With California chefs Rob Pevitts and Carmen Angel at the helm (both alumni of Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco), the chic, elegant Carmen (like its sister restaurant in Cartagena) is one of Colombia’s most memorable dining experiences. Each artfully presented dish is composed of well-curated local meat and fish (flown in daily from the Pacific), complemented with exotic produce that just bursts and pops with flavor. Pevitt’s creative combinations and theatrical executions often stray into the realms of gastro-molecular dining, but without the pomp, pretension, and sticker shock you might expect. Asian- and Caribbean-inflected signature dishes include plantain-crusted fish of the day over coconut rice risotto, a seared snapper with coconut curry and candied yams, and plancha-seared duck confit with a wild huckleberry glaze and fried rice. For dessert, try the delicious Maui, a macadamia nut financier coated with cacao ganache, topped with a coconut “cloud,” and served with lavender ice cream. You can choose from dining in the serene kitchen-dining room with elegant bamboo furnishings or in the enchanting garden. A five-course tasting menu with wine pairings is also available. Reservations are essential.