Bogotá
Start your day adorably with a series of regional breakfasts at this organic cafe and supermarket in La Macarena, where hip vegetarians and other…
Must-see restaurants in Colombia
Caribbean Coast
Do as the menus of this sweet little riverside cafe suggest: read a book, drink a coffee and enjoy the river – from one of its outdoor rocking chairs, no…
Villa de Leyva
This colorful restaurant/culinary school prides itself on being 100% Colombian and is indeed the best place to sample Colombian gastronomy at levels…
San Gil
You wouldn't expect to find the best pizza in town at a gas station on the highway, but this bright new place delivers with a variety of delicious…
Bogotá
Amid the grinding of coffee beans and the aroma of fresh almond croissants, Bogotá’s trendiest take to the wooden tabletops of this sleek coffee shop…
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…
Barichara
The best local restaurant – unpretentious and not pandering to tourists; indeed, not pandering to anyone much. No matter. The key here is the food: 15 or…
Caribbean Coast
Grilled fish on your plate, sand between your toes, a cold beer within easy reach and Bob Marley on the sound system: sit outside this Caribbean-style…
Bogotá
Serving 100% vegan food, this sit-down and takeaway hole-in-the-wall is a veggie’s delight. Choose from nine different meat-free hamburgers (such as black…
San Gil
The curious and brave should elbow their way through the narrow aisles of this scrappy covered market, where you can grab comida corriente (daily set…
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…
Cali & Southwest Colombia
Considered the best restaurant in town, Humo is a casual open-air affair constructed from wood and bamboo. Typical smoked meat and fish dishes are served…
Puerto Nariño
Under a huge palapa (thatched roof) just beyond the soccer pitch, lunch-only Las Margaritas is the best restaurant in Puerto Nariño, even if it's rather…
Cali
Is it just us, or do arepas (corn cakes) taste better when they come in a square shape? This colorful basement restaurant in San Antonio stuffs them with…
Cali
A busy vegetarian restaurant serving hearty meat-free versions of Colombian classics, as well as ambitious fusion dishes such as Mexican lasagna, which is…
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…
Cali
Pan-Asian 'wok' restaurants are all over Colombia but this friendly little place in Granada is a cut above the standard offerings. The busy open kitchen…
Armenia
Just a few hundred meters from the zona rosa is this restaurant with eclectic decor: kids’ bikes, umbrellas and empty wine bottles dangle from the ceiling…
Bucaramanga
An upmarket Italian place serving big portions at reasonable prices. You'll find good pasta dishes, including excellent lasagna, as well as quality pizzas…
Medellín
Medellín families flock to this unremarkable-looking spot to fill up on sopa de mondongo (tripe soup). It's served with avocado, banana, lemon and arepas …
Villa de Leyva
A newborn gourmet-burger joint on the main square, the Tavolo enables diners to enjoy their innovatively adorned patties (served on mini bread boards)…
Bucaramanga
Lebanese-descended Colombians do a commendable job at this clean-cut Middle Eastern spot that's just a step above fast food. Felafel, shawarma, kibe,…
Medellín
Famous for its scrumptious Argentine-style empanadas, this Medellín institution also serves monster portions of steak milanesa and nicely seasoned…
Providencia
Don Olivo hails from Mauritania and delights in preparing his morning's catch for lunch, which he serves up on the terrace of his seafront home on the…
Santa Marta
Serving the best seafood on the coast, Donde Chucho is a local legend. Start with the signature ensalada Chucho (shrimp, octopus, calamari and manta ray…
Barranquilla
This rather high-end place has the feel of a private club, and is indeed housed in a grand turn-of-the-century mansion complete with valet parking…
Providencia
It's easy to see why this restaurant on Providencia's best beach is so popular – palm-shaded tables dot the sand with waves lapping at your feet, while…
Bucaramanga
Colorful, cute and happening, this build-your-own ceviche and salad spot is a great escape from meat, rice and yuca. There are six predetermined choices,…
Bogotá
La Herencia takes the very best of traditional Colombian cuisine and serves it up within a sophisticated and friendly atmosphere. From the comfort of this…
Santa Marta
This curious little restaurant occupies the site of Santa Marta's first-ever radio station, and it's a burger-producing homage to the fact that's crammed…
Cali & Southwest Colombia
About 10km from Darién is this large, exposed-timber restaurant with great views of the lake. It does all the basics very well – sancocho (typical…
Leticia
At first glance, this looks like an unapologetic tourist trap with walls covered in Amazonian knickknacks and folk art pieces all over the place…
Los Llanos
With its tables outside on the street sheltered by the market awning, Nomada looks at first glance to be just like any small comida corriente, but one…
Chocó
It doesn't look like much but this tiny restaurant with a handful of plastic tables serves up a wide variety of excellent seafood dishes including ollitas…
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…
Minca
You can slink into the Lazy Cat at any time of day for all kinds of hunger relief, from breakfasts (COP$8000 to COP$10,000) to superb local coffee,…
Boyacá
Head down the narrow corridor off the plaza to emerge in this bright, modern atrium cafe that's a popular local meeting spot. A series of long lamps hangs…
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…
Cali
At this well-loved high-end restaurant, colorful hand-painted chairs surround tables in a covered atrium overlooking the open kitchen. The menu is diverse…
Bogotá
Nick honed his deli skills in Boston and, recognizing a niche in his hometown, now presides over a killer deli-sandwich kingdom in Bogotá. Around 25…
