Our Favorite Ajijic Restaurants

Gourmet restaurants, quaint cafes, balconied bistros, waterfront dining, street food carts, bustling bakeries and ice cream parlors abound in Ajijic. Although you’re in central Mexico, this melting pot town pulls culinary influences from around the world. Within walking distance of Casa del Sol Inn you will encounter Mexican, Japanese, Italian, Thai, Spanish, American and even French cuisine.

When making your reservations for dinner in Ajijic, consider meeting your companions at Casa del Sol’s Wine Bar, before venturing out to dine.


Ajijic Restaurants

You can learn more about each restaurant by clicking on their name below.

Blue Rose Bistro – A short cab ride away but worth the 100 pesos is this popular steak house.  Don’t miss the deviled egg appetizers.

Alex’s Pasta – This Italian restaurant is a local favorite with sidewalk dining and music most evenings. The menu is extensive serving more than their specialty–homemade pastas and sauces.

La Vita Bella – Enjoy the premier sunsets in all of lakeside.  This upscale restaurant located West of Ajijic offers unparalleled lake and mountain views with cuisine to match.  Try their delicious thin crust pizza or a Daily Special such as duck confit ravioli.

Teocintle – Mexican fusion served in a colorful corner bistro just a half block away. Reservations recommended for dinner. A second-story, open-air terrace is a great way to enjoy dining outside in our charming neighborhood. This is Elizabeth’s favorite!

Pasta Trenta – Open until 10:00pm, this nearby Italian restaurant is great for late arrivals to town. It is located just three blocks away on the carratera (directly next to Donas Donuts). Framed by terra cotta flowering plants dotting the outside porch, you can dine and people watch at the same time. Outdoor dining can also be found on their spacious back terrace with shade trees and tables with umbrellas. Fresh salads accompany thirty classic Italian pasta sauces. It is an Ajijic favorite!

La Paceña – The specialty is fresh fish with Mexican and international influences. You’ll find one-of-a-kind tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas and lobster specialties and an extensive menu of craft cocktails and a varied wine list.

Restaurant Tango – A standard in Ajijic dining located at the Malecon and boasting an extensive menu, Tango is welcoming, consistent and frequented by locals, tourists and Guadalajarans. Steaks are cooked to perfection, aappetizers and salads are original and everything is elevated by their delicious chimichurri.

Emma’s Deli – Craving a good, old-fashioned New York Reuben on homemade rye? This is your place! Patty Melts, Matzoh Ball Soup, freshly baked bagels and a charming setting with photos of the Big Apple, make you think you are in Brooklyn. This is Jewish comfort food at its’ best.

Pâtisserie Français – Freshly baked croissants in Ajijic? Yes! Stop in for coffee and pastries to go or dine on their sunny, outdoor patio. Full breakfast is also available and best-enjoyed with buttery, classic French pastries. Locals say the croissants are as good as you can get on the Champs-Elysées.

Machimá – An organic, vegetarian/vegan restaurant serving seasonal dishes and walking distance from the hotel. Many of the dishes are vegan or vegan friendly and the restaurant’s mission is to be as sustainable as possible, using only compostable disposable containers. You’ll find smoothies, acaí bowls, chilaquiles and omelets on their menu. Meditations and buffet nights are often hosted on the garden courtyard.

Garufa – This unassuming Argentinian steak restaurant off of the plaza hides expansive outdoor seating and a bar for dining under the stars, beyond the interior dining area. A private dining room, carved into rock with crawling vines and a tree trunk forming the doorway, makes for a romantic dinner.

Simply Thai – Ajijic’s authentic Thai restaurant is known for its Pad Thai and Green Curry Chicken. It is a family-owned restaurant and their variety of spring rolls and coconut soup are house specialties. They are veterans of the restaurant industry and their attention to customer service and quality of preparation are unparalleled. Whether dining in or taking out the aromas of lemongrass and Thai basil will immerse you in the flavors of their homeland.

Want to visit a restaurant that is in a nearby town? Don’t stress about how to find it or where to make reservations. Let us coordinate a personal driver to take you to and from your destination. We’ll also make the reservation for you to ensure it is taken care of.