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Ashley Metcalfe
June 18, 2024
Want to work from the best cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer?
You’re in the right place!
As much as Matt hates to admit it…he’s a real coffee snob! He won’t enter a cafe if he can see the machine isn’t up to par (yes, we have reached that level). As for me, I love a good ole iced vanilla latte – I think that says it all!
With such a big love for coffee, we couldn’t wait to try out all the cafes in Antigua Guatemala. But as digital nomads – it’s not always about the coffee right? There are a few things that need to be right to make it a suitable cafe to work from. Not just any cafe will do!
Guatemala is the 9th largest exporter of coffee in the world, with over 125,000 coffee producers, you can bet the coffee is excellent and the cafe culture is strong in Antigua. We loved how many cafes we passed by every day – it felt like there was one on every corner!
Here’s the 7x best cafes Antigua Guatemala offers for digital nomads.
What Make Cafes in Antigua Guatemala Good For Digital Nomads?
We love to mix our workspace environment up with cafes and coworking spaces. Matthew works better at coworking spaces (plus you meet some great people) and I love the atmosphere of a buzzing cafe!
Not every cafe will work for digital nomads, remote workers or online entrepreneurs, right? So before we get to the list of cafes in Antigua Guatemala, we need to define what makes a cafe “digital nomad friendly”.
We’ve been digital nomads since 2018 and it’s taken some time but we have worked out the key factors that make a cafe great to work from!
Here are the 5 factors we considered in the 7x cafes Antigua Guatemala had to offer before putting them on this list:
- Wifi Speed: The most important thing to have at a cafe (if you plan to work from it) is stable, strong wifi. Digital nomads and/or remote workers who work online need to rely on decent wifi to get work done. Nothing frustrates us more than slow, spotty wifi that keeps dropping out. It doesn’t even have to be ultra-fast wifi but it does need to be consistent. If a cafe doesn’t have reliable wifi, it wouldn’t make it onto this list.
- Plugs: Every arrived at a cafe with only 10% left on your battery and you can’t find any plugs anywhere?! We’ve had this happen and we had to leave. Granted – you should always arrive at a cafe with a fully-charged battery (a lesson we learned) but you also want to have the option to keep working and plug your laptop in once it gets low. You know it’s a good “digital nomad cafe” when there are plugs spread across the entire cafe and most seats have access to an outlet.
- Friendly Towards Digital Nomads: Are the staff friendly towards digital nomads or do they give you a bad stare when you open your laptop? Yeah it’s not great when you feel like you’re not wanted in a cafe. We’ve had times when baristas have helped us and other times when we just didn’t feel comfortable staying (or going back). It’s also not great when you’re asked to buy something every couple of minutes!
- Seating, Coffee, Noise: Good table and seating options can be important. If it’s all uncomfortable bar stools – your work session could get cut short because your back could start hurting right? It’s not like it needs to be ergonomic chairs or anything of the sort – just comfortable. The noise is a hit or miss because some people like the buzz and others prefer some quiet. If it gets too noisy, we have noise-canceling Airpods which have been lifesaver.
- Digital Nomad Community: The hardest part about being a digital nomad is the loneliness. Yes – even as a couple! We ask ourselves, do these cafes in Antigua Guatemala attract digital nomads? It’s easy to start a conversation up if you know that like-minded people visit the same cafes as you.
Overall, these are the factors we consider before adding them to this list. While there are no perfect cafes with all 5 factors spot on, we think we found some pretty cool cafes in Antigua Guatemala where you can get some productive work done.
Cafes Antigua Guatemala: 7x Best Cafes To Work From For Digital Nomads
Cafes in Antigua Guatemala take their coffee seriously – and that’s what we love about them! We go to sleep at night thinking about that delicious cup of coffee we’re going to have in the morning. It’s exciting and sometimes it’s what gets us through the day.
Did I mention we were coffee lovers?!
You can rest assured that each coffee shop and its baristas put a lot of love and care into each cup. Coffee aside, the cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer also create great spaces where you can be inspired, productive and efficient.
We spent 2 months being Antigua digital nomads and after trying over 15+ cafes, we narrowed it down to the 7 best digital nomad friendly cafes below.
1. Artista de Cafe – Beautiful Design & Aesthetics
You will fall in love with Artista de Cafe!
I know I did, especially as someone who loves aesthetics and design. It was the definition of boho-chic and you couldn’t help but feel inspired, calm and productive while at Artista de Cafe.
The wifi is very reliable – we never had it drop out while working from this cafe. The speeds were pretty steady at around 30 Mbps. While it’s not the fastest internet speeds we’ve seen for a cafe, it is a reliable and steady connection that would still work if you needed to do Zoom calls.
There are only a limited number of seats at Artista de Cafe. You’ve got 2 choices – they have some seriously comfy chairs and some “barstool” type chairs. There are 4-6 circular tables that are normally for 2 people and then there’s a big table where you’ll see the bar stools. All the tables on the main floor (not the outdoor section) have plugs next to them! It’s such a cozy space you’ll feel right at home!
