Want the Best Cartagena Restaurants? Here Are Our Favorites

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Planning your trip and wondering which are the best restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia most worth trying?

The truth is there is no shortage of great Cartagena restaurants.

I lived in Cartagena for over a decade and have eaten at so many top Cartagena restaurants over the years. Naturally, my wife Susana and I have definitely developed some personal favorites.

In this post, I’m going to share our favorite restaurants in Cartagena, including fine dining, crowd pleasers, and also some hidden gems the average tourist often misses.

So read on to learn all about the best places to eat in Cartagena, Colombia!

An Introduction to Our Favorite Cartagena Restaurants

Eating some good food is one of the great pleasures of vacation, and Cartagena’s best restaurants have plenty to offer.

So, I’m going to share my picks for the best restaurants in Cartagena below, but they are really more like a list of our favorite restaurants, and it’s going to be far from exhaustive.

The truth is we have a penchant for always wanting to go back to our favorite places!

So, all of the restaurants I’ve included as the best places to eat in Cartagena below are places we have been time and time again and loved enough to recommend them to you.

However, places close down and new ones open all the time too.

So, while I hope you’ll try these, if you got a tip about another place from someone, try it too!

Quick Notes on Tipping at Restaurants in Cartagena

Because it’s a frequently asked question and it is a little confusing, not to mention, it’s one of those things that there are wide ranging opinions on, let’s talk for just a moment about tipping at Cartagena restaurants.

Technically, tipping in Colombia is optional.

However, it’s pretty customary to tip 10% at nicer restaurants, and it is often just included in your bill.

I tend to think this is more about servers wanting to make sure they don’t miss out on a tip because people don’t know what or how to tip than it is to scam people into tipping more than they would otherwise.

Your server might ask you if you want to include “el servicio” when you ask for the check or when they run your card.

If not, you can verify if it was included or not by looking for a line item for the servicio voluntario or propina voluntaria on your bill.

You can decline it if you feel you got bad service, and you can always tip some additional cash if you felt like you got great service.

If it’s not included or they don’t ask, they probably aren’t expecting you to tip, but, I’m sure they’ll graciously accept one if you want to tip them.

My Picks for the Best Restaurants in Cartagena

Ok, let’s get to my picks for the best Cartagena restaurants.

I’ve tried to include different price points on this list, but it definitely skews a bit towards the pricier side.

This is a best restaurants in Cartagena list, after all.

Oh, and by the way, if you’re wondering what to eat in Cartagena, check out my post on the best food to try in Cartagena (spoiler: the seafood shines!).

Buena Vida Marisquería: Our Favorite Cartagena Restaurant

I’m not sure exactly when Buena Vida opened, maybe sometime in 2017 or 2018.

I do know it quickly became one of the places we found ourselves going to again and again, and I consider it to be our overall favorite restaurant in Cartagena today.

Everything we’ve ever had here has been full of flavor and beautifully presented.

They have some really neat and creative dishes like crab and shrimp nachos and patacón pizzas as well as more traditional seafood platters and rices, including one of the prettiest fried fishes you can get in Cartagena.

I always recommend doing the fried fish plate on one of Cartagena’s beaches, preferably in the Rosario Islands (click that link to see my tips for where to go in the islands).

If you want to get a more gourmet version though, this is the place to do it!

Drinks here are really good too.

I especially like that they serve Mexican style micheladas, and they also do a great margarita, complete with smoked cloves smoldering under a little sombrero when they bring it out.

Buena Vida is often not too crowded at lunch time during the week, but I’d recommend reservations for dinner, especially on weekends, and especially if you want to get a spot on their lovely rooftop. Do keep in mind they serve a more limited menu on the rooftop.

Buena Vida is located on the Calle del Porvenir on the corner opposite the University of Cartagena. Read my full review of Buena Vida here, or see their website or Instagram to learn more, make reservations, and see the menu.

La Cevichería: Deserves Its Fame as Best Places to Eat in Cartagena

Buena Vida was an easy choice for number 1 for me. Deciding how to order the rest was tougher.

