El Arenal

Wildly popular local eatery specializing in carnitas (marinated lean chunks of pork cooked on a grill). They also serve chicharrones and an outstanding guacamole, full of fresh tomato chunks with chile and cilantro. If the food wasn't enough to make a name for itself, the owner comes around passing out free shots of tequila. If you're looking for cheap eats and local character, this is the place.

Carne asada, carnitas, and several guisadas. Large portions at reasonable prices. Very large, spacious dining room, clean bathrooms, ample parking.

Big, tourist-oriented restaurant right on the edge of the agave fields. Clean, large, concrete parking lot. Large outdoor patio dining area. Traditional Mexican and regional dishes, large portions and reasonable prices.

Family-run distillery uses traditional production methods. Offers in-depth tours.

One of the coolest distilleries to visit in the area, as much for its architecture and history as for the tasty intoxicating elixirs. The place looks like a medieval castle, and in fact, was built as a Spanish military fortification in the 16th century. Tequila aficionados will appreciate the artisanal approach to tequila with traditional processes like brick ovens, a stone tahona, and subterranean aging caves (which are open to visitors).

Small artisanal distillery housed in a historic hacienda. Lots of historic relics of tequila history like tahona wheels, an old fire pit for roasting agave pinas and more.

Offers a very comprehensive distillery tour that lasts most of a day. It costs almost M3000, but for that, you get a horseback rides through the agave fields, an expert tour of the production facility and a professional tequila tasting (cata) conducted by a catador. Shorter, cheaper options are also available.

Barebones hotel with small rooms. Rooms at front get a lot of road noise.

The town's traditional Mexican marketplace is full of fresh produce and meat vendors as well as great street food featuring the most authentic regional dishes you can buy.