The Growth of Trendy Zone 4, Guatemala City

After years in the wilderness, the crime-ridden neighborhood of Zone 4 has regenerated by a wave of investment.

Nowadays, you are more likely to find artisan coffee shops such as Paradigma and Rojo Cerezo than the dodgy bars and brothels that used to characterize the area. The regeneration has also seen a flowering of artistic spaces such as La Erre and La Fototeca.

There are even two co-working spaces where local freelancers and digital nomads alike come to make a living. Check out El Quid and Chamba if you need a place to work in the city.

Try the innovative cooking at Mercado 24, which uses fresh produce from the markets in Guatemala City, or head to L’Apero for some of the finest pizza in town.

After dark, grab a beer at Karma, where you can play pool and dance the night away, or go for a more relaxed drink at craft beer spot El Principe Gris, which serves a selection of beers from its microbrewery.

If you fancy a night out, Espacio Solemne is the place to be for cutting-edge music, while Trovajazz is a bit quieter but also offers live music.