The best restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia
In South America, Colombia's community-minded cafes and innovative new restaurants are bubbling up between the street murals and ochre houses of Cartagena’s rough-around-the-edges Getsemani.
Café Stepping Stone
With the help of a crowd-funding campaign, two Canberra transplants are dishing up hearty, healthy Australian breakfasts with a Caribbean twist at this not-for-profit coffeeshop. Kickstart the day with café con leche and poached eggs and avocado on toast with queso costeño, a soft, salty cheese. Beans are sourced from MontCoffee, a Colombian company which helps fund a school in the mountainous Huila region.
Address: Café Stepping Stone, Calle San Andrés 30-40
Website: cafesteppingstone.comLa Cocina de Pepina
Simple interiors belie the authentic local food lovingly prepared in Pepina’s Kitchen. Sip on the juice of the day and then try boronía, a ripe plantain-and-aubergine dip that draws on Cartagena’s surprising Arab influences, followed by sopa caribe, an indulgent coconut-milk soup with prawns and sea bass.
Address: La Cocina de Pepina, Calle 25 10B-6
Telephone: +57 300 856 5189
Alison Browne dreameratheart.orgCafé del Mural
At this laboratory-meets-coffeeshop, barista and owner David Arzayus explains the science and history behind every cup at his morning workshops, before opening the doors properly to serve 3pm pick-me-ups. There are a range of different brewing methods, and expert staff will guide you through the extensive bean menu. Given that the city’s average humidity is about 80 per cent, the nitro cold brew is a must.
Address: Café del Mural, Calle de San Juan 25-60
Website: facebook.com/cafedelmuralCaffé Lunático
Low lighting and banquettes make this a great spot for early-evening dates. After spending a decade in Spain, chef María Delgado returned to her native Colombia, bringing together flavours from both countries. Traditional recipes have been updated as tapas, such as the squid with green-mango ceviche and fideuá de mariscos, a paella-like spaghetti dish which has a moreish crispy base.
**Address:**Caffé Lunático, Calle del Espíritu Santo 29-184
Website: caffelunatico.comEl Arsenal: The Rum Box
With a diverse distilled-sugar-cane menu, this space serves breezy lulo-fruit Mojitos and 21-year-old, bourbon-barrel-aged spirits. During the day, check out the chocolate and rum tasting, but later on accept the many shots passed around to fuel a night of dancing to the country’s energetic champeta music.
Address: El Arsenal: The Rum Box, Calle 24 8B-19
Website: elarsenaltherumbox.com
Miguel SalgadoCelele
Chefs Jaime Rodríguez and Sebastián Pinzón spent around three years scouring the country’s Caribbean coast for little-known ingredients to use at their Proyecto Caribe Lab pop-up supper clubs. Now, they have found a permanent home. Refresh with a coconut G&T at the outdoor bar, then feast on seasonal blue crab and toasted coconut rice, conch with corn and confit pork with yam-and-panela purée.
Address: Celele, Calle del Espíritu Santo 29-200
Website: celelerestaurante.comKeep scrolling for images of restaurants in Cartagena
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Tico Angulo MolinaEntrance to Celele
Map at Café Stepping Stone