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The Lakeside Guide to Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

The Lakeside Guide is an online travel guide to Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. Its aim is to be the missing link that connects the foreign community to the culture, people and businesses in Ajijic, a popular retirement destination for foreigners on the north shore of Lake Chapala.

Explore the 4,000 photos in this directory to more than 150 restaurants, shops and artisans, artists, hotels, health-related businesses, holidays and festivals, and things to do at Lake Chapala.

The Lakeside Guide coordinates directly with the town of Ajijic and the organizers of its events and holidays, such as the Day of the Dead and Easter week, to bring you the most up-to-date and accurate information about Ajijic's cultural activities.

The businesses on this site are hand-picked; no one has paid to appear here. Read more about The Lakeside Guide.

What's New on the Lakeside Guide

Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tacos en Frente de la Gasolinera
Tabarka Restaurant
Tabarka Restaurant

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4to Sentido Restaurant

Ajijic Pub House

Ajijic Tango

Alma Café Ajijic

Birria Tatemada “Doña Maria”

Donaterra Restaurante

La Palapa de Don Juan

La Taverna dei Quattro Mori

Mediterraneo Caffe e Cucina

Mom’s Deli Restaurant

Nuevo Café Paris

Oui Oui

Pablo’s

Panaderia Scandinavia

Pequeña Cocina Con Amor

Restaurant Min Wah

Scallion Ajijic Bistro

Smokehouse

Taco Fish “El Encarbonado”

Tacos Arandas (Ajijic)

Featured Food & Restaurants

Restaurants & More

Home Delivery of Food & Other Services at Lake Chapala

During the coronavirus pandemic, support these 150+ restaurants & businesses offering home delivery at Lake Chapala.

International

Cocinart

A mix of international cuisine from north of the border, Europe, Mexico and other parts of the world.

Sopa azteca (Aztec soup) is a common soup that has a tomato base, fried tortilla strips and other garnishes.

Mexican

Teocintle Maiz

Traditional Mexican cuisines from across the country, with some plates given a contemporary flair.

Curry fettuccini with mussels and shrimp.

North-of-Border/European

Manix

More than 30 years serving Mexican, Italian & other European cuisine in Ajijic.

Fusion Fine Dining

Emmanuel’s Kitchen

International fusion fine-dining in Ajijic.

Classes include the history of the recipe and the ingredients that are used.

Mexican Cooking Classes

Take a gastronomic trip through Mexico’s traditional foods with chef Ayrton Ruvalcaba.

Mexican

El Chile Verde

This extremely popular restaurant serves some of the best Mexican food in Ajijic.

Seafood

Lobo de Mar Mariscos

17 mostly hard-to-find types of tacos, tostadas & other seafood in a garden setting.

Mexican Food

Fonda Los Jarritos

Wonderful Mexican food at excellent prices at this homestyle fonda.

Mexican, Asian, International

Dharma

Mexican & international cuisine, plus espresso drinks & a bar.

The seating area is in this well-trimmed garden.

Bar/Pizza/Salad

Casa Barragán

Pizzas, fancy salads & a bar inside a garden that’s across from the malecón in Chapala.

The restaurant is owned by Mary de los Ángeles Castillo.

Mexican

Lonchería Mary

This restaurant next to the Ajijic plaza serves great homecooked-style Mexican food seven days a week.

Featured in Shopping

Vet & Pet Store

Maskota’s Lake Veterinaria

Dr. Luís Maciel Saldierna is a highly recommended vet in Ajijic. Appointments, grooming & emergency services.

Art Supplies, Stationery Store

Copy Ribera

Art supplies, office supplies, and copies since 1995 at this papelería in Ajijic.

Shoe Store

Plazapato Shoes For Life

Leather shoes & sneakers made by Mexican brands.

Inside Casa Colón, with the restaurant, Dharma, in the back.

Shops & Boutiques

Casa Colón Concept House

Shops & a three-room hotel form the concept behind this property on Cólon Street in Ajijic.

