Wondering where to eat in Cartagena and which of the best restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia are most worth trying? Here I’ll share my picks for 50 Cartagena restaurants I think are all worth trying, including options for top restaurants in Cartagena for all budgets from fine dining to cheap eats. So, read on to learn about 50 Cartagena, Colombia best restaurants.
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I am a member of Amazon Associates, LLC and other affiliate programs and earn from qualifying purchases made after clicking those links. There is never any additional cost to you. To learn more please consult our Disclosure Policy.
Best Restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia Introduction
Perhaps it was all the wonderful things to do or the colonial charm of the historic Walled City that attracted you to Cartagena.
Or maybe, it was the year round beach weather and the thought of enjoying the Cartagena beaches or the beautiful nearby Rosario Islands.
However, an important part of any travel experience is treating yourself to some great food too!
And, regardless of why you put Cartagena on your radar for a visit, you wont’ be disappointed by the food and dining options! There are plenty of great places to eat in Cartagena.
Here, I’m going to help make sure you get the most out of your Cartagena eats.
After living in Cartagena over a decade, I’ve put together a list of 50 Cartagena restaurants I recommend you consider trying on your visit.
Unlike most lists of the top restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia you’ll find online, I have actually eaten at all these Cartagena restaurants.
Ok, actually, # 24 I have not eaten at their relatively new Cartagena restaurants, but I have eaten at that place in Bogotá though, so I’m completely confident in including it on this list of the best restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia.
*Want some help planning your trip to Colombia? Take the hassle out of planning and let the experts at our partner BnB Colombia Tours help you! Check out their predesigned packages or fill out this form and they will work with you to design a truly unforgettable, custom made trip, starting at $1000 USD per person.
Got your Cartagena hotel reservations yet? If not, be sure to check out our guide to the best areas to stay or see the best luxury hotels, best beach hotels, best boutique hotels, or best hostels.
*Before planning your trip: Recent times have shown how important it is to have travel health insurance. World Nomads is a leader in traveler’s health insurance. Get a quote here.
->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!<-
Now I will say, Susana and I have a habit of finding places we really like and sticking to them, so there a handful of highly regarded restaurants in Cartagena we haven’t tried just because we haven’t gotten around to it and/or they have opened fairly recently.
I’ve included a list at the bottom of this post mentioning some of those that you may also want to check out.
I have also tried to include a bit of variety as well as some options for all budgets here.
It shouldn’t be surprising that the very best Cartagena restaurants tend to be higher end places with high prices. It’s absolutely worth splurging and treating yourself to at least one iff not several of these places (hey, it’s vacation after all!).
But, I’ve made a point to include a number of reasonably priced places we love too, because, well, teachers who moonlight as professional bloggers can’t afford fine dining all the time either.
Also, just to be clear, this also shouldn’t necessarily be read like a ranking.
Generally I’ve got the places I would recommend first higher on the list but depending on what you want, places lower on the list might be better options. And, well, you’re not going to go wrong eating at any of these Cartagena best restaurants!
For each of the 50 restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia below I’ve included their location or locations where applicable and whether I would suggest reservations.
I’ve also included an estimated price range, which I’ll explain below.
By the way, if you’ve stumbled upon this post, you may also be interested in checking out my posts on the best local dishes to try, the best street food, and the best spots for sunset drinks. You might also want to consider doing a dinner cruise on the bay, street food tour, or a tour of the city market and cooking class.
How I Defined Price Levels
Honestly, this is harder than it seems.
The reality is, it depends a lot on what you’re ordering.
Lobster and fancy cocktails with specialty liquor is going to be pricey even at “cheap” places. Some of the priciest Cartagena restaurants also do sometimes have some cheaper dishes on the menu.
Second, what’s expensive and what’s cheap is just completely subjective.
Third, prices change, and so does the exchange rate, which plays into that subjective part. If I put some things I consider expensive in pesos in dollar terms it doesn’t sound that bad (it’s even worse when I try to put dollars into pesos back home!).
Therefore, I’ve tried to categorize the relative prices the best I can based on the following categories.
Price Categories:
- High – These are the priciest places in town, where you want to go for fine dining, to splurge, or for special events.
- Moderately High – These are nice places that have slightly more reasonable prices than the high end places and offer a happy medium between casual and fine dining.