I’ve put La Cevichería, made famous from Anthony Bourdain’s visit years back, and a mainstay on best restaurants in Cartagena lists in the number two spot

We’ve eaten here so many times over the years and it’s always lived up to the hype. It’s the kind of place I’d always want to take people when they came to visit.

The ceviche here shines, of course. You can get it as your whole meal, but even if you don’t, you have to get at least a small bowl as an appetizer.

They also have great paellas and other warm dishes. I enjoyed my octopus burger, with the clever name of Pulp Fiction, the last time I popped in here for lunch.

They have great mojitos too, and the hot sauce is terrific. Just be sure to only add a drop or two!

They don’t take reservation and it is often crowded with a bit of a wait during peak lunch and dinner hours.

I find if you go in here for a late lunch, early dinner, or just an afternoon snack between the lunch and dinner rush though you can often get a table right away.

You can find La Cevichería on the Calle Stuart near the Plaza San Diego and around the corner from the Sofitel Santa Clara Hotel.

Read my review of La Cevichería here. See their website or their Instagram for more info.

If you want to grab some great ceviche at more affordable prices, we also love the little hidden gem of La Laguna Azul located on the Calle Larga side of the Centro Comercial de Getsemaní.

Candé: Great Atmosphere and Great Food

Candé has become another staple on best restaurants in Cartagena lists for a good reason.

They have a neat atmosphere with mismatched antique style chairs and tables plus frequent live music and dancers. There’s just enough variety on the menu to make it a crowd pleaser, and all the food is very good.

I remember, this was the first place we had a dinner out when things opened back up in 2020. We’ve been there many times over the years, and always left satisfied.

I also loved their little old school style wooden high chair for our daughter on our last visit. So, it’s definitely family friendly.

Candé usually has walk in availability for lunch, but I’d highly recommend reservations for dinner.

They are located on the Calle de la Serrezuela, around the corner from the entrance to the mall.

You can make reservations and learn more at their website or their Instagram and read my review of Candé here.

Celele: Most Unique Fine Dining in Cartagena

Celele has been featured as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world, so it’s arguably the top restaurant in Cartagena, period.

They have a really unique menu that makes creative use of traditional Colombian ingredients from different regions of the country. I appreciate how well presented everything is, with little touches like including edible flowers.

If you or someone in your group is a foodie looking for a fine dining experience in Cartagena, this is really the best place to eat in Cartagena for that kind of experience.

If you read my review of Celele, you’ll see that I’m honest that I don’t think it’s for everyone though.

I definitely recommend taking a look at the menu first because it’s small and doesn’t have many simple, crowd pleasing dishes. A bit exotic is maybe the best way to describe it.

I also would not consider it family friendly, or at least small kids without sophisticated palettes friendly.

Reservations are definitely required, and they do require a deposit. The restaurant also operates on a few reservation windows a day where you book the table for a couple hours.

If you’re date or time isn’t flexible, I’d stongly recommend trying to make your reservations at least a few weeks in advance.

Celele is located on the Calle del Espíritu Santo in Getsemaní, just off the Calle Media Luna. You can read my review of Celele or check out their website or their Instagram to learn more, see the menu, and make reservations.

Carmen: For More Traditional Cartagena Fine Dining

If the more eclectic menu at Celele doesn’t quite spark your fancy, I’d recommend checking out Carmen instead.

Their original Medellín location has also been featured in the World’s Top 50 Restaurants.

Their Cartagena location has a really pretty space in an old mansion in the Walled City, and often has live music in the charming courtyard.

They also serve dishes inspired by traditional Colombian and Cartagena ingredients with a few twists and some flair, but it’s not nearly as exotic as at Celele.

You can order individual dishes from the menu or do a 7 course or 9 course tasting menu designed by the chef, paired with drinks if you like.

I’d definitely encourage making reservations here, especially for weekend nights.

You can do that and see their menu at their website or check out their Instagram here.

La Mulata: Best More Reasonably Priced Best Restaurant in Cartagena

The places I’ve covered so far are, for the most part, on the medium-high to high side price wise.

