Mexico · FOOD
Key Facts
- —What happened Taste Atlas highlighted three century-old cantinas in Guadalajara, per El Informador.
- —How big a pick The three are La Iberia, La Sin Rival, and Los Famosos Equipales, all in Jalisco’s capital.
- —The real story Taste Atlas is a crowd-scored food site, not an expert guide, so picks reflect user ratings.
- —The catch Taste Atlas’s own Guadalajara page lists only foods, not these cantinas, and no ranking was named.
- —Where they are La Iberia at Alameda 9, La Sin Rival at Calzada Independencia Sur 699, Equipales at Juan Álvarez 704.
- —What comes next No menus, prices, or schedules are published; visitors should go for drinks and atmosphere.
Three historic drinking houses in Guadalajara have been highlighted by a food website, each with its own story and signature drink.
Guadalajara cantinas are traditional Mexican drinking houses that have become iconic stops in the Jalisco capital. Three century-old bars in the city have been highlighted by the food platform Taste Atlas, according to the local daily El Informador.
What Are Guadalajara Cantinas?
A cantina is a traditional Mexican drinking house with a bar and tables, serving spirits and beer, in short. It puts out botanas, free or cheap snacks, with the drinks, and is tied to popular music and local gossip.
Cantinas cluster in historic centres and older neighborhoods of Mexican cities. For most of their history, they were male-only spaces, though that is not their present rule.
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, is Mexico’s second city and home to many such places. Meanwhile, its people, called tapatíos, often gather in these historic venues.
In addition, cantinas are tied to popular music and local gossip, making them social hubs. However, they were historically male-only, a practice that has since changed.
Taste Atlas Picks Three Cantinas
El Informador reported on Monday 24 August 2026 that Taste Atlas updated its recommendations for Jalisco, highlighting three cantinas in Guadalajara. The three are Cantina La Iberia, Cantina La Sin Rival, and Los Famosos Equipales.
The guide picked them as stops for anyone visiting the Jalisco capital who likes a couple of drinks in iconic spaces. However, Taste Atlas’s own Guadalajara page, updated Monday 17 August 2026, lists only traditional foods, not these cantinas.
El Informador named no list title, ranking, or score for the Taste Atlas update. As a result, the picks remain vague, though the three spots are described as iconic.
Meanwhile, Taste Atlas is a commercial food website with crowd-scored lists, not a guide with inspectors. As a result, its picks are based on user ratings rather than expert reviews.
Cantina La Iberia: A Poker Game History
Cantina La Iberia is at calle Alameda 9, in the El Retiro neighborhood, and opens Monday to Saturday from noon to 1am. Its site began trading in 1877 under the name El Bosque.
According to the cantina’s records, a group of Spaniards won the business in a poker game in 1904. Its house drink is La Batinga de Doña Chela, mixing tequila, vodka, aguardiente, cola, lime, and mint.
It is served with tortas ahogadas or shrimp broth. Aguardiente is a strong cane or grape spirit, adding punch to the house drink.
In addition, tortas ahogadas are Guadalajara’s signature pork sandwiches in chilli-tomato sauce. Moreover, the site began trading in 1877 under the name El Bosque.
However, 1904 is when the records say Spaniards won it in a poker game.
Cantina La Sin Rival: Since 1898
Cantina La Sin Rival is at Calzada Independencia Sur 699, on the corner of Gante, and opened in 1898. Its specialities are drinks with herbs, sangritas, and shots of mezcal, served with caldo de camarón, shrimp broth.
Sangrita is the tomato, citrus, and chilli chaser drunk alongside tequila. Mezcal is a Mexican agave spirit, and tequila is one type of it, made from blue agave.
No opening hours have been published for this cantina as of Tuesday 25 August 2026. Still, its herb drinks and shrimp broth make it a distinctive stop.
Still, no opening hours have been published for this cantina as of Tuesday 25 August 2026. In addition, its specialities include herb drinks and mezcal shots.