- Moderate – These are sit down places where you can have a nice meal and not spend too much.
- Cheap – These are places where you are getting a good value. I’ve included both truly cheap stuff like street food as well as some sit down places that aren’t dirt cheap but good values compared to most sit down restaurants in Cartagena.
->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!<-
The Best Restaurants in Cartagena
1. Restaurante Fuerte del Pastelillo (formerly Club de Pesca)
Location: Manga
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Yes
This is just about always my number one recommendation for where to eat in Cartagena when people ask me for suggestions.
If you’re looking for a top Cartagena restaurants to get great seafood and treat yourself to a nice evening, this is it.
It has always been one of my go-to places for treating Susana to a nice dinner or taking friends or family visiting.
They just recently changed their name. I’m not sure why, but their decoration and menu look the same, so I have no qualms putting it at the top of this Cartagena best restaurants list.
This top Cartagena restaurant is located right on the bay on a colonial era fort and there is often nice live ambient music in the evenings. The food is terrific. Everything we’ve ever ordered we have thought was great, and it’s tough to beat the charming open air atmosphere.
If you want an especially romantic dinner, ask to reserve one of the tables in the cannon openings. It feels very exclusive and the view of the bay is gorgeous.
In addition to the fresh seafood, their coconut pie is awesome and worth saving space for dessert.
The sunset here is also beautiful, so if you want to see it make your reservation a bit early and enjoy a drink or two before getting dinner as their drinks are not outrageously high despite being a higher end restaurant.
See their website where they have a menu posted here.
2. Jardín Santa Clara (formerly 1621)
Location: Walled City
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Yes
The next place on this list of top restaurants in Cartagena is located inside the gorgeous Hotel Santa Clara, a former convent, and one of the finest luxury hotels in Cartagena.
It is in the interior garden, including some tables in the courtyard itself, and has a lovely, romantic atmosphere.
It used to be named 1621 and have French inspired food, however, it changed names a while back to Jardín with a new menu. We liked 1621, in fact, this was where I proposed to Susana.
However, we went more recently since the name change and liked it even more!
I had a great octopus with sort of a black bean paste, and it was awesome, just bursting with flavor. They also have some nice drinks and we had a delicious dessert.
So, while I would have recommended it before, I recommend it even more so now, putting it second on this list of best Cartagena restaurants.
It is possible to get a table here without a reservation, but if you want to be at the few tables in the center of the garden it’s best to make them.
The hotel’s lounge and bar El Coro is also great and their new rooftop bar also looks great (every time we’ve tried to go it’s been closed) if you want a drink before or after dinner.
They have a menu posted and you can also make reservations online here.
3. Candé
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High
Need Reservations: Not always, but good idea, especially on weekends
If you’re looking for a place that has great food and a nice atmosphere at prices a bit more moderate than the two places listed above on this list of Cartagena best restaurants, check out Candé.
The food here is really good and has some creative spins and preparations of traditional Cartagena dishes (speaking of that, be sure to check out my list of dishes you should try in Cartagena). There is also sometimes a band and even traditional dance show (that photo up above with the piano in the background is at Candé).
The location in an old colonial house is also charming, so this place definitely meets all the criteria for being counted among the top restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia.
This was actually the first place Susana and I treated ourselves to a nice dinner out once things reopened, and we have been there a number of other times before and since.
It’s plenty nice for a special occasion or romantic dinner, while the prices make it a place you could go just for a nice casual dinner out whether it be as a couple, with family, or with friends.
You can see their menu in English here.
4. La Mulata
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
La Mulata is also one of my go-to recommendations when people ask me about places to eat in Cartagena. In fact, I think it’s maybe the overall, all around best restaurant in Cartagena in terms of quality and value.
If you want to get traditional dishes from Cartagena that is fresh and well presented but at very reasonable prices, this is the best restaurant in Cartagena for you.
Their food is great, and they have a rotating daily menu that is always fresh. Their prices are also fair and one of the better values in Cartagena.
Just about anything here is good, but the camarones al ajillo (shrimp in garlic sauce, see a recipe for it here by the way) are terrific, as are their ceviches and fish filets. Most of their dishes come with a fish soup starter and coconut rice. There are also good non seafood dishes.
