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Caribbean Coast

Entertainment in Caribbean Coast

  1. A

    Tu Candela

    Wall-to-wall reggaeton, vallenato, merengue and some decent salsa. Tu Candela is cramped – but the atmosphere is cool and the decor, lighting and service are all good. It's rumored that one night, the management turned off the massive plasma screens that have shown bad music videos at all other times in the bar's history. Convert the cover charge to cocktails at the bar.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Café del Mar

    Ocean breezes swoop in off the coast and bring a relaxing freshness to this chic outdoor lounge perching on the western ramparts of the old city. Dress up a notch or two if you want to blend in. DJs might merely fax in their sets of Ibiza-tinged pop-house, but the view to Bocagrande makes it worth it.

    reviewed

  3. C

    Mister Babilla

    This massive, multispace club is a curiosity. Is it a rock club? A salsa joint? A pumping house club? A vallenato hot spot? It's all of the above, and is as crowded as it's flirty. Try to ignore the decor and get on the floor instead.

    reviewed

  4. D

    La Casa de la Cerveza

    Another chic spot set high atop the city's walls, similar to Café del Mar, but with stupendous views out toward Castillo de San Felipe. DJs spin tracks nightly and, in case you get hungry, there's grilled meat, empanadas, and decent ceviche all under COP$40,000.

    reviewed

  5. E

    Donde Fidel

    The sound system here, when it kicks, has been know to reduce grown men to tears – as does the extraordinary salsa collection of Don Fidel himself. This is music of love, loss and lament. A Cartagena institution, smooching couples dance in alcoves under portraits of the owner and various gurning megastars. The vast seated terrace is perfect for people-watching.

    reviewed

  6. F

    Café Havana

    Café Havana has it all: live salsa from horn-blowing Cubans, strong drinks, wood-panelled walls and a ceiling full of whirring fans. Go with a clued-up Colombian who'll point out the disgraced ex-presidents, their wives and mistresses, the TV presenters and supermodels who all get down around the massive central bar. Still the best bar in town bar none.

    reviewed

  7. G

    Leon de Baviera

    Run by an expat German named Stefan, this is one of the city’s few true watering holes. The intimate space fills quickly with locals swilling back 3L tubes of European and local brews. The waitresses are dressed in their St Pauli Girl’s best.

    reviewed

  8. H

    Quiebra-Canto

    It gets tight with an eclectic crowd of all shapes and sizes at this excellent Getsemaní spot for salsa, son (a kind of slow salsa) and reggae. It's on the second floor overlooking Pegasos and the clock tower. Purists insist the salsa here is hotter than at Café Havana.

    reviewed

  9. I

    Lautrec

    This spot has a personality disorder: is it a dark and mysterious haunt for creative types, or a dance club? It’s too dark and too noisy, but still a good time. Good on Sunday when most of Santa Marta is cooped up.

    reviewed

  10. Ritmo Caribe

    This small techno place has a bombing base that doesn't allow for much conversation, but it's great if you just want to dance. It's free on weekdays but charges a cover on weekends.

    reviewed

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  12. Via Apia

    This lively tapas bar is one of the best places in the center for evening drinks and good music. They also have a big-screen TV projecting either football matches or music videos.

    reviewed

  13. J

    La Puerta

    Here, students and gringos eye each other up and get happily trashed in a beautifully benign Colombian style. Soca, salsa, house, hip hop and reggae warm up the packed dancefloor. The gusting fans surrounding it will make you and other dancers look dramatically windswept and much more attractive – especially after half a bottle of aguardiente.

    reviewed

  14. K

    Ceiba

    If the street juice-stands scare you, this is a lovely sanitized version on Plaza de los Coches. All the yummy fruits are represented in a much cleaner, hipper environment.

    reviewed

  15. El Garaje

    Well worth visiting on a Wednesday when the rest of Santa Marta is quiet, El Garaje is a fun, open-air bar at the back end of Taganga. It's best after midnight.

    reviewed

  16. L

    Via Libre

    Only open one night a week, this gay-and-lesbian-friendly discotheque also plays loud thumping music, but is more casual than Lincoln Road.

    reviewed

  17. Lincoln Road

    Open on weekends, this ultra-flash gay club has fiery lasers, strobe lights and pumping music, plus the occasional strip tease.

    reviewed

  18. M

    Amancay

    This funky bar features Frank Miller strips lining the exposed brick walls and other abstract decor.

    reviewed

  19. La Escollera

    This trendy and expensive disco is on a small islet in the northern end of El Rodadero.

    reviewed

  20. Barrio Samario

    This Belgian-run salsa bar reels in a slightly more mature crowd.

    reviewed

  21. Peskaito

    Open-air dance bar.

    reviewed

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  23. N

    Son Tapas

    Live salsa, free nibbles and an intimate, late-night vibe, this bar just off the Parque de los Novios serves a slightly older, less wild crowd than some spots in town such as La Puerta, and has a touch of midnight magic to it.

    reviewed

  24. O

    Crabs

    Santa Marta, are you ready to rock? A great new rock bar with pool table, outdoor smoking terrace, decent-priced beers and spirits, and video screens paying homage to some of the more obscure monsters of rock. I mean, when did you last see an Alice Cooper video?

    reviewed

  25. La Barra

    This new spot is actually the nicest bar in town, but lacks reputation and waterfront location. Still, it seems too stylish for Mompox.

    reviewed