Colombian Restaurants
-
A
Moliendo Café
From Ecuador’s neighbors to the north, the hearty arepas (maize pancake) are a specialty here. Topped with anything from beans and cheese to slow-cooked pork, they go well with cold beer or a strong Juan Valdez. Whether you get a little or a lot, it’s essentially old-fashioned comfort food, Colombian-style.
reviewed
-
B
Donostia
This hip restaurant run by five boyhood friends puts a Mediterranean twist on Colombian food - adding spices to lighten up its meals. Meat lovers will enjoy the chuleta de cerdo BBQ (pork ribs grilled with a special recipe native to Mompós). You can hear live music here on Wednesday.
reviewed
-
C
Restaurante Fulanitos
Fulanitos is a beautifully arranged, informal place which offers food typical of the Valle del Cauca in southern Colombia. It has excellent views.
reviewed
-
Andrés Carne de Res
Hang onto your hats. This legendary steakhouse blows everyone away – even repeat visitors – for its all-out-fun atmosphere with decent steaks and all sorts of surreal decor and designed gimmicks such as menus retracting from the rafters. For most, it’s more than a meal – but a leave-the-watch-at-home expanse of late-night rumba. Staff will get you on the floor if you resist joining in. The catch is that it’s out of town – in Chía, 23km north towards Zipaquirá.
reviewed
-
D
Café Colombo
On the top floor of the building also housing the Centro Colombo Americano, this minimalist spot serves up light meals along with stunning views of the city and mountains. Go for the set meal (COP$15,500), which changes weekly, or try the crepes, pasta, steak or trout. Its 10th-floor outdoor terrace is a great spot for cocktails early in the evening.
reviewed
-
E
Pastelería Florida
Those needing a bit of pomp or history with their chocolate santafereño (hot chocolate served with cheese) should make the hike to this classic snack shop–restaurant (a legendary spot for hot chocolate since 1936), with uniformed waiters serving up a variety of cakes.
reviewed
-
F
Restaurante Hatoviejo
A favorite of Medellín's carnivores, this is the best place in the center for regional dishes such as plato montañero, an artery-clogging conglomeration of ground beef, eggs and fried pork skin.
reviewed
-
G
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
-
La Fogata
This fine restaurant is one of Armenia's most famous eateries and with good reason. It does excellent steaks and seafood as well as vuelve a la vida, a fish soup rumored to be an aphrodisiac. The restaurant sits on a triangular property not far from CC Portal del Quindío – look for the manicured bushes outside.
reviewed
-
H
La Moon
Nothing – and we're not necessarily saying this in a good way – soaks up the beer like a Colombian hot dog topped with eggs and potato sticks. Or fried pork belly and pudding. These delicacies are the preferred food and drink of Miami's 24-hour party people, and the best place for this wicked fare is here, within stumbling distance of bars like Tobacco Road. To really fit in, order a refajo: Colombian beer (Aguila) with Colombian soda (preferably the red one).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
Los Toldos
Elderly waiters wear traditional costumes and old-style Colombian folk music plays on the stereo at this typical paisa place. Go for the daily special, about COP$15,000, or indulge in a hearty bandeja paisa (paisa tray).
reviewed
-
La Fonda Antioqueña
A block from Plaza de Bolívar is this fine paisa restaurant. It serves lovingly prepared traditional fare, including bandeja paisa, and, on weekends, sancocho. The almuerzo ejecutivo (executive lunch; COP$7000) changes every day and is a great deal. Be sure to try mazamorra, a typical Zona Cafetera drink made of cooked corn served with a splash of milk.
reviewed
-
Hernán Patacón
Gorge on thin, crispy fried plantain heaped up with everything from prawns or chicken and mushrooms to arequipe (milk caramel) and cheese for a seafood-jaded palate.
reviewed
-
J
Restaurante La Pola
This rambling classic on the road to Monserrate has a mix of old-style rooms and a small courtyard, and offers some great lunch grills or order à la carte for some of the city's best ajiaco.
reviewed
-
K
La Mulata Cartagena
Stylish comida corriente (set lunch) option that's both outstanding and cheap. A daily set menu offers a handful of excellent choices and 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
-
Restaurante Portón del Parque
Occupying an elegant colonial house with high ceilings and a flowery courtyard, this restaurant is widely considered the best in town. The kitchen prepares top-quality traditional food and international favorites. The menu is meat heavy but mains include a great self-service salad bar.
reviewed
-
L
Restaurante Mango Maduro
Up an unassuming flight of stairs you'll find this festive little restaurant, which is popular with artists and intellectuals. Works by local painters adorn the orange walls, and the food, while simple, generally has an imaginative twist on paisa classics.
reviewed
-
M
Pio Pio
Don't let the strip mall location deter you from a delightful Colombian food odyssey. The inexpensive Latin cuisine is a well-kept secret, known for its juicy rotisserie selections; don't miss the picada appetizer with its kicky sauces.
reviewed
-
N
La Provincia
Located inside the Ovieda shopping mall, this upscale restaurant looks bland but it's regularly rated one of the city's top choices, with a menu inspired by both Mediterranean and classic French cuisines.
reviewed
-
O
Restaurante Comfandi
For a cheap, filling lunch, try this self-service restaurant. It's a downtown institution. Upstairs there is an exhibition space for contemporary art that is free to the public
reviewed
Advertisement
-
P
Restaurante Mesón Caribe
Dozens of simple restaurants in the walled city serve set meals for less than around US$2. They include Restaurante Mesón Caribe in San Diego.
reviewed
-
Q
Restaurante Balocco
This small, family-run restaurant serves up hearty, if basic, set meals right in the heart of the action on Av Sexta.
reviewed
-
R
Getsemaní Café Bar
Serves set meals.
reviewed
-
S
Restaurante Coroncoro
reviewed
-
T
Mondongos
Medellín families flock to this unremarkable-looking eatery to fill up on delicious Sopa de Mondongo (tripe soup). It is served with avocado, banana, lemon and arepas (corn cakes), which are added/dunked in the bowl according to each diner's personal ritual. For the full experience, come for Sunday lunch. There is another branch on La 70.
reviewed