For something a bit more reasonably priced, La Mulata has always been a favorite of ours!

They serve traditional Cartagena dishes, with a special emphasis on seafood.

They have a rotating daily menu as well as some dishes that can be ordered any time. Depending on the day, you can also find classic Cartagena non-seafood dishes like the posta negra or tasty ribs in tamarind barbecue sauce.

Their main dishes usually come with a soup in true traditional Colombian lunch style and everything we’ve ever had here has been very good and felt like a good bang for our peso.

The ceviches are great here, and the limonada de coco and corozo juice, two local favorite drinks, also always hit here.

I think this works a bit better for a lunch spot than dinner, but they are open for dinner most days too.

La Mulata is located on the Calle del Quero, about a block up from the Parque San Fernandez de Madrid. It doesn’t look like they update it all that often, but you can see their Instagram here.

If you’re looking for another reasonably priced spot that serves traditional Cartagena dishes, check out El Espirítu Santo on the Calle del Porvenir in Centro. Restaurante San Valentín is also good and reasonably priced and offers a bit more variety on their menu.

Restaurante Fuerte del Pastelillo: Best Spot for a Special Romantic Dinner

The Restaurante Fuerte del Pastelillo, located on the corner of the historic fort that bears the same name, and formerly known as Club de Pesca, has always been one of our favorite spots for a date night or special dinner.

It’s especially romantic if you reserve one of the tables set in the old cannon openings that look out on to the bay.

However, even if you aren’t planning a romantic dinner, you might still include this Cartagena restaurant on your itinerary. We’ve treated my mom here on visits several times.

The seafood here is top notch, and their coconut pie is one of my favorite desserts in the city.

Located in Manga, I’d recommend making reservations here, and either coming for sunset drinks before eating or watching sunset from the fort outside the restaurant.

I believe they have an inside area with A/C you can do for lunch, but sitting out on the deck or the fort is part of what makes it so charming. So, I’d recommend it for dinner and sticking to places around the city center for lunch.

Learn more about Restaurante Fuerte del Pastelillo and make reservations at their website and their Instagram.

Casa Pura: Nicest Sunset Drinks then Dinner Rooftop Cartagena Restaurant

While I think the Restaurante Fuerte del Pastelillo’s view over the bay is an especially romantic and neat one, for a place to catch sunset then have dinner in the Centro, I’d recommend Casa Pura.

This was one of our favorite new places we tried during our visit in Summer 2024.

They have a nice view of the wall and Caribbean from their rooftop.

We really enjoyed the drinks. I liked they had some tasty mezcal cocktails, which I’ve had a thing for ever since we traveled to Mexico.

All the food here was also great!

Service was also good, and I liked the atmosphere.

I think Hotel Movich’s rooftop has a better view for the sunset. However, their drinks are just good and I’ve never been all that impressed with their food, at least for the price.

So, if you want to have even better drinks plus good food do it here.

Or go have sunset drinks at Movich, then come here for drinks or dinner or both, as it’s a great rooftop spot and I actually think it would be even nicer once it cools down after the sun sets.

Casa Pura is located in a large red building on the Carrera 2 that runs along the inside of the wall, around the corner from where the Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa is located.

It’s only open for sunset and dinner, and since it’s a fairly small space, I’d encourage reservations, especially on weekends.

You can learn more about Casa Pura on their Instagram page. Check the links there to see a menu and make reservations.

Terreza Municipal: For Cheaper Cartagena Eats and Sunset Drinks

If you want something a bit more budget friendly for a great view at sunset with good food, check out the Terreza Municipal.

This collection of food trucks, located in a park along the bay on the Calle del Arsenal in Getsemaní has a cool view of the bay and a nice, relaxed atmosphere.

It used to be several different food trucks, but at some point Municipal, which has a brick and mortar restaurant on the Calle de la Media Luna nearby, took them all over.

In a nice touch though, they maintained a variety of options. There’s a sushi food truck, a pizza food truck, a burgers food truck, and a tacos food truck, the main Municipal restaurant’s speciality.

