Guidebook for Cartagena
Food Scene
These are places we like, or places recommended by our guests, with very different price range. You can check menus on their website most of the time.
Our top 4 inexpensive restaurants in the Center are:
-La Mulata
-Santissimo
-Crepes and waffles rooftop near San Pedro Claver
-Buena vida rooftop
Our favourite places for Breakfast:
-La Esquina del pan de Bono
-Cafe de la manana
-Al Alma
La Mulata
9 58 Cl. del QueroLaid back restaurant, local food, good price...
Coffee with cake? Enjoy the desserts and colonial style of this place.
38 locals recommend
Mila Postres
7-135 Cra. 4Coffee with cake? Enjoy the desserts and colonial style of this place.
Inexpensive but very good salads, crepes and ice creams. Go after 5 pm to enjoy the rooftop with one of the best views of the city's roof.
157 locals recommend
Crepes & Waffles
4 #31-24 Pl. de San Pedro ClaverInexpensive but very good salads, crepes and ice creams. Go after 5 pm to enjoy the rooftop with one of the best views of the city's roof.
Se Volvió Prisprí Coffee Shop
Very good spot for breakfast!
El Santísimo
8-19 Carrera 39A classic in town.
Carmen Cartagena
Excellent classic in Cartagena, for a fancy diner.
Restaurante Celele by Proyecto Caribe Lab
29-200 Cra. 10c Local produce, innovative chefs
Rooftop bar, access to the pool. Welcomes all customers, not only the hotel's guests, at their rooftop , for brunch on weekends and at certain hours during the week (with a minimum order of 50 000 COP)
30 locals recommend
Townhouse Boutique Hotel & Rooftop
#36-88 Cra. 7Rooftop bar, access to the pool. Welcomes all customers, not only the hotel's guests, at their rooftop , for brunch on weekends and at certain hours during the week (with a minimum order of 50 000 COP)
Breakfast/Snack like a local: smoothies, avenas, breads and puff pastries (savoury or sweet) , next to Cartagena university square. Unexpensive.
13 locals recommend
La Esquina del Pandebono
Breakfast/Snack like a local: smoothies, avenas, breads and puff pastries (savoury or sweet) , next to Cartagena university square. Unexpensive.
Café San Alberto
35-18 Cl. de los Santos de PiedraTo sip a good colombian coffee in the Santo Domingo square
For a coffee, a fruit juice, breakfast or brunch, not far from "home"
6 locals recommend
Café de la Mañana
For a coffee, a fruit juice, breakfast or brunch, not far from "home"
Good local food, casual, not expensive. The place where the cartageneros have lunch. Try the Mote de queso (soup with local cheese and sour cream, served with aguacate, rice and platano: it is a full meal), or the posta negra ( meat cooked in a caramel-like sauce).
47 locals recommend
Holy Spirit Restaurant
6-69 Cl. 35Good local food, casual, not expensive. The place where the cartageneros have lunch. Try the Mote de queso (soup with local cheese and sour cream, served with aguacate, rice and platano: it is a full meal), or the posta negra ( meat cooked in a caramel-like sauce).
Excellent colombian fusion food. The french chef Gilles is usually here to explain his recipes.
10 locals recommend
Oh La La
8b300 Cl. 25Excellent colombian fusion food. The french chef Gilles is usually here to explain his recipes.
Very nice rooftop for diner, couldn't be closer from home . Plan in advance because it can be full.
18 locals recommend
Buena Vida Marisquería - Cartagena
Esquina Cl. del PorvenirVery nice rooftop for diner, couldn't be closer from home . Plan in advance because it can be full.
For a drink, lunch or diner. Mexican, latin american food . Large outside space with a view over the bay. Good music, friendly staff.
Terraza Municipal
For a drink, lunch or diner. Mexican, latin american food . Large outside space with a view over the bay. Good music, friendly staff.
Beautiful place for breakfast/ brunch, one of our guests favourite
Al Alma Café Restaurante - Cartagena
Beautiful place for breakfast/ brunch, one of our guests favourite
Open at 8 am, offers one of the best coffee of Colombia. Reasonably priced. Comfortable place with aircon and Wifi. A good spot to wait for a friend before going shopping in La Serrezuela mall , or exploring the old city.
Café Quindío Serrezuela
Open at 8 am, offers one of the best coffee of Colombia. Reasonably priced. Comfortable place with aircon and Wifi. A good spot to wait for a friend before going shopping in La Serrezuela mall , or exploring the old city.
One of the locals favorite! A small gem with 3 to 4 tables outside, in a little corner of San Diego, within the walled city. Good local and sea food.
La Vieja Guardia Fish&Beer
One of the locals favorite! A small gem with 3 to 4 tables outside, in a little corner of San Diego, within the walled city. Good local and sea food.
Drinks & Nightlife
Café del Mar Ltda.
For sunset cocktails. Sometimes crowded.
Alquimico Bar
##34-24 Cl. del ColegioVery good cocktails and DJs.
Plaza de San Diego
7 - 46 Calle StuartNice square for a casual street food diner.
