You’ll find a variety of excellent steak houses in Guatemala City, including Hacienda Real (5a Avenida 14-67 Zona 10, tel. 2380-8300, www.hacienda-real.com, lunch and dinner daily, $10–20), where the meals are served with tasty tortillas and savory side sauces. Try the peppered steak. There are other locations at Condado Concepción and Las Majadas.

Another good choice is the Argentinean-style steak house La Media Cancha (13 Calle 4-71 Zona 9, tel. 2331-6463, lunch and dinner daily, $7–15). It’s popular on weekends.

For absolutely astounding views of the city from its perch along Carretera a El Salvador, you can’t top
El Portal del Ángel (Km. 11.2 Carretera a El Salvador, tel. 2369-6007, noon–9 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., noon–10 p.m. Fri.–Sun., $8–35). The food is just as good as the views and the tasteful decor, with walls in vivid hues adorned with cool paintings of Catholic saints, make this place truly heavenly. It is also in Zona 11 at Paseo Miraflores, minus the city views.