Gift Shop & Massage

La Bella Vida

Items for the home & garden, jewelry & accessories, local art & handicrafts, plus a quiet massage studio that’s available by appointment.

The last step is to cure the ink with this machine so the shirts can be safely washed without the design coming off.

T-Shirts & Souvenir Shop

Ajijic T-Shirts

Silkscreened t-shirts designed & printed by Ajijic artist Bruno Mariscal.

Antiques

Antiguas Ajijic

Furnish your house with the antiques, furniture & decorations from this antique store & bazaar on the highway in West Ajijic.

Inside Sweets & Treats Ajijic at 16 de Septiembre #4-A in Ajijic, Mexico.

Chocolate, (Cup)cakes, Gifts

Sweets and Treats Ajijic

Chocolates, cakes, cupcakes, other desserts & gifts with proceeds benefiting neglected boys at Hope House.

Yarn Store

Yarn, Knitting & Crochet Store

La Casita De La Tierra “Esther” has yarn plus knitting and crochet supplies.

Marcelino Enciso works at the sewing machine to make a leather purse at his leather shop on the highway in Ajijic, Mexico.

Leather Store

Exclusive Designs in Leather

Leather jackets, purses, belts, pants, backpacks, wallets & other leather items made by Marcelino Enciso & his crew.

Painted Clothing

Ana Rosa: The Garment Made Art

Ana Rosa & her crew decorate her dresses, hats, shoes, blouses & pants with painted & fabric flowers.

Gift Shop & Gallery

Galería Di Paola

Paintings, photography, art books & more at this longtime gift shop.

Featured Artists & Art Galleries at Lake Chapala

Drawing & Painting

Mario Ramírez

Drawings & paintings of Mexico, plus private & semi-private art classes.

Painting

Javier Ramos Salazar

Paintings which at first appear to be incredibly detailed drawings.

Mosaic

Federico Enciso Ramos

Mosaic wall art, furniture, and home decoration.

Sculptor

Rigoberto Navarro

Stone sculpture bridging a traditional & contemporary style.

Art Supplies, Stationery Store

Copy Ribera

Art supplies, office supplies, and copies since 1995 at this papelería in Ajijic.

The reproductions hanging on the walls are for sale.

Photo Prints & Art Reproductions

The Art House

Photographic prints & art reproductions for photographers & artists who live at Lake Chapala.

Gift Shop & Gallery

Galería Di Paola

Paintings, photography, art books & more at this longtime gift shop.

At each opening, the artists go piece to piece to explain more about the image. Xill put out a call to the local community to contribute any imagery they might have of El Tepalo. Here she talks about one of her own images of a camote farmer who works in the hills.

Outdoor Photography Exhibit

Galería al Aire Libre Axixic

This open-air art gallery in Ajijic’s central plaza rotates exhibitions year-round.

Frame Shop & Art Supplies

Salvador Ortiz Frame Shop

Meticulously crafted custom frames at steal-worthy prices.

Cultural Center

Centro Cultural Ajijic

At Ajijic’s cultural center, you can see a play, listen to music, learn to paint or take a workshop.

Gold Leafing

Susanna Chávez

An ancient polychrome technique for painting & gold leafing religious statues.

Textile Artist

Victoria Villasana

Black & white photos of cultural icons & everyday heroes, embroidered with colorful threads by a MOMA-commissioned artist.

Holidays & Festivals at Lake Chapala

Dec 16-Jan 6

Christmas

Christmas in Mexico is about family, friends & traditions like Las Posadas, which are 400 years old.

April 30

Día del Niño

Children’s Day in Ajijic is celebrated with special school events & an afternoon at the lienzo charro.

The image of St. Francis arrives at the church after one of the evening processions. In the background is the wooden structure of a fireworks castle which is lit each night at around 10 p.m.

