Rayuela Bodega de Vino — Restaurant in Jalisco

Named after the iconic novel that helped define Latin American literature, Rayuela evokes the same essence as Cortázar’s pages—romantic, intellectual, and quietly revolutionary. Much like the book’s wandering protagonist and his enigmatic muse, La Maga, this space feels like a secret meeting ground for creative souls. A modern-day Club tucked away on the edge of Colonia Americana.

Tucked between quiet residential homes, the building doesn’t clamor for your attention—aside from the bold, unapologetic red letters spelling RAYUELA across the front. It’s a simple gesture, but one that sets the tone. This place knows exactly what it is.

Step inside, and you're met with atmosphere—low-lit intimacy, textured walls, and an old-world charm that feels straight out of a Parisian alley or a tucked-away cantina in Buenos Aires. Your gaze is immediately drawn past the small tables up front to the long, elegant bar that stretches confidently across the room. It's the heartbeat of the space. In the back, French doors call out like an invitation—open, romantic, leading to a quiet, dimly lit patio perfect for whispered conversations and stolen glances.

There’s a timelessness to Rayuela. The architecture and colonial details don’t just nod to history—they live in it. It’s the kind of place that slows you down, that makes you savor not just the wine or the food, but the moment itself.

And let’s talk about the wine: curated with care, grounded in roots that reach deep into the soil of Valle de Guadalupe and other hidden gems of Mexico. Despite being a Spanish restaurant, Rayuela proudly embraces local expression, and it’s a beautiful thing to witness—and taste.

The tapas? Flawless. Thoughtful, deeply flavored, and memorable across the board. The standout for me was the artichoke dish, a perfectly balanced dance between sweet and savory, bold and delicate. But truthfully, every dish carried intention. You could blindly point at the menu and land on something that would impress.

Rayuela isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a feeling. A literary escape. A glass of red wine at golden hour. A conversation you wish had lasted longer.

It’s the kind of place you revisit not just for the food—but for the world it...

Nice cute place. Rustic style and decor. My partner and I disagree on the dishes to order, so take that to mean all the options are pretty varied. We saw the snow trio.

Risotto al azafrán y mejillones - flavorful but boring for me. Just risotto rice and mussels. But good flavor.

Pappardelle hecho en casa a la crema de grana pasando y trufa negra - good flavor. Simple

Clam chowder - flavorful but very heavy, almost tastes like dipping sauce.

Mini hamburger - a bit sloppy. Flavorful but missing toppings.

Tip: the dishes are all pretty basic and one sided in flavor profile. Lots of Savory buttery cheesy but no citrus / acidic component (cebolla encurtida, tomato, pickle, jalapeno, etc) to even it out. Get like a side salad to pair with some of these tapas to balance out the flavor profile.

Wines Pozo de nieve tempranillo espana - normal I guess? A bit strong on tannin.

Cuvee des galets Sarah grenache 2022 cotes du Rhone, Francia. - light bodied. Balanced. I liked it.

Guadiana 2019 merlot cab penedes CA - semi sweet. Would go great with sangria mix. Dessert wine. It's like a wine that tastes like sangria without the sangria.

Inmigrante 2018 tempranillo petit Verdot Valle de Guadalupe México - My fav but could be because it was a fresh new bottle at the right temperature straight from the cooler. Balance. I would get a bottle. But the bottle wasn't as good. Omar liked it.

Valpolicella Ripasso "la pontarre" veneto Italia--balanced but quite dry. Medium heavy body. Strong tannins. Strongest of...

Based on other reviews, we had high hopes for this place while visiting Guadalajara - VERY disappointed. The service and food were horrible - complete waste of a money and a beautiful night we could have spent at a more friendly and tasty restaurant (there are so many to choose from in GDL).

Another major complaint: We arrived before 11, the website said they were open for dinner until midnight -- this is NOT the case. We were rushed to order food by our very rude server. We tried to be friendly and make conversation, but when she found out we were gay and married, she completely ignored us for the rest of the night. We waited and waited for our check and then for them to bring the credit card machine. As we were only one of two couples in the establishment, I would have expected better service. Every time we motioned to the waitress, she was behind the bar drinking and would turn her back to our requests. Thankfully, another server finally came over and she was...