7 Best Restaurants in Southwest Colombia, Colombia

Restaurante Italiano da Ugo

$$ Fodor's choice
Just about a mile out of town, you'll find the cozy Ugo. The pastas, freshly made in-house, are the stars of the show, with influence from Ugo’s native Verona. The selection is good, and a few decent wines are on hand to make the perfect end to your day. Save space for the tiramisu.

Restaurante Ringlete

$$ Fodor's choice
There's simply no better place to try local Vallecaucana cuisine than from the hands of talented chef Martha Jaramillo, in this colorful, restored home. Many of her recipes are built on those of her grandparents and are slow cooked with rich, wholesome flavors like the classic arroz atollado (sticky rice with various meats) or the cola endiablado (beer-braised oxtail spiced up with three local chilies). Wash it all down with a lulada.

Bosques de Cocora Donde Juan B

$$

If you're in Salento, head out to the Cocora Valley, where restored fincas now serve as country-style restaurants and guesthouses. The Bosques de Cocora is the pick of the bunch, offering sumptuous dishes of the local delicacy, trout, and set against a cloud-forest backdrop. At the restaurant, inquire about accommodation in their guesthouse, Finca San José.

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Café Bernabé Gourmet Restaurant

$$
Just off the main road, this cozy space aspires to raise the level of dining in Salento, and for the most part, succeeds resoundingly. The menu ranges from meat dishes with fruit- and coffee-based sauces to simple pastas and vegetarian dishes. The tables in the backyard are the best, with fantastic views over the valleys behind town. The coffee and coffee cocktails are reason alone for a visit.

La Cosecha Parrillada Restaurant

$$
There are plenty of restaurants in and around the center that have decent offerings, but La Cosecha stands out for quality and service. You can expect generous portions of well-cooked beef and some superb examples of local favorites like lengua a la criolla (beef tongue in a creole tomato and onion sauce).

Makao Restaurant

$$
Owned by two young Spaniards, the food here is a step above a majority of the town's options. The tapas choices are inevitably good, and the mains on the short menu are all hearty and well prepared; the trout al ajillo (with a creamy garlic sauce) is one of the best in town. A funky soundtrack and solid, rustic, wooden tables make this a comfortable choice any time of day.

Restaurante Italiano

$$

The name may be basic, but you won't forget the food served at this small, two-level restaurant catercorner to the Iglesia de San Francisco. There's a good selection of pizzas, pastas, salads, and excellent cremas (cream soups).