Los Famosos Equipales: A Near Closure
Los Famosos Equipales is at calle Juan Álvarez 704, in the Artesanos area, and has been serving since 1920. It opens Monday to Thursday from 10am to midnight, and stays open until 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Its house drink is Las Nalgas Alegres, mixing gin, rum, red wine, lime, and orange soda. The cantina is named after the equipal, a traditional Mexican chair of pigskin and wood.
The equipal chair, made of pigskin and wood, gives the cantina its name. While the drink mixes gin and rum, the setting remains traditionally Mexican.
Furthermore, the equipal chair is made of pigskin and wood, giving the cantina its name. While the house drink mixes gin and rum, the setting remains traditional.
A Century of History, Reopened in 2022
Los Famosos Equipales came close to closing after 102 years and reopened in 2022. Its own website describes it as a traditional cantina in the heart of Guadalajara with more than 104 years of living history.
Mexican site Cardamomo reported on Tuesday 2 April 2024 it was about to close after 102 years. However, it reopened in 2022.
This story shows the resilience of Guadalajara cantinas. After reopening, the cantina now claims over 104 years of living history on its website.
However, its near closure after 102 years shows how fragile such traditions can be. After reopening in 2022, the cantina now claims over 104 years of living history.
However, its near closure after 102 years shows how fragile such traditions can be.
What to Expect at These Cantinas
No menus, live music schedules, dress codes, or reservation policies have been published for any of the three cantinas. Only the house drinks and accompaniments named here have been reported.
Therefore, visitors should go for the drinks and the atmosphere. The cantinas are described in the Mexican press as century-old and iconic city spaces.
No prices have been published for any of the three, so budgets remain unclear. Nevertheless, visitors can expect botanas, free or cheap snacks, with their drinks.
Meanwhile, no menus or live music schedules have been published for any of the three. Therefore, visitors should focus on the house drinks and the historic atmosphere.
Planning Your Visit to Guadalajara Cantinas
Guadalajara is the capital of Jalisco and Mexico’s second city, and its people are called tapatíos. The city is also scheduled to host the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony in 2026, a separate matter from Taste Atlas.
No prices have been published for these three cantinas. However, those figures belong to different establishments, not to La Iberia, La Sin Rival, or Los Famosos Equipales.
The peso, written $ locally, is Mexico’s currency, with a FIX rate of 16.9647 to the dollar on Monday 24 August 2026. Since no prices are published, no conversion is possible here.
In addition, the peso is Mexico’s currency, with a FIX rate of 16.9647 to the dollar on Monday 24 August 2026. However, since no prices are published, no conversion is possible here.
The Charm of Century-Old Cantinas
Guadalajara cantinas offer a glimpse into the city’s social history, tied to popular music and local gossip. They are places to raise a couple of drinks in iconic spaces, as El Informador put it.
In short, these three bars are worth a visit for anyone exploring the Jalisco capital. Each has its own story, from a poker game to a near closure, making them unique stops.
These drinking houses were male-only for most of their history, though not today. In addition, they remain tied to popular music and local gossip, offering authentic local culture.
Moreover, these cantinas are described as iconic city spaces by the Mexican press. As a result, they offer an authentic glimpse into Guadalajara’s social life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cantina in Guadalajara?
A cantina is a traditional Mexican drinking house with a bar and tables, serving spirits and beer. It puts out free or cheap snacks called botanas with the drinks, and they are tied to popular music and local gossip.
Which three cantinas did Taste Atlas highlight?
Taste Atlas highlighted Cantina La Iberia, Cantina La Sin Rival, and Los Famosos Equipales, according to El Informador. They are described as century-old cantinas and iconic city spaces in Guadalajara.
What is the house drink at Cantina La Iberia?
The house drink is La Batinga de Doña Chela, mixing tequila, vodka, aguardiente, cola, lime, and mint. It is served with tortas ahogadas or shrimp broth.
Are there opening hours for Cantina La Sin Rival?
No opening hours have been published for Cantina La Sin Rival. El Informador gives hours for La Iberia and Los Famosos Equipales, but not for La Sin Rival.
Connected Coverage
Sources: El Informador; Taste Atlas; Cardamomo; Los Famosos Equipales; Guacamole (Radio Fórmula); Banco de México.
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