Sept 26-Oct 4

Fiestas de San Francisco

Chapala’s nine-day novenario for its patron saint, Saint Francis, including daily processions & nightly music with fireworks castles.

Sept 29

Fiesta de San Miguel

This fiesta for the patron saint of one of Ajijic’s six barrios was lost 200 years ago & recently revived.

March 28

Feria de la Capirotada

This annual contest on the Ajijic malecón is about the tradition of Mexican bread pudding that’s served on Fridays during the 40 days of Lent.

Nov 8-10

Feria Maestros del Arte

This 3-day fair, now in its 18th year, brings together almost 100 of Mexico’s finest artisans from all reaches of the country.

There's entertainment each day in the form of music and dance performances.

Feb 7-9

Mexican National Chili Cookoff

This three-day weekend event with chili, music & vendors has been a part of Ajijic for over 40 years.

The Via Crucis through the streets of Ajijic. Jesus receives help from a disciple while carrying the cross.

April 5-12

Easter Week

The Passion Play dominates the events during Semana Santa in Ajijic.

May 10

Mother’s Day

In Ajijic, the celebrations for Mother’s Day include games & contests, such as moms wrangling heifers, during a popular family afternoon at the rodeo.

The statue of the Virgin of Zapopan arrives in Chapala in 2018, encased in a protective plastic shield.

July 12

The Virgin of Zapopan Visits Chapala

On the second Sunday in July, one of Mexico’s most important religious icons comes to Chapala for a large procession two days before she gets ferried to the nearby Island of the Scorpions.

Sept 12

Regata de Globos

Teams of local businesses & families spend days constructing elaborate paper hot-air balloons for this end-of-summer event.

March 13-15

Festival Cultural Sangre Viva

Now in its seventh year, this annual weekend festival in the Ajijic plaza celebrates the music & culture of Mexico’s many indigenous groups.

What to Do at Lake Chapala

Irepan Rojas and his blues band from Morelia, Michoacán, provide entertainment during an art opening.

Community Center

La Cochera Cultural

This cultural center serves the community & acts as a venue for music, dance & other events.

Mexican Cooking Classes

Take a gastronomic trip through Mexico’s traditional foods with chef Ayrton Ruvalcaba.

Anyone is invited to play, from kids to adults.

Chess Club

Join the Huarachess Chess Club

Play chess outside at the plaza on Sunday afternoons or teach kids how to play chess on Saturdays at the Lake Chapala Society.

The Lake Chapala Society was founded in 1955 and moved to the grounds of Neil James' property in 1983.

Community Center

Join The Lake Chapala Society

Since 1955, the Lake Chapala Society has been a place for newcomers at Lake Chapala & those who want to stay connected with the local foreign community.

Volunteer Opportunities

15 Volunteer Opportunities at Lake Chapala

Looking for something to do to help out your community? Check out these volunteer opportunities at Lake Chapala.

Hike

Hike to El Tepalo Falls

This short hike to a waterfall in the hills north of Ajijic is especially popular (and wet) after it rains.

This is where the terrain gets a little hilly. Instead of going on this part of the tour, you are welcome to stay with the other goats in the feeding area.

Day Trip

Goat Farm Tour in Mezcala

Visiting this organic goat farm in Mezcala is actually the perfect way to spend a leisurely weekend.

Cooking Classes

Indian Cooking Classes

Meet new people & learn about Indian food from a chef as he prepares the evening’s meal in front of you — then dig in & fill your belly.

Cultural Center

Centro Cultural Ajijic

At Ajijic’s cultural center, you can see a play, listen to music, learn to paint or take a workshop.

Horseback Rides

Horseback Rides with Regino

Horseback rides through Ajijic or on mountainside trails with a town legend.

Afternoon Out

Go to the Rodeo or Charrería

For some families in Ajijic, the cowboy lifestyle is still strongly intertwined with everyday life. One place to experience it is the rodeo or charrería at the town’s lienzo charro.