer, and you can get your coffee cup refilled as many times as you want, as long as you remain in the store. They also have great cappuccinos, espressos, and many variations of iced or cold coffee.
Perhaps coffee isn’t quite your thing. That’s okay. You can still benefit from the restaurants atmosphere and order your choice of iced or hot tea, or even some decaf coffee options.
This is hands down the best coffee that we found in Guanajuato, by far. They’ve been open since 2005 and since then have been a staple in the community, not just offering the best coffee, but at the best prices as well. You can even buy some of their specialty coffee to take home, or order some directly from their website.
Los Lobos
Plazuela del Ropero // +52 473 732 7040
La Garrafa Nieves
Luis González Obregón 2, Zona Centro
When that sweet tooth hits, you don’t just want any dessert. You want the best. And that is what we found at La Garrafa Nieves. The name means The Snow Carafe, and they have the best cacao ice cream in Guanajuato.
They offer so many different flavors, we wanted to try them all! All flavors are 100% homemade, and the prices are very reasonable. This was a great place to hang out and have some lovely ice cream after a long, hot day of walking around the city.
Which one of these restaurants in Guanajuato do you most want to try? Let me know in the comments section below!
Travel writer and owner of the blog. My work has been featured on Fodors, Eater.com, International Living, and Great Escape Publishing, among many others. My story? Nearly six years ago, I left my job at an Oklahoma City law firm and embarked on a journey around the world. At the time, I thought I would only be gone for 6 months, but the more I traveled, the longer my bucket list became. Flashpacker describes how I travel. Rather than traveling as the normal world wise backpacker and staying in hostel dorms, I prefer a more comfortable experience, and typically stay in private rooms, take Ubers instead of taxis, and now use a suitcase instead of a backpack. Foodie, on the other hand, describes one of the key reasons why I travel. I love to pick a central “base camp” and then explore the surrounding area, really immersing myself in the culture and interacting with the people, and enjoying and exploring the food of an area is an essential part of this experience.
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