The Caribbean Coast Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Caribbean Coast - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

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  • 1. Cafe del Mural

    $

    A draw for serious coffee lovers, this tiny, charmingly rustic and colorfully cluttered café is the perfect place to delve into the wide world of Colombian coffee. Owner, roaster, and barista David is passionate and knowledgeable and with no pretense or frills. He offers an impressive array of modern methods of preparation—from Chemex, Aeropress, and cold brew to traditionally (and impeccably) prepared espresso—but also a mad genius edge by offering coffee from machines from as far abroad as Germany or Vietnam. The café also offers a wide variety of cold coffee, fruit drinks, and creamy caffeinated cocktails. Go when you have some time to sample beans from various regions around the country, or just sit at the wooden beam bench outside and watch a Getsemaní afternoon pass by. However, it's only open from 3 pm to 8 pm.

    Calle San Jun #25–60, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
    5-647–2912

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch or dinner
  • 2. Carmen

    $$$ | Centro

    This smart restaurant promises and delivers a quality high-end dining experience with a tantalizing menu offering a modern take on superbly sourced local ingredients with well-integrated Asian touches. The dining room is divided into three distinct spaces: an internal salon dominated by an exposed brick wall and teardrop lamps; a courtyard soothed by the constant sound of running water; and a small rooftop terrace, perfect for drinking up the Cartagena sunset and a welcoming cool breeze. Following in the steps of the flagship Medellín original, service is sharp without being stuffy, and the drinks menu impresses with a suitably exotic list of cocktails. For a treat, indulge in one of the five- or seven-course tasting menus.

    Calle del Cuartel 36--77, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
    5-660--6795
  • 3. Cocina de Pepina

    $$$

    One of the most recommended local favorites is a no-frills bastion of Cartagena cuisine built on the impressive research and skill of chef and culinary historian María "Pepina" Yances. Although Doña Pepina passed away in 2014, her energy and recipe book have been carried forward by her family, and the restaurant remains a must-visit for those keen to sample local classics. The blackboard menu changes daily, although staples like the mote de queso (a soup of yam, coconut milk, and local cheese) and cabeza de gato (balls of mashed plantain and yam with a zingy tomato-onion relish) will always be on hand. Keep an eye out for the peppers stuffed with ground beef, another punchy perennial favorite.

    Callejón Vargas 9A–06, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    5-664–2944

    Known For

    • Recipes from a local celebrity chef
    • Mote de queso (yam, coconut, and cheese soup)
    • Peppers stuffed with ground beef

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Mon.
  • 4. El Fuerte Restaurant

    $$$

    Set in an almost cavernous space with double arches reaching up to the 15-foot-high ceiling, the warm and welcoming staff at this 18th-century fort turned restaurant serves great drinks and a solid Italian menu. Quality is paramount here—pizzas are thin and wood fired and pasta is handmade with freshly prepared sauces. Cash only.

    Cra. 1 and Calle 13, Santa Cruz de Mompox, Bolívar, 132560, Colombia
    314–564–0566
  • 5. Gelatería Tramonti

    $ | Centro

    There are few things more welcoming in the tropical Cartagena humidity than cold, creamy gelato, and this tiny corner offers the best in town, outshining the competition with quality ingredients, creative flavors, and friendly service. Owners Davis and Mateo have not only succeeded in bringing the true taste and texture of Italian gelato from their homeland, but they also offer a range of flavors based on local fruit, including lulo and guanabana, that surprise and delight.

    Calle de Ayos #4--50, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    5-664--9354
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  • 6. La Cevichería

    $$$ | Centro

    Lively and colorful, this is what a cevichería should feel like. Choose from the tables outside, white wrought-iron stools at the kitchen bar or small wooden tables in a small but festively decorated space marked by its blue-and-white chequered floor and plenty of nautical details. Besides an excellent rendition of a classic Peruvian ceviche, also be sure to try the Douglas ceviche with mango, shrimp, lemon, and red onion, or splurge on the tropical paella.