They do not appear to have a website or menu posed anywhere but they do have an Instagram.
5. La Laguna Azul
Location: Getsemaní
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
The next place on this list of the best restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia is my favorite hidden gem.
La Laguna Azul is a little hole in the wall place at the entrance to the Centro Commercial Getsemaní located on Calle Larga.
Their ceviche is some of the best in the city, and their portions are larger than most ceviche places. There’s one that has a sesame (ajonjolí in Spanish) oil on it that is awesome! They also have funny names with some aphrodisiac innuendo.
There’s just a few little tables here and you’re more likely to see other locals than tourists. Order an ice cold beer from the shop next door and enjoy some of the best ceviche in town.
This humble, unassuming best restaurant in Cartagena does not have a website.
6. La Cevichería
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High
Need Reservations: No, but expect a wait at peak times
Unlike Laguna Azul, La Cevichería is very famous.
Anthony Bourdain’s visit put it on the map and it is a standard on any best restaurants in Cartagena lists or recommendations.
And, well, it deserves that reputation among the Cartagena best restaurants.
The ceviche here is terrific and they have a wide variety of options, preparations, and mixes.
They also have a number of cooked dishes, and their seafood paellas are some of the best in the city and perfect for sharing. There’s a great dish with like a coconut, curry sauce that Susana has gotten a few times.
We like to do a small or medium ceviche as an appetizer and then either order a paella, other main dishes, or more ceviche!
Their prices are higher than Laguna Azul’s, but they aren’t horrible. In fact, their lobster ceviche is actually probably one of the best deals on lobster in town. Their drinks are pretty decently priced as well.
If you like some spice, their hot sauce is also great, but is straight fire. Seriously, it’s the hottest and best hot sauce I’ve ever had in Cartagena. Try just a few drops to start. You can even buy a bottle to take home, and the name “Flamin’ Crocodile” (“Crocodrillo en llamas”) is awesome too.
See their website.
7. Donde Magola
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Cheap
Need Reservations: No
Don’t leave Cartagena without trying an arepa de huevo!
The best place to do that is at the next place on this list of Cartagena, Colombia best restaurants.
Donde Magola, located in a tiny spot by the Exito San Diego in the Walled City serves up fresh arepas de huevo all day as well as other common Cartagena street food like empanadas, carimañolas, and papas rellenas.
If you’re not sure what those are, check out this guide to the best Cartagena street food to try.
There are some great stands around town, in fact, some of the best are just around the corner, where you can get arepas de huevo.
However, what I love about Donde Magola is they have different varieties. The standard arepa de huevo comes with the egg and ground beef, but here you can get different meats.
Honestly, my favorite is probably just the traditional, but I also like to get the chicharrón one here. Susana loves the shredded beef (carne desmechada) one.
They also have chorizo, butifarra, chicken, and even shrimp filled ones. Their sauces are also great, and I love that you can come here and get a fresh arepa de huevo all day and even into the night.
They don’t have a website or menu posted online. Besides their main location, they do have a smaller one nearby just outside the Éxito San Diego supermarket.
This long running, local joint definitely deserves to be on your radar for Cartagena, Colombia restaurants to try.
8. Buena Vida Marisquería
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High to High
Need Reservations: Not always, but strongly encouraged especially for rooftop and/or weekends
If you’re looking for one of the best Cartagena restaurants that has good and creative food and is also a good place for a drink or three, Buena Vida definitely belongs among the top restaurants in Cartagena.
In fact, this has become one of our favorite places to eat in Cartagena.
They have great seafood, including some creative dishes that aren’t as common in Cartagena like crab cake sandwiches (hamburguesa de jaiba), shrimp tacos, and seafood patacón pizza as well as more traditional dishes.
They have a bit of a Mexican influence and have great margaritas and some interesting takes on micheladas too.
The menu is larger inside, however, the rooftop is a great place for a few drinks and does also offer a smaller, more appetizer/bar food style menu. It’s a good spot to go as a couple or with a group of friends. It can often be full, so make sure you make reservations if you want a table on the roof.
You can see their menu in English here.
9. Carmen
Location: Walled City
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Yes
For the more serious foodies, this definitely belongs on any list where to eat in Cartagena, Colombia.
It’s one of only a handful of places in town that offer chef designed multi-course menus. They also have a terrific standard menu.