Artista de Cafe is very popular in Antigua so it gets busy from around 10am making it hard to find a seat. If you go really early, you can nab the comfy chairs! It can get pretty noisy but again *insert Airpods*!
Love iced coffee like me? Well…you’re in luck! This was my favorite cafe because they were the only ones that could do iced coffees well! My favorite thing to order was an iced caramel latte. I tried the vanilla one but for some reason, the caramel tasted so much better!
What about the baristas? They are the BEST! We always felt welcomed, seen and valued at Artista. As you arrive, everyone will greet you ‘buenos dias’ and if you’re a repeat customer they might even remember your drink order! We made friends with one of the baristas, David and he was super friendly. Please say hi for us if you visit Artista de Cafe!
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Always
- Best for: Casual/Deep Work (depending on the time you go)
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: Very High
- Best time to arrive: Early in the Morning to nab those comfy seats
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: All Day
- Busy: Yes
- Digital Nomad Rating: 9.5/10
2. La Vid Coffee Roasters – Best Cup of Coffee
Are you a real coffee connoisseur?
You need to visit La Vid Coffee Roasters. The coffee in Antigua is generally all very good but La Vid takes it up another level. This was Matt’s favorite place for a ridiculously good cappuccino or latte.
Their beans can be a variety from Lake Atitlan, Antigua and all around Guatemala. You know they are serious about their coffee when they roast their own coffee beans. As soon as you enter, that aroma of coffee just hits you. It’s awesome!
As far as the cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer, this is the best coffee shop for their coffee if that makes sense. There’s only a limited number of food available like carrot cake or some sort of pastry.
But how is it as a cafe to work from? From the outside looking in, it might not seem like much but if you walk in further… There’s a section in the back near the bathroom where you can set up for the morning and knock out a work session. It’s only a small bench but the chairs are very comfy and they have stable, strong wifi. They also have a huge work table with decent chairs you can sit at with plugs to charge your laptops.
The owner is very friendly and welcoming. They didn’t mind us working away for a couple of hours which is really nice to know. It’s not super busy which means it’s pretty quiet most of the time! If you’re looking to get focused work done without many distractions, check out La Vid Coffee Roasters.
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Always
- Best for: Deep Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: Low-Medium
- Best time to arrive: Anytime
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: All Day
- Busy: No
- Digital Nomad Rating: 8.5/10
3. Cafe Boheme – Best Outdoor Terrace/Rooftop
Want a cafe you can work from that have Guatemalan coffee and a good lunch menu?
Cafe Boheme is your spot! Out of all the cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer, this one does the best brunch and lunch menu. Some of our friends like to get to a cafe at 9am and work till lunch then eat from the cafe itself. If you’re like this too – you should check out Cafe Boheme!
While it might not look like a big space as you enter, if you go up the stairs – they have an amazing rooftop section which has much more tables, chairs and plugs to work from. It’s a bit of a hippy cafe style combined with some quirky, bohemian design touches. From the rooftop space, you’ll get a nice cool breeze run through along with some fantastic views of Volcan Fuego in the distance.
They have wooden chairs which aren’t as comfortable but it still works well for a couple of hours of work. Cafe Boheme has decent wifi – I must say it isn’t the most reliable. While it never dropped out for us, there were times it got very slow for some reason.
The staff are also pretty friendly and welcoming for digital nomads who want to get some work done. We only went a handful of times but Cafe Boheme is a great option if you like to work outdoors with a chill vibe.
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Sometimes
- Best for: Casual Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: High
- Best time to arrive: Early morning
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: Midday
- Busy: Yes (at times)
- Digital Nomad Rating: 8.5/10
4. Fat Cat Coffee House – Small & Rustic Vibes
Are you a coffee lover?
Fat Cat Coffee House has one of the best cups of coffee in Antigua Guatemala. We got their coffee takeaway at least once a week because we just loved the taste! They serve delicious specialty coffees and their lattes are excellent (you can get it iced like me too).
As for the cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer, this one isn’t the best one to work from but it isn’t the worst either. Don’t get me wrong – the tables and chairs are pretty comfortable but the seating is very limited. There’s about 5 tables in the entire cafe. When it’s this small, it’s hard to hold a table down for hours when they also get a big influx of people.
There aren’t plenty of plugs so you should probably go early to snag the right table with a plug. Or you could just come fully charged and leave once your battery is dead. Fat Cat Coffee House has strong wifi and it’s a stable connection for the work you need to get done online.
It’s a more rustic vibe and aesthetic which is really cool! You can see their baristas take pride in their coffee and skills to make a mean cappuccino. They are pretty friendly towards digital nomads but like I said you might not want to stay all morning/afternoon because it gets busy!
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Most of the time
- Best for: Casual Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: High
- Best time to arrive: Early morning
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: Midday
- Busy: Yes
- Digital Nomad Rating: 8/10
5. Rooftop Antigua / Bella Vista Coffee – Best Volcano Views
Want to work from an outdoor space with views of an active volcano?
There’s no other place quite like Rooftop Antigua. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much but that’s because you’ve got to climb up a couple of stairs before you see why this is one of the coolest cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer. They serve Bella Vista Coffee which is why some people might think that’s the name of the cafe but it’s definitely Rooftop Antigua on Google Maps!
