Must-see restaurants in Cartagena

  • El Boliche

    Cartagena

    Small, delightful and not so well known that it's inundated, El Boliche basks in its relative obscurity. If you're reticent about raw fish, Boliche offers…

  • Interno

    Cartagena

    Interno is a restaurant inside Cartagena's women's prison that raises money for the rehabilitation of its inmates, who cook for and wait on you. Trained…

  • Ceviche with Lime

    La Cevichería

    Cartagena

    A once little-known spot prized by locals, La Cevichería was given ample publicity in an episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations in 2008. Cue the…

  • Caffé Lunático

    Cartagena

    There’s nothing remotely looney about this artsy little spot in the hosteling hub of Gestemaní that pays homage to Amy Winehouse in a head-and-shoulders…

  • El Santísimo

    Cartagena

    A family-friendly restaurant that won’t scare off romantic couples, Santísimo indulges in a bit of creative recycling. The chandeliers are made from empty…

  • Espíritu Santo

    Cartagena

    In a city full of tourists, Espíritu Santo is where you come to meet the locals – hundreds of 'em in one sitting. (The restaurant is small from the…

  • Quintal

    Cartagena

    This innovative addition to Cartagena's eating scene is in a converted building facing the thick stone walls of Getsemaní. It offers a friendly gourmet…

  • Oh Là Là

    Cartagena

    This fabulous addition to Getsemaní's increasingly varied and interesting dining options brings a slice of Gallic culture to Cartagena's hippest…

  • Pastelería Mila

    Cartagena

    Cartagena's fanciest patisserie serves up breakfasts and lunches at this fashionable spot in the heart of the Old Town. The distressed walls and wooden…

  • Agua de Mar

    Cartagena

    This gorgeous and inventive place is one of Cartagena's most interesting restaurants, sporting titular water features and a very cool gin bar (the…

  • La Mulata

    Cartagena

    This stylish and rather eccentric comida corriente option is still outstanding, even if its prices have risen in recent years. A daily set menu offers a…

  • Pezetarian

    Cartagena

    Feast on affordable and delicious sushi, ceviche, wok dishes and salads at this ultracentral location. You'll find little else in this area at this price…

  • Beiyu

    Cartagena

    A simple little cafe plying excellent Colombian coffee, fresh juices, full breakfasts and an innovative selection of lunch and dinner dishes, Beiyu is a…

  • Demente

    Cartagena

    Right in the heart of the Getsemaní action, Demente is an open-air (well, has a retractable roof), rather trendy spot where craft beer and great cocktails…

  • Beer & Laundry

    Cartagena

    It’s the bane of every backpacker: where to get your laundry done with minimal fuss. Here’s the answer: deposit it with the friendly English-speaking…

  • Cevichería Chipi Chipi

    Cartagena

    As if to underscore this place's ceviche credentials, its dining room enjoys a somewhat writ-large nautical theme, but it remains a stylish and cool place…

  • Kiosco El Bony

    Cartagena

    Owned by ex-Olympic boxer Bonifacio Ávila, this beachside Cartagena institution is famous for its vast fish lunches. It's thronged with Colombians on…

  • Restaurante Coroncoro

    Cartagena

    Unashamedly basic, Coroncoro has plastic chairs, crummy tables and an eccentric collection of wall-mounted paraphernalia that looks as though it was…

  • La Vitrola

    Cartagena

    Perfectly lit and comfortably furnished, this 400-year-old colonial home converted to a seafood restaurant is famous – and deservedly so. The mero …

  • Basilica Pizzería Café

    Cartagena

    The location here couldn't be more charming, on the side of a small Getsemaní plaza with its own cast-iron well and just far enough from the tourist log…

  • La Gaucha

    Cartagena

    Sometimes you just need a large, rare steak and a glass of decent Malbec. When that call comes, answer it here. The breezy, elegant room is all high…

  • Gato Negro

    Cartagena

    A favorite Getsemaní option that concentrates on a plain and simple breakfast menu – omelets, crepes, muesli and continental breakfasts are all available …

  • Casa de las Novias

    Cartagena

    A wonderfully bizarre place for a superb coffee and cake, this is actually a wedding planners' with its own charming cafe attached. Relish the low, low…

  • Señor Toro

    Cartagena

    This centrally located steakhouse is the most rigorous in the city in terms of sourcing and preparing meat. Nowhere else will you find such perfectly…