You’ll find a neat mix of traditionally inspired Cartagena and Colombian food with creative twists. They also have tasty, creative craft cocktails.
We have actually only been here once, but it was one of the best meals we have ever had in Cartagena. The food was really flavorful and the atmosphere was lovely.
The little courtyard is pretty, and there was live music the night we went. It’s a great place for a romantic night or even a nice family or group dinner. Really, it is one of the best places to eat in Cartagena for fine dining.
It is definitely pricey, but the quality is worth it if you want to treat yourself at one of the best Cartagena restaurants.
See their website where they have a menu posted, including in English, here.
10. Alma
Location: Walled City
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Yes
Alma is also a well known standby amongst the best Cartagena restaurants.
It is located inside the Casa San Agustín, Cartagena’s finest hotel. Besides some of the best food in Cartagena, Alma offers an elegant atmosphere.
This is another place that’s great for a date or special occasion.
We have been here several times as well as taking my mom. The menu here isn’t super large, but there is some variety, including good seafood as well as good steaks. They also do a more reasonably priced lunch menu and have solid drinks.
Their lobster empanadas are a great starter and they have an awesome cazuela de mariscos and seafood pasta. You won’t go wrong with anything here though.
See their website where they have a menu posted, including in English here.
11. Harry’s Cartagena
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High
Need Reservations: Usually not
Next up on this list of the best Cartagena, Colombia restaurants is another one inside a swanky hotel.
The Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa is in a lovely former convent like the Santa Clara.
Their restaurant, Harry’s Cartagena is run by one of Colombia’s most famous chefs, Harry Sasson, who has several highly regarded restaurants in Bogotá as well. I’d classify it as one of the must try restaurants in Cartagena for those who like really flavorful food.
I’m going to be honest though, we have actually never ordered anything here off the main dishes menu.
They have something called “bar food” which is basically appetizers. They are big portions though and actually fairly reasonably priced.
Especially since they give you complimentary bread and cheese, sharing a couple of these works as a full meal for 2 or even 3 if you’re not very hungry.
Our favorites are the crab nachos and chicharrónes, which are called something like huesitos on the menu but are chicharrón in a spicy ginger and jalapeño sauce.
I think once when we were here with some friends we got a chorizo or something too, but honestly, we like those two so much that we haven’t tried many other things, much else followed through on saying we will actually order a main dish next time.
Given how full of flavor those two are and Harry Sasson’s reputation, I don’t have any doubt the main dishes are terrific too.
The hotel courtyard where the restaurant is located is nice as well, and this works as something for a fancier meal, a more casual Cartagena dinner or lunch, or just some nachos and drinks with friends. The courtyard bar out front is also pretty, although I don’t think they serve food there.
See their website where they have a menu posted here.
->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!<-
12. Mar y Zielo
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High
Need Reservations: Not always, but strongly encouraged, especially for rooftop
This best restaurant in Cartagena is charming and its rooftop has one of the prettiest views of Cartagena’s cathedral.
I have actually only been here once. Susana treated me for a birthday. She’s been a couple other times with friends.
When we went, we did get a table on the rooftop, which I believe has a slightly more limited menu than inside. The view was great and the food and drinks were even better.
The food had a creative spin and was full of flavor. This is one of those places that is on our list of where we would like to go back, and so I definitely recommend it as one of the best Cartagena restaurants. That view makes it one of the best dinner in Cartagena spots too.
See their website where they have a menu posted here (sala is inside, zielo is the rooftop).
13. Caffé Lunático
Location: Getsemaní
Price Category: Moderately High; For breakfast/brunch: moderate
Need Reservations: Generally no
This is one of the restaurants in Cartagena that had been on my list of places I wanted to go for the longest time.
I had heard really good things about their brunch as well as their cooking classes. They also do yoga classes I believe.
I finally made a point to wander in for breakfast one morning. I was not disappointed with my bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. In fact, I’d say this is in the running for the best breakfast in Cartagena.
They had a good looking menu for dinner as well, and it has a nice, locally owned atmosphere.
They had tasty juices as well, and I did see bottomless mimosas on the menu. So, this is a good spot for a proper brunch too.
The view of the Castillo San Felipe from here is also terrific, and now I have it on my list to go back for dinner sometime!
