There are few places that I have been to that evoke the feeling of what Paris in the 1920s must have felt like, with Hemingway and artists of all kinds talking about world issues, philosophy, and history. Café No Sé in Antigua, Guatemala, is one of those places. The crowd is an eclectic mix of musicians, expatriates, vacationers, and those just traveling through with no end destination in mind. This establishment seared itself on my mind, and I always want to return.
Paris in the 1920s
I spent a lot of time at this bar when I was in Antigua. It was one of the spots I would just end up at multiple nights a week, just to see what was happening. The staff and frequent patrons soon became my friends and I had endless hours of conversation about culture, history, music, art, the universe, and the theory of relativity, believe it or not. I remember having a whiskey fueled passionate discussion with an expatriate about history, his cigarette dangling from his mouth. Our discussions felt important, as if they were something greater than us alone. And that we could change the world. Since patrons here were from all over the world, there was a feeling of openness and acceptance. We were taking it all in. This must have been what Paris felt like in the 1920s.
Café No Sé
Unlike the name suggests, Café No Sé is definitely a bar, and not a cafe. They do serve food but it is all about the drinks here. Their drinks are cheap and strong; the way I like them. The bar is dimly lit, mostly by candlelight. You can hear live music any day of the week. When they don’t have bands playing, they have open mics or open jam sessions where anyone can join in.
Years Later
I was in Antigua for school, and always carried little notepads with me wherever I went to jot down whatever I wanted. I recently read through my little scribbles and found email addresses, names, descriptions of people, and quotes from conversations. That’s when I realized what an impact the bar had on me. I haven’t been back to Guatemala since and, years later, I constantly think about returning. It had such an impact on me, and mostly because of this bar and the wonderful people that I met there.
Of course, this was before cell phones had cameras worth while. All I have are a few grainy photos from this trip. The photos are like my memories. Few and grainy, but colorful and treasured.
Be Careful
Antigua is a relatively safe place during the day. At night time it starts to get a bit sketchy. You want to either be in a large group, or have your ride home planned. Just don’t leave late at night by yourself.
Where is it Located
Café No Sé is located right in Antigua, Guatemala, near the edges of downtown. The building its housed in is non-descript, except for the bar name.