Wrapped Up In Antigua

Everything I did, ate, saw, and wore in Antigua, Guatemala...

Feb 27, 2025

Antigua had actually been on my travel wishlist for the past few years. While working at a travel PR firm a few years ago, I fell in love with photos of one of the agency’s clients, Villa Bokeh, a stunning hacienda-turned-boutique-hotel in Antigua.

From there, my determination to visit began to grow. When my boyfriend and I were invited to a wedding in Antigua, I convinced him to stay for an extra two days to explore the city.

Let me give a quick shoutout to AmiGo, a social travel app that makes it so easy to plan trips, save recommendations, and discover new places. My boyfriend and I each had a few friends who had either lived in or frequently visited Antigua, so we had about a million recommendations going into the trip, which I input into AmiGo.

Where we stayed…

The wedding party blocked out rooms at Hotel Casa Santo Domingo, so we were lucky enough to stay at this breathtaking hotel. It also happened to be the hotel that numerous friends recommended to us. The hotel is situated on the ruins of the Santo Domingo Convent, a 17th century convent that was leveled by an earthquake in 1773. The hotel sits on stunning grounds and includes a spa, gardens, various restaurants, and even a museum.

Where we caffeinated…

This entire post could have focused on the coffee shops in Antigua, but I will try to keep this brief. Thanks to Guatemala’s high altitude and warm climate, the country is renowned for its coffee. I did not have a single bad cup of coffee and each café seemed to have its own distinct personality. My favorites were Fat Cat Coffee House, 12 Onzas, and El Gran Café, which uses certified organic beans and whose coffee routinely ranks above 90 points on the Cup of Excellence scale. Needless to say, I brought back many bags of coffee as souvenirs.

Where we ate…

We really only had one free night for dinner, and because so many people recommended Clio’s, I made a reservation three months in advance (as is typical for me when it comes to any travel plans). The restaurant is situated in a 17th century colonial building and the decor is rustic but truly elegant. Clio’s serves french fusion and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a while.

Caoba Farms was recommended by so many people, so we walked from the city center on Saturday morning to explore. The twenty-ish minute walk was mostly flat and gave us an opportunity to see outside the commercial areas of the city. I was absolutely blown away by Caoba, an all-organic farm that supplies many of the hotels and restaurants in Antigua. The farm also hosts live music, farmers markets, and eco-tours on its 45 acres. We enjoyed the most gorgeous healthy breakfast while listening to live music. Afterward, we perused the farmers market and explored the grounds before walking back to our hotel.