While I’d suggest trying other things on a short term visit to Cartagena, I’d like to say they do the best crispy chicken sandwich in Cartagena, and I remember falling in love with that sandwich as an expat when I discovered it.

Everything we’ve ever had here has been good, and the variety makes it a crowd pleaser and kid friendly. There’s a cocktail truck too for the adults.

It’s also conveniently located to all the nightlife in Getsemaní. You can learn more about the Terreza Municipal on their Instagram page.

Harry’s at the Santa Teresa: Home to Two of Our Personal Favorite Dishes

I’m going to close this 10 best restaurants in Cartagena with another favorite of ours, including two things we always seem to have a craving for.

Those two things are the crab nachos and chicharrones at Harry’s at the Charleston Santa Teresa hotel.

The nachos (nachos con cangrejo) come loaded with creamy, melted cheese, avocado slices, and tasty, juicy crab meat.

The chicharrones, well I guess technically they are more like rib tips (huesitos de cerdo con ajo, ginger, cilantro, y picante) have this spicy, tangy flavor and a perfect crunch.

Both of these dishes are from their “Bar Menu,” and are really more like shareable appetizers. They do have proper entrees on their menu too.

To be honest, we can never resist the temptation to order these and have never ordered a proper meal here though!

Based on how flavorful they are, I’m sure the main dishes are terrific too. We have sampled lots of other things on the bar food menu and have enjoyed them all but just always go back to those same two.

The courtyard here, draped with hanging vines, is also lovely and I always feel classy popping in here for lunch or a snack with a drink or two. Sharing a few things from the bar menu works great when we go as a couple or in a group too.

You can see the menu for Harry’s at this page. The restaurant is open to non-guests of the hotel and doesn’t require reservations.

Bonus Pick #1: Donde Magola: Best Place to Sample an Arepa de Huevo

Ok, I want to share a few more places that I’d recommend eating in Cartagena that don’t fit neatly into a top 10 best restaurants in Cartagena list.

First is Donde Magola, the best place to sample the arepa de huevo, a Cartagena favorite street food.

It is more like an empanada than a classic arepa and is made of yellow corn dough, fried to crispy, golden perfection with an egg and, usually, ground beef inside.

Why I recommend trying it at Donde Magola is that they have a number of variations with different meat fillings.

My favorite is the one with chicharron and Susana’s favorite is the shredded beef (carne desmechada).

They also have chorizo, shrimp, and many others, including ones with just the egg.

The arepa de huevo is, in my very strong opinion, a must try in Cartagena, and I’d encourage you to try a carimañola yuca fritter too. Donde Magola fries up fresh ones throughout the day and their unique ones make it the perfect place to try both.

By the way, you should check out my post on the best street food in Cartagena here to learn more about these. You could also do a street food tour to sample them and more.

Donde Magola is located in a tiny storefront on the Calle del Portebelo across from the Exito San Diego supermarket’s parking lot. They also have a little stand in front of the main entrance to Exito.

You can see their Instagram here.

Bonus Pick #2: Street Food at the Plaza de la Trinidad: Best Evening Street Eats

This isn’t a restaurant per sé, but I always recommend spending at least one evening hanging out for a bit at the Plaza de la Trinidad, where you can get beers from the corner store or cocktails from a stand in the plaza.

There’s usually a nicely sized group of locals and tourists alike hanging out here with a street party atmosphere.

The food stands that set up here are some of the best in town too.

I recommend trying a Colombian street dog, served with cheese crunchy potatoes and a variety of sauces (we personally usually pass on the neon yellow pineapple piña sauce). You can also do a chorizo dog.

If you’re really hungry, consider a patacón con todo, a big, skinny patacón smothered in meats and cheese or a picada, which is kind of like a salchipapa, but has fries and lots of different meats and cheese.

Bonus Pick #3: La Brioche: Best Breakfast in Cartagena

I’ve primarily focused on lunch and dinner spots here, but I wanted to give at least one recommendation for a good breakfast spot too.

La Brioche is my pick for the best breakfast in Cartagena.