Café Havana
ESQUINA Cra. 10Great place to dance salsa
Caponera Café Bar
25-100 Cl. 24On your way to Getsemani. Good vibe, unexpensive beers.
The salsa corner, huge terrace to sit outside at night, not far from to the clock tower. For a drink
118 locals recommend
SALSA DONDE FIDEL
Carrera 4The salsa corner, huge terrace to sit outside at night, not far from to the clock tower. For a drink
The nightclub in town, in a gorgeous colonial mansion. And you won't have to walk too much to go back home: we are two blocks away.
Casa Cruxada
The nightclub in town, in a gorgeous colonial mansion. And you won't have to walk too much to go back home: we are two blocks away.
Sightseeing
One of the oldest churches of the city. The Square is a nice spot for a coffee.
31 locals recommend
Santo Domingo Church
33-60 Cra. 3One of the oldest churches of the city. The Square is a nice spot for a coffee.
Historical landmark, interesting museum, sometimes hosts contemporary art exhibitions.
175 locals recommend
Palace of the Inquisition Cartagena Historical Museum
Historical landmark, interesting museum, sometimes hosts contemporary art exhibitions.
A place where you learn how the city was build, constantly struggling with pirates and privateers
84 locals recommend
Museo Naval Del Caribe
3-26 Cl. de San Juan de DiosA place where you learn how the city was build, constantly struggling with pirates and privateers
Bolivar Park
Our favourite place to sit on a bench and enjoy the city's vibe.
Have an arepa de huevo sitting in a bench, or a drink in one of the bars around. Next to the French Alliance who has movie nights and sometimes art exhibitions in the library. Nice patio...
80 locals recommend
Plaza Fernandez Madrid
37-14 Carrera 8Have an arepa de huevo sitting in a bench, or a drink in one of the bars around. Next to the French Alliance who has movie nights and sometimes art exhibitions in the library. Nice patio...
Holy Trinity Square
174 Calle 29Vibrant night life around this Square!
Spend a day at one of the many beach clubs of the island. Some offer a pool. The water is not as pristine as in the Rosario Islands, but it only takes 15 minutes by boat to get there. The "lanchas" go back and forth from behind Castillo Grande Hospital. For an improvised beach day with amenities....
38 locals recommend
Tierra Bomba Island
Spend a day at one of the many beach clubs of the island. Some offer a pool. The water is not as pristine as in the Rosario Islands, but it only takes 15 minutes by boat to get there. The "lanchas" go back and forth from behind Castillo Grande Hospital. For an improvised beach day with amenities....
Visit at sunset, arriving around 5 PM, to enjoy the nice breeze.
591 locals recommend
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
17-85 Calle 32Visit at sunset, arriving around 5 PM, to enjoy the nice breeze.
Take a cab to this place : very nice views of the whole city from the hill.
12 locals recommend
Monasterio de La Popa
Take a cab to this place : very nice views of the whole city from the hill.
For a sweet tooth, Next to the clock tower, under a shaded gallery, a traditional place to buy local candies.
26 locals recommend
Portal de Los Dulces
Carrera 7For a sweet tooth, Next to the clock tower, under a shaded gallery, a traditional place to buy local candies.
The main entrance of the city's wall, often crowded at night. You can just go early to see dance groups and make pictures in front of this historical landmark
118 locals recommend
Torre del Reloj
24-66 Cra. 8The main entrance of the city's wall, often crowded at night. You can just go early to see dance groups and make pictures in front of this historical landmark
One of the most beautiful colonial church of Cartagena, next to the city's wall and the museums.
106 locals recommend
Parroquia San Pedro Claver
30-01 Cra. 4One of the most beautiful colonial church of Cartagena, next to the city's wall and the museums.
Parks & Nature
Offers shade on a hot day, you may see small monkeys and sloths. Hip hop groups practice there in the afternoon.
14 locals recommend
Parque del Centenario
Avenue Daniel LemaitreOffers shade on a hot day, you may see small monkeys and sloths. Hip hop groups practice there in the afternoon.
Apolo Park
41-2 Cra. 2Take a one day or an overnight tour to enjoy the sun and snorkel around.
296 locals recommend
Rosario Islands
Take a one day or an overnight tour to enjoy the sun and snorkel around.
Cholón (Islas del Rosario)
Beautiful beach, for party goers.
Everything Else
Playa de Bocagrande
1A-23 Cra. 1City beach not far from the center and malls.
Playas de Marbella
46-68 Cra. 1Closest beaches from our place
Muelle de los Pegasos
Avenida Blas de LezoThis is where you'll take most boats heading to the islands
Arts & Culture
Casa Museo Rafael Nunez
41-89 Cra. 2NH Galeria
33-36 Cra. 2Art gallery. Displays local artists production.
Essentials
Éxito San Diego
10 - 85 Cl. 38Main supermarket of the historical center at walking distance.
Carulla
24 A-31 Cra 20Jumbo Cartagena Castillo
Big supermarket within Mall Plaza