The best fashion and gift stores Capitales

Housed in a beautiful colonial house, this family-run business has been a benchmark in jade for over 40 years. The company creates, develops and markets high-quality, fair-trade jewelry worldwide, with the aim of promoting this cultural heritage of Mesoamerica. Take a tour of the free museum dedicated to jade, its provenance and place in culture. The house also offers workshops on reservation, where you can learn how to handle this local treasure yourself.

In this bookstore near the arches, many books on Guatemala and its tormented political history.

In addition to offering an interesting selection of books - some of which are in French - this beautiful bookstore claims to be a place for meetings and exchanges, notably through its workshops and courses. The establishment also organizes occasional "reading challenges", like the one that consisted in buying books written by women. For one month, a selection of books by women authors - such as Margaret Atwood and Jane Austen - were discounted by 15%. With each new challenge, the theme changed.

This huge futuristic complex is one of the capital's pride. Designed like its American and European counterparts, along its galleries, there are a large number of signs of the world economy, a multiplex cinema, a hotel, restaurant chains and even a clinic.

The madness of shopping centres does not know the crisis in Guatemala, a new mall - Comercial Eskala Roosevelt - with more than 200 commercial premises was inaugurated in 2010!

Isaias Chiquito, an exclusive designer of jewellery, is a renowned artist from Antigua. Its style using precious stones, semi-precious, silver and gold is highly appreciated by both domestic and foreign clients. His creations adapted to all tastes, both extravagant and discreet, will seduce you: Do not hesitate to go there, the staff is very welcoming!

Just a few minutes' walk from the Parque Central, this charming little bookshop offers a wide selection of books, from science to children's texts, guidebooks on Antigua and the surrounding area, collections of poems and classics such as Sun Tzu's The Art of War- aptly displayed next to Morihei Ueshiba's The Art of Peace. All in Spanish, with a few exceptions. Several times a month, Antigua Books welcomes authors and illustrators to present their latest creations.

This huge shed was transformed into a Guatemalan souvenir store in the 1990s. From textiles to pottery, everything is handmade and comes from the different departments of Guatemala, from Sacatepéquez to Izabal, passing through Huehuetenango and Quiché. There are typical pieces, such as the colorful pants characteristic of Todos Santos Cuchumatán and the huipils with designs from different communities, but also products designed for tourists, such as bags and t-shirts with a "traditional" fabric band or hammocks.

An exuberant American-style shopping mall, this is one of the latest and flashiest complexes to open in Guatemala City. In addition to major brands such as Lacoste, Zara, Guess, The North Face and United Colors of Benetton, Oakland Mall features a two-storey rooftop. Covering more than 2,000 m², the second floor features a dozen restaurants, while a gym and spa - among others - can be found on the second. Children have not been forgotten: a play area has been created for them.

This establishment created in 1964 looks more like a museum than a store. The objects appear to be on display, with entire rooms dedicated to certain collections. This is the case for the wooden masks used during the traditional dances, a kind of one-hour show similar to theater, mixing music and dialogues. The attentive staff guides the visitor through the musical instruments, fabrics, jewels and statues, while providing fascinating anecdotes about Guatemalan crafts, especially weaving. Not to be missed.

A warm welcome in a large boutique where almost all the pieces are handmade: when it is the case, they are made from sustainable and eco-responsible materials only. The presentation is neat and highlights in particular the sweaters decorated with some patterns reminiscent of those of the huipils. Beautiful products, from bags to cushions, jewelry, wooden toys, pillowcases, candles, dishes, ceramics and kitchen utensils such as cutting boards. Excellent address.

This pretty store presents its handmade fabrics "in situation". For example, there are beautiful wooden tables with tablecloths and a bed with a beautiful set of cushions with fine covers. From small purses to pillowcases to scarves, the textiles are superb. Behind these works: more than 500 Mayan women, originating from about twenty local communities, notably in the vicinity of Huehuetenango and Cobán. On the wall, a well-done map explains the history of the huipils according to the area of the country.

The store specializes in handmade jewelry. Although her workshop in Antigua has only a few artisans, she works mainly with a group of women based in Sololá. The pieces are made of ceramics, to which are added jade and pieces of fabric with traditional motifs. There are bracelets, earrings and necklaces, but not only: Jaime Vargas, the designer, went further. He has designed ornaments to wear on his clothes, such as jackets or blouses that are more jewel than clothing.

Located 10 minutes west of Parque Central, the market is made up of a long succession of stalls. Earrings, jade bracelets and necklaces, fabrics, clothes, belts, shoes, bags, hats, hammocks, pillowcases, small wooden masks, sculptures, magnets, key rings... You can find all kinds of souvenirs, more or less authentic. Between the maze of stores, pretty patios, each with a fountain and stone benches, invite you to take a break between two purchases. Possibility to get some strength at the Casa del Café.

In addition to its nursery and restaurant, the establishment has a boutique full of natural, organic, gluten-free and artisanal products. It offers pottery, candles, books, glasses, jasmine, ginger, dried fruits, goji berries, essential oils, omega-3, jewelry, wooden kitchen utensils, cosmetics... A good way to prolong one's presence in this oasis - or to discover it.

With its clean style, this pretty boutique opened in 2012 displays only a few pieces, in the manner of a Parisian concept store . Fine jewelry in gold, silver or jade rubs shoulders with cushions, glass objects and a little bit of tableware. There are also products from guest brands, often renewed. During our visit, it was a collection of silk scarves, linen shirts and beautiful vintage boots. The plus: the brightness of the space, organized around a patio with a fountain, in a colonial house. A favorite!