The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Guatemala City

Arbol de la Vida – the tree of life – first opened in 1974 when vegetarian principles were booming in Guatemala City. While working as a chef at a vegetarian restaurant, Anthony Bono, a Guatemalan living in New Orleans since 1970, had seen the benefits of a vegetarian diet, and he decided to open a vegetarian eatery in Guatemala City. After two closures over the years (one due to the tragic earthquake of 1976), Arbol de la Vida re-opened in 2003, and it is now one of the hottest spots in town to enjoy a veggie breakfast. The wide-ranging menu offers tasty soup, quiches and burgers featuring veg-friendly goodies such as tofu and quinoa. The salads are great, especially the ensalada de vida.

Artesano is a vegan store that also offers a range of healthy wraps, burgers and salads. If you’re a vegan and staying in a self-catered accommodation in Guatemala City, this place is a godsend: you’ll be able to buy delicious granola, nuts, seeds and many products such as vegan sausages, burgers and nuggets. Also, everything is packaged in reasonable portions so that you won’t waste anything. The set menu options mainly consist of veggie burgers, veggie hot dogs, veggie burritos, salads, etc. and all at very reasonable prices.

In Zona 1 of Guatemala City is Restaurante Rey Sol, and there are actually two branches downtown: one right on the main square and another on 11th Street. Good, fresh ingredients and some creative cooking ensure this strictly vegetarian restaurant is jam-packed at lunchtime, and if you can grab a table, the daily buffet will definitely hit the spot (the tamales, in particular, are exceptional). The restaurant also offers ‘Desayunos Aerobicos’ – basically ‘healthy breakfasts’ – which can include oats, granola, delicious brown bread and plenty of tropical fruit. This place is more of a local spot than a tourist trap.

Located in a modern mall in ritzy Zona 10, the elegant Tamarindos Bistro has an extensive menu that’s centred around Italian and Thai cuisine. With dishes ranging from fragrant curries and vegetarian Pad Thai to homemade soups, there’s something for everyone here, and the exhaustive wine list should please even the most discerning connoisseur. Be sure to try the refreshing juices (the passion fruit-cucumber combo is the most popular), and leave room for the signature banana bread dessert. Located among many lively and stylish bars in the Fontabella Plaza, Tamarindos is a great place to kick-off your evening.

Saúl L’Osteria also sits at the heart of the trendy Zona 10, and this relaxed restaurant is known as much for its unique décor as it is for its food. Shabby chic style – think repurposed wooden tables, hanging bicycles and plenty of plants – and a beautiful patio garden draw visitors in from the street, and the excellent Italian-focused menu has plenty of vegetarian options. Saúl L’Osteria’s speciality is thin and crispy wood-fired pizzas, but the pasta, salads and breakfasts are also very popular. Keep an eye out for hummingbirds if you sit in the garden!