See their website with menu here.
14. La Brioche
Locations: Walled City and Bocagrande
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
As much as I liked Lunático, I think Brioche is the spot for the best breakfast in Cartagena (there is another good spot below).
They have a fairly large menu and big portions. They also have good coffee and pastries if you just want a simpler breakfast or cup of coffee. Oh, and good mimosas too!
However, this café and bakery is not just for breakfast. They have some sandwiches and salads for lunch on their menu as well.
And, while it may be surprising for a café and bakery, I think Brioche has the best burgers in Cartagena. Big, and on the gourmet style side, my favorite is the Gastón, which comes with a hashbrown on it, but the traditional cheeseburger is really good too. You can tell they use quality beef and their burgers are in fact homemade.
So, whether you’re looking for a tasty breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Cartagena or you just want a cup of coffee or a snack, this is a definitely a great restaurant to try in Cartagena.
See their website and menu here.
15. Kokoa
Location: Getsemaní
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: Generally no, but sometimes there’s a wait
Next up is our favorite Cartagena restaurant for sushi.
Kokoa, located on the trendy and colorful Calle San Andrés in Getemsení, has a cool, beach/reggae style vibe and a large menu with a variety of sushi rolls as well as other Japanese and Chinese inspired dishes.
It’s nice enough to come here on a date but laid back enough to be a fun place to go with friends and have some drinks and sushi as well. I like that they have some creative rolls and some combos that work well in a group. For sushi lovers, it’s definitely one of the best dinners in Cartagena.
They don’t appear to have a website but their Instagram does show a menu (carta).
16. Mistura
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High
Need Reservations: Not always, but strongly encouraged
Mistura also has some great and creative sushi, plus a lot more on their menu.
They have a bit more of a Peruvian-fusion influence, and though we have only been here once, I have no qualms putting it on this list of best Cartagena restaurants. The food was really flavorful and there was a really large menu. We had a hard time deciding what to eat.
It’s another place we have on our list of places to go again. I’d definitely count it among the best restaurants in the Walled City of Cartagena.
Both of the dishes we ordered were tasty as was the sushi roll we ordered as an appetizer. The courtyard inside is very pretty as well and its location just off the Parque Fernandez de Madrid is great and central to everything.
See their website, where you can find a menu, here.
17. Cuzco
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High to High
Need Reservations: Not always, but a good idea on weekends
For something a bit more straight up Peruvian, consider the next place on this list of Cartagena best restaurants.
Cuzco perfectly threads that needle of nice enough to take a date but not feeling too fancy to go as a family or group of friends. The prices are on the higher end but they have a big menu with something for everyone and some more moderately priced stuff.
I’m serious when I say it’s a crowd pleaser too.
When we had our wedding, a group of my family members ate here two times in like 4 days they liked it so much. I think I’ve always just gotten the classic seafood arroz chaufa when I’ve been here and loved it but there are lots of good looking dishes on the menu.
They do have a website here, but you have to enter your email to see the menu and at least for me the email they sent didn’t actually have the menu attached. You can try and see if it’s fixed though.
Regardless, take my word for it, it’s definitely among the best Cartagena restaurants in the Old City.
18. Demente
Location: Getsemaní
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No, but sometimes there is a wait on weekends
This little bar and restaurant has my favorite pizza in Cartagena.
The pizza is brick oven style. I think their oven may not actually be brick, but the pizza is awesome with that little bit of charring on the crust.
They have a few creative and tasty combinations like a meatball pizza (my favorite).
They do also have tapas on the menu that are tasty but, at least in my opinion, a bit overpriced and not worth ordering over the pizzas. If you’re not too hungry, a couple could share a tapa and a pizza though.
I love their little beer garden in the back as well, and they have good drinks to go with a pretty large liquor and even decent craft beer selection.
It’s definitely one of our favorite Cartagena restaurants for a drinks and casual food in Cartagena or to go with friends. Right next to the Plaza de la Trinidad it’s a good place to start the night or stop by while out out on the town as well and is definitely one of the best restaurants in Getsemaní.
They don’t appear to have a website or menu up on social media. We have gotten them to send it to us by reaching out to them for deliveries though. See their Instagram here.
