Restaurants in Cartagena
In recent years, much ink has been spilled over Cartagena’s culinary cachet. With peace and prosperity, a thriving tourist industry and a dynamic restaurant scene have lured young Colombian chefs fresh from Michelin-starred restaurants overseas back home to open their own gastronomic temples. From sophisticated Caribbean tasting menus that showcase meticulously curated produce to innovative takes on French, Italian, and Spanish cuisine, Cartagena’s restaurant scene is a constantly evolving journey. And few cities provide such a magical setting. Colonial mansions ooze timeless splendor, hip rooftops buzz with a mix of stylish locals and travelers who sip tropical cocktails and graze on ceviche iterations that would hold their own in Lima. Ebullient squares, such as Plaza de Trinidad in Getsemaní, offer tantalizing takes on that quintessential Colombian staple: arepas (corn cakes with infinite filling choices), prepared on the back of a wagon and savored on a park bench as Colombian life unfolds.
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13 Results
Carmen
Set in a lovely colonial mansion—within the delightful Ananda hotel—with a poised but unpretentious vibe, Carmen has raised the bar on Cartagena’s gourmet dining scene. California transplant Chef Rob Pevitts delivers a seafood menu exquisitely conjured from fresh local ingredients as…$$$Old Town- Seafood
Club de Pesca
In the 300-year-old Fuerte de San Sabastián Pastelillo, the Club de Pesca, one of the most exclusive and romantic dining options in town, overlooks Cartagena's marina. In fact, this is the only restaurant in town where you can arrive by land or by sea. The restaurant offers…$$$Old Town Demente
When a place is this cool and the people this nice, it’s hard not to become an instant acolyte. For all its hip design, Nicolas Wiesner’s space remains grounded in the neighborhood spirit of Getsemaní. The exterior is unreconstructed, there’s a retractable roof that connects Demente…$Getsemaní- Colombian
El Boliche Cebicheria
For an extravagant lunch, this intimate restaurant—there are just seven tables—in San Diego serves meticulously curated seafood dishes that speak to the artisanal tendencies and wildly creative flair of Oscar Colmenares, a chef of outstanding pedigree. Colmenares is an alum of the…$$$Old Town - Seafood
Juan del Mar
With outside tables that spill onto lovely Plaza de San Diego, there’s an infectious energy at the very popular Juan del Mar. With the buzz from the semi-exposed kitchen, live music, and a gregarious international crowd, Juan del Mar is more about the experience than epicurean…$$Old Town - Colombian
La Casa de Socorro
With an unpretentious vibe and easygoing charms, it’s tempting to underestimate this Getsemaní gem’s culinary pedigree. An homage to Cartagena’s Caribbean roots, fresh, simple seafood and hearty meat dishes combine with more adventurous, exotic fare including picada de Tortuga…$Getsemani - Seafood
La Cevichería
This petite locale, with outdoor seating just off lovely Plaza de San Diego, was put on the culinary map by Anthony Bourdain. Regardless of its celebrity status, what’s not to love? There’s the whimsical nautical decor interspersed with Cuban iconography, the laidback staff, and the…$$Old Town - Colombian
La Cocina de Pepina
This treasure trove of soulful cooking in the heart of Getsemaní is the kind of place where you feel like (or yearn to be) a regular. One of Colombia’s most cherished chefs, María Josefina Yances (aka Pepina) devoted herself to creating Colombian and Caribbean specialties faithful to…$Getsemani - Caribbean
La Mulata
La Mulata is the Afro-Caribbean mermaid whose portrait presides over this hipster haven in the old town. The fun, low-key space is also decorated with colorful murals, painted fish, and other works of art as well as found objects such as green beer bottles repurposed as lighting…$Old Town - South American
La Perla
Nods to Peru are a dime a dozen on Cartagena’s restaurant menus, but with Lima transplant Chef Carlos Accinelli at the helm, the Peruvian dishes at the rustic-chic La Perla (a 5-min. walk from Plaza Bolívar) are among the city’s most interesting preparations. The raw appetizers steal…$$Old City - French/Caribbean
La Vitrola
A beloved institution for locals and a rite of passage for many visitors, La Vitrola exudes an air of Old Havana gloriously brought into the present with whirling ceiling fans, a tiled floor dotted with potted palms, and debonair waiters in starched white uniforms. This is the place…$$$Old Town - Seafood
Maria
Alejandro Ramirez honed his skills in London with Gordon Ramsay before he came home to Cartagena to open Maria. The striking room—with soaring ceilings, white wicker chairs, and striped banquettes beneath whimsical “pineapple” chandeliers and jungle-themed tapestries—provides the…$$$Old Town - Italian
Vera
Within the confines of the super-chic Tcharassi Hotel, Vera’s white-on-white decor and flamboyant style set the tone for a sublime dining experience. Vera’s lauded Chef Daniel Castaño crafts a coastal Italian menu which, rather than being loaded with adjectives, allows the distinct…$$Old Town