They have a pretty large menu with Colombian favorites (including a good arepa de huevo), and international fare like pancakes and french toast. So, it’s a crowd pleaser and kid friendly, too.

They have good mimosas, good coffee, and it’s arguably the best bakery in Cartagena too, with terrific pastries if you just want to grab and go.

If you’re just looking for a great cup of coffee, maybe with a snack, I’d recommend the Café San Alberto, Libertario Coffee Roasters, or for the most unique cafe, Café del Mural.

Oh, and actually Brioche does my favorite burger in Cartagena too! So, pop in here for dinner if you want a gourmet burger.

You can find La Brioche in Centro on the Calle San Agustín, just across from the Juan Valdez Café and near the corner where Buena Vida and the Universidad de Cartagena are located.

They also have a location on the Avenida San Martín (Cra. 2) in Bocagrande. In the Mall Plaza shopping center, they also have a little cafe, but it only serves coffee and pastries.

You can read my review of La Brioche here or check out their website or Instagram.

Our other favorite breakfast spot is Epoca, which has good brunch drinks too and two locations in Centro. Ely Café, in Bocagrande, also does a really good breakfast and brunch.

Honorable Mentions

As I’ve said, I really struggled to narrow this list down!

So, I want to share a few other places that I’d recommend considering, especially if you’ve already tried most or all of the other places on the list of what I consider the best Cartagena restaurants above.

First, Lúnatico is a personal favorite of mine. All their food is super flavorful and they have a number of creative dishes, like an octopus stuffed arepa.

The only reason it’s not on the main list is it’s a tad out of the way and they’ve shifted their business to be primarily focused on experiences like cooking classes and rum tastings. I highly recommend both of those, by the way (see my review of the cooking class here and review of the rum tasting here).

You can pop in for lunch too if you’re nearby though!

Mar y Zielo has a gorgeous view of the cathedral from their rooftop patio and really good food.

Jardín in the Santa Clara has a lovely garden courtyard, super flavorful food, and good drinks. It’s actually where I proposed to Susana!

Da Silvio has terrific pasta and pizza and is pretty reasonably priced. Their original Getsemaní location is actually where Susana and I had our first date, and we’ve gone back many, many times, and not just for nostalgia, but because the food is really good.

Cuzco has great Peruvian food and a big menu, which makes it a crowd pleaser. My family ate here like 3 times in the week they came down for our wedding.

If you happen to be in Crespo, where we lived for a long time, or need a bite before going to the airport, La Pescadería does our favorite arroz chaufa in town and lots of other great seafood at pretty reasonable prices.

Alma, in the Casa San Agustín also has really good food and a lovely setting. It used to be one of our favorites, but there are some neater places that have opened up like Buena Vida that I recommend over it now.

La Vitrola, pictured at the top of this post, is another long running Cartagena spot and a bit of a throwback to just a really nice restaurant with great food minus the bells, whistles, and flair. It was supposedly a favorite of Charlie Sheen’s. It can be hard to get a reservation here though.

For a good steak, Argentine steakhouse Quebracho is our favorite. It’s not particularly crazy creative or unique, but they just have great, well cooked steak.

For something from the grill a bit more reasonably priced, Marzola, with its uniquely decorated facade and interior, is also good.

Crepes and Waffles is always a crowd pleaser with good food from a varied menu and great ice cream too.

Finally, I’ve always really enjoyed the tapas and bar appetizer style food at Townhouse’s rooftop bar. If you want some snacks with drinks and not a proper dinner, it’s a great spot. They also do a great all you can eat and drink brunch on the weekends.

Which Cartagena restaurants will you try?

Ok, now you’ve seen what I came up with while doing the difficult task of narrowing down our favorites to a 10 best restaurants in Cartagena list along with some bonus, not traditional restaurant picks, and some honorable mentions.

I’d love to know where you ate in Cartagena and what you thought of these Cartagena restaurants and any others you tried.

So, drop a review or tip for others in the comments!

And, wherever you eat in Cartagena, I hope you enjoy it. Please do check out all the other content on the site to help you plan your trip.

Cheers and Happy Eating!