Cartagena is perfect for walking in its romantic streets and to go back in time with its epic stories. In this beautiful Caribbean city you can enjoy the breeze, the sun and the beaches, you can see its unique sunsets and enjoy its crazy local nightlife. But this is not enough, to get a total immersion in this city you should also get to know its singular gastronomic offer, which, influenced by the african and Arab cuisine, reflects the city’s history. Now we will show you the best restaurants in Cartagena to eat the most delicious Caribbean food.
Carmen
In Carmen you will live a unique experience, since this restaurant offers the typical dishes from the Colombian Caribbean Coast, but with a new twist by giving them a modern presentation. What’s more, they have a great variety of wines and cocktails. In this typical colonial style house you will have the option to eat in the restaurant or in the warm courtyard. Its romantic atmosphere makes it perfect to share a moment with that special person. This restaurant is located in the historic center of cartagena in El Santisimo Street. Their main dishes range approximately between USD $16 to $21. Carmen is open everyday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Stefano’s Bistro
Stefano’s Bistro is a small Caribbean food restaurant. It differentiates from others because of the quality of its food, its relaxed atmosphere, fast and good service, and for its economical pricing. Their dishes range approximately between USD $7 to $10. This restaurant is located in the traditional neighborhood Getsemaní, in the Magdalena Street and it is open Sunday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and, on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. We recommend you to try the delicious “cazuela de mariscos” (a seafood soup)!
La Mulata
In this restaurant you can find a great offer of typical food from the coast of Colombia. If you are looking not only for a gastronomic experience but also for a visual one, in this restaurant you will see the culture of cartagena represented in its walls, you will see pictures of great artistic figures from Cartagena and the world. You could be excused for thinking you were in an art gallery with all the interesting pieces they have on display. At La Mulata you can enjoy dinner in the salon, or if you prefer eating outdoors there is also a beautiful backyard. La Mulata is located in the neighborhood San Diego, in the Quero Street. You can enjoy their delicious food only for the price of approximately USD $12 per person. This restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. We highly recommend the seafood salad!
La Olla Cartagenera
In the San Martín Avenue in Bocagrande you can find one of the most traditional and famous restaurant in Cartagena. In La Olla Cartagenera you will enjoy the typical food of the city, but you will also find several international dishes, among these a large amount of Arab dishes because of the influence of this culture in the city. This restaurant also has a salon with air conditioning and a backyard in the style of the old colonial houses from Cartagena. The Olla Cartagenera is open from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
La Cocina de Pepina
In La Cocina de Pepina you will be delighted by excellent caribbean dishes. You will take pleasure trying the dishes with local flavors, the desserts made using tropical fruits and the traditional drinks such as the chicha, beverage made using corn, and drinks made with fruits unique from the area such as mamón and corozo. This restaurant is located in Getsemaní, in Vargas Alley, between el Arsenal and the Calle Larga.
Malanga Bistro
A cozy restaurant located in Plaza San Diego inside the walled city. Malanga hails from the same owners of the restaurant El Santísimo, which means the quality of the food and ingredients used is guaranteed. Do not pass on the opportunity of having one of their cocktails which are mixed with exotic fruits that you can only find in Colombia. Malanga Bistro is open everyday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
