7 Best Restaurants in The Caribbean Coast, Colombia

Carmen

$$$ | Centro Fodor's choice
This smart restaurant promises and delivers a quality high-end dining experience with a tantalizing menu offering a modern take on superbly sourced local ingredients with well-integrated Asian touches. The dining room is divided into three distinct spaces: an internal salon dominated by an exposed brick wall and teardrop lamps; a courtyard soothed by the constant sound of running water; and a small rooftop terrace, perfect for drinking up the Cartagena sunset and a welcoming cool breeze. Following in the steps of the flagship Medellín original, service is sharp without being stuffy, and the drinks menu impresses with a suitably exotic list of cocktails. For a treat, indulge in one of the five- or seven-course tasting menus.

Lulo Cafe Bar

$$ Fodor's choice
One of the best places to hang out in town, Lulo gets it right with fresh juices, light healthy food, and a warm, easygoing vibe. The smoothies are outstanding, the wraps and gourmet arepas never disappoint, and breakfast is delicious. There are plenty of vegetarian options too, and they serve good local coffee from the Sierra Nevada.

Beiyú

$
A tiny café that is easy to miss on one of Getsemaní's main streets, Beiyú provides a welcome respite from all things fried and heavy (which dominate local cuisine) with a selection of healthy wraps and juices. There is a small but good breakfast menu at bargain prices, but it's the juice and smoothie menu that will bring you back time and again. A huge variety of fruit is available, and more exotic jungle superfruit like acaí and copuacú offer a cool, energizing kick to keep the tropical heat at bay.

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Club de Pesca

$$$$

Time slips gently by at this 18th-century fortress-turned-restaurant by a marina in the Manga neighborhood, not far from the walled town. Fish is a focus, and the restaurant prides itself on its wine list. It's easy to linger on the waterfront terrace in the shade of a giant fig tree, and the refreshingly calm ambience has played a large part in making Club de Pesca a local favorite. The food, though fresh, doesn't stand up to other high-end offerings around town.

El Boliche Cebicheria

$$$ | Centro

This tiny restaurant on a quiet, flower-filled street of one-story houses in the San Diego section of the historic town serves up impeccably fresh, creative ceviche and other seafood dishes. With six or seven basic tables—and the kitchen just behind them all—space is at a premium, but the food is worth the squeeze. Empanadas are stuffed with crab, coconut milk, lemongrass, and chimichurri; the cebiche coco comes with squid, shrimp, and conch, along with coconut milk, cilantro, and sweet peppers. Fried plantain chips are a perfect accompaniment, and cocktails are available. You have to love a place where, during a late lunch, the owner's child may be playing underfoot. Reservations are recommended for dinner.

La Vitrola

$$$$ | Centro

This friendly restaurant on a quiet corner in the walled city is the result of a New Yorker's love affair with the Caribbean. You can begin with ceviche catalina (fish and octopus marinated in lime juice); then try a zarzuela de mariscos (seafood casserole) or perhaps corvina con salsa de cebollin y jenibre (sea bass with scallion-ginger sauce). Ceiling fans, historic photos, and live Cuban music complete the mood. Be aware of their no-shorts dress code.

Latin American Lunch Dinner $$$$
Calle 33 #2--01, Cartagena, Bolívar, 130001, Colombia
5-660–0711
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted

Sua Palomino Restaurant

$$
An unassuming restaurant located just off the main road, Sua goes the extra mile to serve fresh, healthy food that's responsibly and locally sourced, an admirable mission in an area where sustainability is rarely considered. The interior is bright and cheerful with colorful murals and simple wood tables. Service is slow, but the menu is a delight, with splendid fish dishes including ceviche and grilled fish in coconut-and-ginger sauce, and plenty of light, tasty salads. Excellent juices are just the thing to take the edge of the heat.