Restaurants in Caribbean Coast
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Donde Chucho
Serving the best seafood on the coast, and sitting on prime real estate on the newly renovated Parque Santander. Start with the signature salad (shrimp, octopus, calamari and manta smoked in olive oil) and move on to robaloau gratin (mozzarella and parmesan). Divine. If this place doesn’t fit your budget, go Monday to Thursday between 6pm to 9pm and enjoy cocktails at 2-for-the-price-of-1. Don’t miss it.
reviewed
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La Casa de Socorro
This is a good little spot to try comida costeña, the typical food of the coast. It’s a casual spot with nice design touches like paintings on recycled walking planks, and the menu features staples like robalo (sea bass) smothered in cheese and garlic, along with more adventurous fare such as snail or turtle soup.
reviewed
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Snack Bars
Plenty of snack bars all across the old town serve typical local snacks such as arepas de huevo (fried maize dough with an egg inside), dedos de queso (deep-fried cheese sticks), empanadas and buñuelos (deep-fried maize and cheese balls).
reviewed
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El Burlador de Sevilla
Giant bulls' heads mounted to the wall stare down at you as you dine on some excellent Spanish treats, including paellas, tapas and jamónes (hams).
reviewed
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La Bodeguita del Medio
Eat and drink under the watchful eyes of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro in this hard-core Cuban café de la revolución.
reviewed
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Hernán Patacón
If you have come from any direction other than Panama, you are no doubt sick of smashed fried plantains, known as patacones. Here your faith is restored. This beach hut (there is another location in town) on Playa Blanca does larger, thinner versions topped with everything from chicken and mushrooms to arequipe (milk caramel) and cheese – a very nice change of pace.
reviewed
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La Mulata Cartagena
This stylish comida corriente (set lunch) option is both outstanding and cheap. A daily set menu offers a handful of excellent choices and aguas frescas (fresh juices) in an atmosphere entirely too hip for the price. It’s arguably the best value in Cartagena. There’s no sign outside – it’s under the Defensoría del Pueblo.
reviewed
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Josefina’s
On Playa Blanca, Josefina’s does wonderful seafood dishes in large portions with a friendly smile – a rare combo. The pulpo (octopus) in salsa rosada is excellent. The beachfront tree-stump tables are also good for a sundown beer. In low season, it may not appear to be open, but they will fire up with a few hours notice.
reviewed
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La Vitriola
This foodie find inside a 400-year-old colonial home is revered the country over. Seafood is the main attraction, specifically mero (grouper). The Don Román version, with a tamarind and chili sauce, is superb. There’s an extensive Chilean and Argentinian wine list to go with the menu as well as live Cuban music nightly.
reviewed
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8-18
Very innovative takes on modern costeña cuisine is immerging from the glassed-in kitchen at this intimate and trendy boutique restaurant decked out in lime-vegetation decor. The creamy calamari rice with blue cheese is thoroughly satisfying and the bull’s tail stewed in red wine is the best seller. One of Cartagena’s best.
reviewed
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BrianZola
This is the spot to cool off with Italian gelato in a plethora of exotic Colombian flavors like mora (blackberry), arequipe (milk caramel), zapote (a type of red avocado) and guanábara (soursop). It also does recommendable pizzas. It’s attached to Juan Valdéz cafe.
reviewed
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La Cevicheria
Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain dined at this tiny seafooder for his television show and for good reason: unconventional ceviches (shrimp with mango, passion fruit, garlic butter, mozzarella cheese and white wine, for example) offer a culinary quest into the exotic ingredients of Colombia’s coast.
reviewed
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Delicentro Bavara
In a country where a good sandwich is scarce, this hole-in-the-wall counter serves up ones worth writing home about. The excellent toasted Cubans and chicken sandwiches are meticulously prepared (20 minutes) and are worth the wait. There’s no sign – look for the brick facade with iron gates.
reviewed
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La Sartén Dorada
There are a lot of cheap restaurants around the budget hotels, particularly on Calles 11 and 12 near the waterfront, where you can get an unsophisticated set meal for at most around US$2. La Sartén Dorada is one of the cheaper restaurants that does good seafood.
reviewed
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Basilea
If you tire of coastal cuisine, this intimate Med-French place offers a nice change of pace, serving interesting dishes like the fiery red pepper steak (but where are the steak knives?) in Santa Marta’s most refined atmosphere. Save room for the excellent flan.
reviewed
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Parrilla Argentina Quebracho
The gutted pig slowly roasting inside the giant glass oven may not be too appetizing, but this place does offer some great steaks cooked in the pampa style, and a long list of Argentine wines and champagnes. It's easy to spot, thanks to a big bull at the door.
reviewed
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Burukuka
Perched on a cliffside high above El Rodadero, this chic spot specializing in steaks turns into an all-night party Thursday to Saturday. Plant yourself on the expansive outdoor patio for a sunset drink, or make a night of it – it’s worth the taxi up here.
reviewed
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El Bistro
This casual, German-run restaurant serves up a daily-changing chalkboard menu of Euro bistro fare accompanied by German bread prepared in-house and Erdinger served in proper ½L glassware. It’s hip without trying too hard, and the food is quite good.
reviewed
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Restaurante Pelíkanos
This arty, bohemian two-level restaurant is different from any other. It has just one set menu daily, consisting of six Caribbean-style courses (four entrées, main course and dessert), plus unlimited Chilean wine included in the price.
reviewed
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El Santíssimo
This upscale casual spot is doing some very interesting things with the flavors and food of Colombia, and each dish is paired with a suggested wine. The obatala, a traditional costeña beef stew, is divine. Don’t miss it.
reviewed
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Plaza Santo de Domingo
Plaza Santo de Domingo is home to six open-air cafés which serve a varied menu of mains, snacks, sweets and drinks. It's a popular place for people-watching, although prices are a little higher than they should be.
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Cocteleria Juancho
This ceviche street stall has been packing in loyal locals of all ilk for 33 years. Here it is all about the shrimp ceviche, which comes in four sizes. It’s located next door to the Gino Passcalli store.
reviewed
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Bocaditos Madrid
This working-class lunch counter is a great place to try homey local food at rock bottom prices. There’s no menu, just a few daily changing options like chicken with maracuyá (passion fruit).
reviewed
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Crêpes Expresso
Artsy French-owned crepería that does excellent crepes (though some with canned ingredients) and cocktails as well. The fan turns on with the bathroom light – nice touch in this heat.
reviewed
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La Dulceria
If you’re escaping more chaotic El Centro for the plush suburbs of Bocagrande, this is a good option for an excellent selection of salads, sandwiches and Arab sweets such as baklava.
reviewed
