Five of our favourite restaurants in Cartagena
Our Product Manager, Rachel Nicoll, reveals some of the city’s culinary hotspots, where we secure the very best tables for our clients
1. Carmen
Situated in a lovely house in the Old Town, this enchanting space offers creative and contemporary dishes made with local ingredients and flavours. A serious craft-cocktail menu and varied wine list help to ensure a unique dining experience. This stylish restaurant, ideal for foodie couples, would be a perfect first dinner in Cartagena.
2. Celele Restaurante
This new Getsemaní establishment is arguably now the best restaurant in Cartagena. Owned by Jaime Rodríguez and Sebastián Pinzón from Proyecto Caribe Lab, it is a celebration of ultra-creative Caribbean cuisine. This would be a great place to go after your private dance lesson at the Bazurto Social Club. After dinner, head to Havana or return to Bazurto to carry on dancing. Dress Caribbean chic.
3. Restaurante Donjuán
Passionately led by food celebrity Juan Felipe Camacho, this sophisticated bistro dishes up delicious fare with Mediterranean hints using local ingredients. Said to serve the best grilled octopus in town, Don Juán has earnt itself one of the top places on Cartagena’s trendy restaurant scene. You will be rubbing shoulders with Colombia’s elite, so don your most glamorous attire. This would be an excellent choice after an afternoon rum tasting and could be followed by a nightcap on Alquímico’s rooftop or at El Baron.
4. El Boliche Cebichería
Talented chef Oscar Colmenares has fine-tuned his ceviche skills and is only using fish caught by artisanal fishermen. This small, laid-back diner offers a well-crafted blend of Colombian tropical fruits, delicious wines, traditional coastal flavours and ultra-fresh seafood. It’s a good spot for a casual lunch, perhaps after your bike ride around the Old Town.
5. La Cocina de Pepina
This small neighbourhood gem is a great place for lunch in the Getsemaní district. It offers visitors the opportunity to eat their way through decades of Caribbean culinary traditions. Originally led by the late Maria Josefina ‘Pepina’ Yances, a local legend and chef who lived her life as if it were one long festival, La Cocina’s carnival spirit is still kept alive by the current owner. The vibe here is very relaxed; if you wear shorts and flip-flops, you’ll fit right in.