    Calle Stuart 7--14, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
    5-660--1492
  • 7. Lulo Cafe Bar

    $$

    One of the best places to hang out in town, Lulo gets it right with fresh juices, light healthy food, and a warm, easygoing vibe. The smoothies are outstanding, the wraps and gourmet arepas never disappoint, and breakfast is delicious. There are plenty of vegetarian options too, and they serve good local coffee from the Sierra Nevada.

    Cra. 3 No. 16–34, Santa Marta, Magdalena, 470004, Colombia
    5-423–2725
  • 8. Ouzo Restaurante

    $$$

    From its prime position on the Parque de los Novios, Ouzo serves up tasty Mediterranean food with deftly applied Greek influences that make for a refreshing change from the norm. The high-ceilinged interior is kept cool by whirring fans and the pleasant ambience, which is somewhere between Greece and colonial Colombia. In the evenings, a table on the balcony or plaza can't be beat. Try as many of the appetizers as possible, and don't miss the wood-fired pizzas or house specialties like Greek paella or Makaronia me Keftedes (Greek meatballs) if available. Reservations are advised.

    Cra. 3 #19–29, Santa Marta, Magdalena, 470003, Colombia
    5-423–0658

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 9. Agua de Mar

    $$$ | Centro

    A wave of gin bars has rolled onto the shore in Cartagena, but this restaurant, thanks to Spanish owner Mar Alonso, has focused on a more gastronomic twist. He offers some of the best bites in the city, going well beyond standard tapas into a unique blend of Mediterranean and Caribbean fusion fare. The decor is modern, albeit a little more cold and cavernous than you might want, but the warmth of the friendly, top-notch servers and a serious selection of gin drinks more than make up for other failings. As the evening slides on, the bar crowd takes over, and a classy crowd of cocktail lovers sips until the early hours of the morning.

    Calle del Santísimo #8--15, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    5-664–5798
  • 10. Beiyú

    $

    A tiny café that is easy to miss on one of Getsemaní's main streets, Beiyú provides a welcome respite from all things fried and heavy (which dominate local cuisine) with a selection of healthy wraps and juices. There is a small but good breakfast menu at bargain prices, but it's the juice and smoothie menu that will bring you back time and again. A huge variety of fruit is available, and more exotic jungle superfruit like acaí and copuacú offer a cool, energizing kick to keep the tropical heat at bay.

    Calle del Guerrero #29--75, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    312-287–8694
  • 11. Café San Pedro

    $$$ | Centro

    This restaurant's main attraction is its location on Plaza San Pedro Claver, since some tables have beautiful views of the eponymous church. Although it serves Colombian fare with a particular focus on seafood, this restaurant's eclectic menu also includes dishes from Thailand, Italy, and Japan. In the evenings there are few better spots for people watching if you manage to grab one of the outside tables for a drink or dinner.

    Plaza San Pedro Claver, 30–11, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    5-664–5121

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 12. Caffé Lunático

    $$$

    Set on a lovely and generally calm Getsemaní street, this funky café dominated by a graffitti mural serves the tastiest breakfast in town. Try the arepita lunática for one of the best examples of the local breakfast classic. It's also an excellent choice for tapas in the evening. Ingredients are of notably good quality, and the Spanish owner-chef reliably impresses with a short menu that shows off some inventive and remarkably well-executed dishes ranging from a watermelon gazpacho with avocado and a shrimp brochette, to a corvina tiradito with banana and lemongrass, to a more traditional grilled octopus. All around, Lunático offers great value for the quality of the food.

    Calle Espiritu Santo 29–184, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    5-660–1735

    Known For

    • Evening tapas menu
    • Brunch with 2 hours of free mimosas
    • Great value
  • 13. Club de Pesca

    $$$$

    Time slips gently by at this 18th-century fortress-turned-restaurant by a marina in the Manga neighborhood, not far from the walled town. Fish is a focus, and the restaurant prides itself on its wine list. It's easy to linger on the waterfront terrace in the shade of a giant fig tree, and the refreshingly calm ambience has played a large part in making Club de Pesca a local favorite. The food, though fresh, doesn't stand up to other high-end offerings around town.

    Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    5-651–7400

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 14. De Silvio Trattoria

    $$

    The exposed stone walls and graffiti-covered exterior of an old Getsemaní home set the tone for this trendy Italian restaurant, which seamlessly blends the historical and modern faces of the neighborhood. Grab a table in the green, open-air courtyard and stick to the pizza. You'll enjoy a gently pleasant evening that isn't too heavy on the wallet.

    Calle de la Sierpe #9A--08, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    5-660--2205

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 15. Donde Chucho

    $$$

    Now grown to several locations around Santa Marta, this branch in a quieter corner of the Parque de los Novios has a superb seafood selection backed up by a smooth jazz soundtrack. Grilled fish dishes are excellent, as are the ceviches. Service varies between attentive and friendly to quite distracted, but the ambience and fresh fish make it worth it.

    Calle 19 #2–17, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia
    5-421–0861
  • 16. El Boliche Cebicheria

    $$$ | Centro

    This tiny restaurant on a quiet, flower-filled street of one-story houses in the San Diego section of the historic town serves up impeccably fresh, creative ceviche and other seafood dishes. With six or seven basic tables—and the kitchen just behind them all—space is at a premium, but the food is worth the squeeze. Empanadas are stuffed with crab, coconut milk, lemongrass, and chimichurri; the cebiche coco comes with squid, shrimp, and conch, along with coconut milk, cilantro, and sweet peppers. Fried plantain chips are a perfect accompaniment, and cocktails are available. You have to love a place where, during a late lunch, the owner's child may be playing underfoot. Reservations are recommended for dinner.

    Calle Cochera del Hobo, #38--17, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    310-368–7908
  • 17. Gaucha Resto Winehouse

    $$$

    Another hotspot in the Getsemaní nighttime firmament, Gaucha is a steak house seemingly lifted straight from the streets of Buenos Aires. Classy minimal styling includes weathered whitewashed walls; heavy, bare wooden tables; a chequered tile floor; and oversized wicker lampshades that create soft dappled light. Of course, the design takes a backseat to the star of the show, a range of quality cuts of meat, well-sized and impeccably grilled. The classic bife de chorizo (sirlion strip steak) is excellent, but rest easy that more typical and richly flavored Argentine cuts like the vacio (flank) or tira de asado (Argentine short ribs) are superbly done and worth trying. Splurge on a good bottle of Malbec—there's a decent selection—and don't pass up the classy starters.

    Calle del Espiritu Santo #29--207, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    5-660--8248

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 18. I Balcone

    $$

    Directly above the famous Cafe Havana, I Balcone retains its mantle of go-to spot in the city for fans of thin-crust pizza thanks to an excellent dough and all handmade ingredients. The pasta, also freshly made, is an equally good choice, with the creamy lobster linguine a standout. The interior lacks a bit of love, but get there early to assure a spot at the little tables squeezed onto one of the balconies, and you can enjoy the inevitably pleasant evening and lively street life passing below.

    Calle del Guererro #29--146, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
    5-660--9880
  • 19. La Canoa Cafe Cultural

    $$$

    A funky little café with checkered floors and tearoom-style salons, La Canoa's air-conditioned, brightly lit interior makes for a welcome respite any time of the day. The highlight is the selection of pastries and desserts for a snack with coffee. At lunchtime, the daily set menu is delicious and comes at a comfortable price; the homemade panini sandwiches are great, and the seafood salads are always a winner---try the Mediterráneo (shrimp and capers).

    Calle 18 #3–75, Santa Marta, Magdalena, 470004, Colombia
    5-421–7895

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 20. La Frontera Restaurante Pizzeria

    $$

    There are no frills here---candleholders are empty wine bottles and food is served on a smoothed slice of a tree trunk---but the pizza comes out thin, crispy, and delicious every time and the beers are cold. It's exactly what you need after a day at the beach.

    La Guajira, Colombia
    300–319–5629

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