Centro Zihuatanejo Map: Favorite Places

From our casa, a short half-mile walk along Playa La Madera and the malecón leads to Centro Zihua. Everyday we spend in Zihua always involves a trip to town. Shopping, bars, restaurants, basketball, concerts, festivals, a beach, a museum, and a library can all be found in Centro. The included map will show some of our favorite places to visit on the cheap, as well the ATM with the least expensive fees, as well as a few other odds and ends.

The red lines in the map are the walkways that are off-limits to 4 wheeled vehicles. There are a lot of stores, bars and restaurants to choose from in the red lined area, as well as the surrounding areas. Here are some of the places we visited.

  • A. The basketball courts: Here is a good starting point for any of your adventures in Centro.Not located on the map, but usually found right near Centro and the basketball courts is the hotdog and hamburger stand. A good hamburger costs 45 pesos. Oftentimes you will see several other small remote stands selling “esquites” and other small meals on the Plaza at the basketball courts. If you’re looking for something even less inexpensive than the other places listed below then the Plaza is the place for you.
  • B. Fruttiyog: One of our favorite ice cream spots. 35 pesos for 2 scoops! Plenty of good ice cream stands in the area, though.
  • C. Oaxacos: 300 pesos for dinner for 4. Most of the food has some kick to it, but you can find some non-spicy food. We really like their tacos al pastor.
  • D. Super Pizzas: The nachos are great. Each chip is individually prepared for your mouth. We like the pizza, too! Dinner for 4 will cost about 350 pesos.
  • E. Bandidos: 800 pesos for 4 people. Not our favorite place, but if this is your first visit to Mexico then this place will probably make you feel a little closer to what you’d see at home. They are located directly across from the row of souvenir shops. I like to stop by Bandidos for a bite and to get the WiFi code. Then the next time Alisa wants to visit the souvenir shops I can run across the street, stand in front of Bandidos and surf the web using their WiFi.
  • F. Tequila por Favor: This is a liquor store. If you stay at our casa then here’s a good place to stock up. Prices seemed fair, and the guys that run the place are really friendly. 125 pesos for 1 liter of Mocambo Anejo Rum.
  • H. Zorros: They only serve alcohol. 25 pesos for a Victoria. If you’re walking by this place the possibility is high that someone from Zorro’s will holler at you to join their party. It’s a popular spot with expats. Legends Bar and Barracruda are two other popular hangout spots located in the same vicinity.
  • J. Taqueria La Flama Del Tizon: 40 pesos for 5 tacos al pastor con queso, and 20 pesos for a quesadilla. It’s a popular spot in the heart of Centro with locals.
  • K. Ubuntu: My personal favorite breakfast place, especially if you like crepes. 55 pesos for a banana / strawberry crepe and 50 pesos for a frappé mocha. 350 pesos for breakfast for 4.
  • L. Kadi Sushi: Buy a 17 peso beer at any number of quickie marts located within a block of this restaurant, or pay 35 pesos for a beer here. Most restaurants will let you show up with a beer in hand. The dragonroll is 125 pesos and amazing. There are a few sushi spots in this same area.
  • M. ANY La Casa del Pozole Guerrerense – Authentic Mexican Cuisine: 1,000 pesos for 4 large margaritas and 4 big plates of food. This place is okay, but not our favorite. I saw a lot of locals eating here, but it looks like a touristy place from the outside.
  • N. Tortas Ziranda: This is a walk up stand with a couple of chairs on the sidewalk. The menu only has a few items to choose from. 80 pesos for 2 sandwiches and a rompope or chocolate eskimo milkshake. The place looks a little iffy, but the food is great. If you can find Tortas Gigantes, they have a nicer seating area and serve the same great food.
  • P. Cenedaria Antelia: Dinner for 4 with drinks will run about 200 pesos. The porky tamales taste great. A few doors down from here is Cenaduria Rico Mar. 2 plates of good food and 2 beers only costs 110 pesos. They have awesome enchiladas.
  • R. Comida China Mandarin: 55 pesos for rice and 2 entrees. There are two Comida China restaurants located within about doors of each other. It’s cheap, but the food is a little hit-and-miss. A quick glance at the food before ordering will help you tell if it has been sitting out all day or has been prepared more recently.
  • S. Inbursa: There are 4 or more banks located in this area, but Inbursa only charges 17 pesos to use the ATM. Banamex charges 31 pesos. Banorte charges 33 pesos I believe. ScotiaBank is the most expensive with a 100 peso ATM fee last time we tried. If the ATM offers to convert to US dollars for you, don’t take it!
  • T. Centro Mercado: This is a fun place to explore. You can buy souvenirs, evening gowns, and waste baskets here. You can also purchase an entire chicken, pig, or some fresh fruit. The bus from our casa will drop you off here for 10 pesos. And nearby another bus will take you to Ixtapa for 12 pesos.

Not designated on the map, but I should mention La Porteña Pizza & Grill. It’s located along the sidewalk leading towards the Pier, where all of the small fishing boats on Playa Municipal are located: Costs about 600 pesos for a dinner for 4. You may have to ask the waiter, but they have great vegetables in a spicy vinegar that is included with your meal.

Not shown, but definitely a must visit restaurant when you stay in Zihua. La Papa Loca: 2/3 mile walk / 12minutes. 70 to 80 pesos per potato. 25 pesos for 5 tacos al pastor. Dinner for 4 will cost about 400 pesos.