Lake Atitlan Dining:
Cafe Atitlan in San Pedro

Follow the trail of colorful coffee beans painted on the cobblestone beside Buddha Bar, and you’ll discover one of San Pedro’s most secluded and peaceful restaurants.

The garden offers privacy beneath a big palapa with comfortable seating, as well a table with a big umbrella. Upstairs, the Canadian-style house (lots of wood) has indoor seating and a long terrace with a beautiful view of the lake and lots of flowers and trees. It’s breezy in the afternoons, making Cafe Atitlán a great place to beat the heat on a sunny afternoon.

On the Menu

Several items are not found in most San Pedro restaurants, such as the Cobb Salad and Fillet of Tilapia. Vegetarians will go for one of the three curries, which can be served with tofu or chicken, and several other non-meat dishes.

Local favorites are the Stuffed Chicken, filled with cheese, black olives and basil, and the Beef Medallions, cooked with red wine and balsamic soy butter. Pastas such as Spaghetti Bolognese are popular and tasty, and so is the pizza.

Chicken wing-lovers will find their own personal heaven in the one-pound serving of wings that comes with a variety of sauces, such as honey mustard. On Tuesdays, the special is a two-pound serving of wings with a liter of Gallo or Victoria.

Soups like the Azteca and Chicken are delicious and healthy. The Tommy Yung Gung soup, a Vietnamese dish, is a full meal in a bowl. Sandwiches, quesadillas, tacos and snacks make a great fast lunch.Breakfast runs the gamut, from the Chocobanana Pancakes to a Dutch-style breakfast.

Special Coffee Drinks

Several unique coffee drinks with liquor are topped off with whipped cream, so they make an excellent dessert. The Cafe Don Juan mixes dark rum and Kahlua with coffee grown right here at the lake (interestingly enough called Cafe Atitlán, just like the restaurant). But the top of the line is the Especial Atitlan, which contains Bailey’s, coffee liqueur, Irish Whisky and chocolate.

This quiet, off the trail restaurant is also a good place to simply sip a cup of the coffee while listening to the birds sing and the wind whisper in the trees. Even better, you get a free espresso with any meal or drink, plus there is free Wi-Fi for customers.

Where: Behind Buddha Bar on 7th Avenue
When: 7 AM-11 PM, daily