The views are breathtaking – you can watch Volcan Fuego erupt from your table. It might not be the most comfortable table and chairs but it’s worth it for the priceless views. They also serve a mean brunch and lunch menu with some great options.
Rooftop Antigua has decent wifi speeds of around 20 Mbps (standard in the city). It was stable while we used it. We even ran into our friend, Alondo, when having brunch from here which means it’s a cafe where you’ll find some digital nomads too!
The staff are friendly and don’t seem to mind when we pull out our laptops. It doesn’t get very busy in the mornings which makes it a great cafe to get some focused work done.
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Most of the time
- Best for: Deep Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: High
- Best time to arrive: Early morning
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: Midday
- Busy: Not so bad
- Digital Nomad Rating: 8.5/10
6. Cafe Sol – Yummy Brunch & Colonial Ambiance
We went to Cafe Sol for brunch and scout whether it would be a great cafe to work from. They have a simple brunch menu that will surely satisfy your tummy. Matthew got their bagel and I got a sandwich which hit the spot!
As for the digital nomad cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer – we think Cafe Sol is a great alternative! The only thing we noticed was the wifi speeds were less than 5 Mbps but we saw lots of other people working here and they didn’t seem to have any problems. I think we might have gone on a bad day?
They have the beautiful colonial courtyard style indoors which makes it a relaxing place to work. Cafe Sol has wooden chairs and tables which seems to be the norm around Antigua. Other than the bottom floor, you can also head to the rooftop if you want some sunshine, views and breeze. The staff are pretty friendly, not pushy and didn’t mind having our laptops out.
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Sometimes
- Best for: Casual Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: High
- Best time to arrive: Early morning
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: Midday
- Busy: Not so bad
- Digital Nomad Rating: 7/10
7. Cafe Estudio – Relaxing Courtyard With City Views
If you’re looking for a cafe to do some casual work, Cafe Estudio will work for you!
As you enter, they have a small indoor section but make sure you keep going and head up the stairs. They have one of the best rooftop views to see the whole city of Antigua. It almost feels like a colonial courtyard garden at the top which is cool! Cafe Estudio also offers an extensive drink and food menu!
They have only wooden tables and chairs which aren’t the most comfortable for a long work session. If you work from the rooftop, there are also no plugs or outlets to charge your laptop. As I said, it’s a great place if you only want to do casual work and need a more relaxing vibe.
The wifi was pretty average as the other cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer. You can get speeds from 10-20 Mbps which is pretty standard. The staff are also pretty friendly and don’t mind you pulling out your laptop!
- Reliable Wifi Connection: Most of the time
- Best for: Casual Work
- Chances of Spotting a Digital Nomad: Low-Medium
- Best time to arrive: Early morning
- Maximum time before you get uncomfortable: Midday
- Busy: Not so bad
- Digital Nomad Rating: 6.5/10
Cafes Not Your Thing? Try A Coworking Space.
We get it! Working from cafes is not for everyone.
You want to have a controlled environment with comfortable chairs, tables and fast, reliable wifi to work for hours on end. The coworking spaces in Antigua are pretty great!
We tried out 2 coworking spaces:
- Impact Hub Antigua
- El Cubo Center Antigua
The best coworking space in Antigua Guatemala is El Cubo Center. You can see why just from the pictures – you get volcano views from a big, comfortable desk and ergonomic chairs. We got the fastest internet speeds at El Cubo (around 120+ Mbps). It’s located 15 minutes drive from the city center but they now have shuttles than can take you to and from the coworking space.
We were done with Impact hub after a month because people would take Zoom calls throughout the day without any headphones! It got way too noisy and annoying for us to hear other people’s meetings. The wifi speeds weren’t too bad at around 80+ Mbps!
The #1 Best Cafe in Antigua Guatemala Is…
Matthew’s choice is La Vid Coffee Roasters. He said it’s the best cup of coffee he’s had compared to all the cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer. The big work table and bar out back are great to get some solid work done without too much noise!
Ashley’s choice is Artista de Cafe. The design is totally my style and helps me feel inspired while writing for our blog, Two Tickets Anywhere. Out of all the cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer – Artista does the best iced coffee – to say I was obsessed with the iced caramel latte would be an understatement. If you get the comfy chairs, it’s so easy to stay awhile at Artista de Cafe!
Which Cafe Has The Best Coffee in Antigua Guatemala?
If you’re looking for just the best tasting coffee in Antigua – La Vid Coffee Roasters is the best! The beans taste great and the baristas are highly trained. If you’re a true coffee lover, you won’t be disappointed here.
Work From These The 7x Best Cafes Antigua Guatemala Has To Offer
As a digital nomad or remote worker who needs cafes with decent wifi, plugs and a great atmosphere – we think any of these 7 cafes Antigua Guatemala has to offer will exceed your expectations! We loved how many options there were here and think that Antigua is an underrated digital nomad destination.
We hope you found this guide helpful! We had a lot of fun testing out cafes as a couple of coffee lovers and seeing which ones would make this list. Let us know which one you think was the best – we’d love to hear from you!
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