Cartagena, the vibrant city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is known for its lively atmosphere, historic charm, and, most importantly, it’s incredible food scene. From beach clubs to cozy bistros and trendy cafés, here’s a list of must-visit dining spots in Cartagena.
Mar y Zielo
@maryzielorestaurante is a distinguished gastro bar located in the heart of Cartagena’s historic center, housed within the historic La Escribana building. De restaurant has an innovative menu focussing on Colombian food, but in a modern way. It also has lush rooftop area that provides panoramic views of the city. It’s stylish, cozy and the food is super delicious. A must go!
El Beso
@elbesorestaurant is such a fun restaurant. It has a kind of ‘street food at haute cuisine level’ kind of vibe and it only serves seafood and vegetarian dishes. The taco’s are really good, but they also make shrimp and fish burgers. They’ve also paid attention to the cocktails, so treat yourself to one when you’re there!
Sambal Bistro
@sambal_bistro is a cozy bistro with a fusion kitchen, offering surprising combinations of true Carribean cuisine. Their fresh ingredients and creative dishes make it a top choice for true food lovers. It’s located in the Getsemani neighborhood and uses products from local farms. If you’re in for something special and local yet fancy vibe, we would really recommend Sambal.
NIA Bakery
@niabakerycartagena should be on top of you list if you ask us! This modern bakery in the middle of Cartagena will surely surprise you. It has a high quality, colourful pastry and special drinks that are just sooo good! We came back three times and we don’t do that often. You can also have a delightful brunch with for example freshly baked croissants, different kinds of toast and Colombian coffee. In the evening, NIA transforms into a cozy cocktail bar, serving signature drinks inspired by local tropical fruits.
Epoca Café
@weare.epoca is a very good coffee shop located in the heart of Cartagena’s walled center. It’s a unique and trendy coffee experience and the café collaborates with local coffee farms to supply its patrons with delicious beans that are roasted in-house. We definitely had the best coffee of Cartagena here! We didn’t try it out but they also have a brunch & lunch menu.
La Esquina
@laesquinapdb is perfect if you’re looking for a more local experience and specific traditional Colombian pastries. We’ve had such a good ‘pandebono’, a type of cheese bread made from cornmeal, yuca flour and cheese, resulting in a soft and flavorful treat. We also loved the Brazilian ‘pao de queijo’, a cheese bread made with tapioca flour and cheese. Definitely don’t miss out on this one also!
Amare beach club
@amarecartagena is such a perfect beach club to go to! We found it pretty hard to find a nice, cozy beach club that’s not to touristic, not overcrowded and also has good food. In our search for a good one we came across Amare, and we had such a nice experience! You get picked up by boat from Cartagena and it will take you to the most beautiful and tranquil part of Isla de Tierra Bomba. You pay 195.000 Colombian peso’s (around € 45) and can spend 115.000 pesos on food and drinks, which we think is a very reasonable price. The price also includes the boat. We loved the facilities and the music, it’s the perfect break from the city.
Terraza Municipal
@terrazamunicipal is a food court with seats along the water and a perfect spot for watching the sunset. In the weekend it can be crowded but there’s a nice mix of tourists and locals, the atmosphere is really good. We had delicious mezcalita’s and nacho’s and it’s also fun to see the (music)boats go by while you sip and relax!
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