19. León de Baviera
Location: Getsemaní
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
If you’re looking for another good place for drinks with friends that has good food too, check out León de Baviera, next up on this list of best restaurants in Cartagena.
This is one of the handful of places that was open all the way back during my first year in Cartagena in 2011, and I think it’s been around much longer than that. The owner Stefan, from Germany, is a nice guy and is usually around.
The brats are authentic and delicious and come with tasty sauerkraut. They have some other traditional German dishes like goulash as well, although I always just go with a brat.
This has always been a favorite spot of mine to go with buddies for some drinks and food, and they do some specials during the week that are pretty good deals too.
This is a great spot to go for soccer games too.
Just know it can get crowded for big matches so go early. We saw lots of 2018 World Cup matches here, and they were always good fun. So, if you happen to be in Cartagena for a big Champions League matchup, or even better a Colombian national team game, this is a good spot to watch.
They also are well known as one of the first and few places that play rock music and often have live bands on the weekend.
So, while most of these places on this list of Cartagena, Colombia best restaurants serve Colombian food, if you want something a bit different and with an atmosphere more like a bar in the US with German food, check out Leon.
They don’t have a website and their menu doesn’t show up linked on their social media pages but you may be able to ask them for it.
20. Terraza Municipal
Location: Getsmaní
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
More or less across the street from Leon, you’ll find the next place on this good restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia.
This is also a good spot for relatively cheap eats in Cartagena.
In a park along the waterfront that overlooks the bay, Terraza Municipal is a group of food trucks. They were originally known as the Santa Isabel Food Trucks. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but the whole area is now known as Terraza Municipal, so I’m assuming the owners of Municipal bought them all out.
Anyways, I was already a fan of Municipal’s tacos and chicken sandwich (hey a gringo occasionally needs a fix), which they serve here now along with burgers. They also still have a pizza truck, a sushi truck, and a seafood truck. Everything we’ve ever had here has been good.
Oh yea, and there is a cocktail and beer truck too.
We enjoy coming here for dinner and drinks the two of us, or with friends. It’s also a cool place for sunset drinks where you can see the pretty colors of the clouds over the water and then stick around for dinner.
They don’t have a website but you can usually find their current menu linked from their Instagram page, at least at the time of this writing.
21. Street Food in Plaza la Trinidad
Location: Getsemaní
Price Category: Cheap
Need Reservations: Nope
While we are on food trucks, you’ll find the best night time street food stalls around the Plaza de la Trinidad in Getsemaní.
The guy near the left hand corner when facing the church is quite good.
I recommend trying a patacón con todo, which is a big plantain patty covered in meats and cheese. Hotdogs or chorizo dogs topped off with cheese and crunchy shoestring potatoes are also worth trying.
This is already a popular evening hangout spot, so if you want some cheap Cartagena eats or late night snack, it makes for a good option.
If you’re looking for something more like empanadas or arepas de huevo at night, check out the aforementioned Donde Magola or the fry stand in the Plaza San Diego.
22. Di Silvio
Location: Getsemaní and Bocagrande
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No, but expect a wait at the Getsemaní location on weekends
This is one of our favorite places to eat in Cartagena.
In fact, one of our very first dates was here, and it’s a place we’ve been back to tons of times.
Di Silvio serves up tasty pastas and pizzas as well as some other Italian inspired dishes. I love their carbonara pasta and Susana loves their seafood pizza. Everything we have tried here has been great though, and it has always been a crowd pleaser whenever we have gone with friends or family too.
The fact that there always seems to be a wait at their main location in Getsemaní and they have expanded not only to the place next door but to several other locations, including one in Bocagrande, is a testament to them being one of best Cartagena restaurants.
I appreciate that their prices have stayed relatively reasonable despite their popularity.
See their website and menu here.
23. Marea by Rausch
Location: Walled City
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Yes, you want to get a seat on the deck
Owned by the Rausch brothers, two of Colombia’s most famous chefs, Marea has a privileged location in the Cartagena Convention Center with a gorgeous deck on the water overlooking the bay.
It is maybe the best restaurant in Cartagena with a view.
You’ll definitely want to make reservations to get a table on the deck. The view of the Clocktower and wall is gorgeous.
The food is very good too, and there are some creative spins on traditional dishes here.
It’s definitely on the higher end price wise, but it’s a great place for a special occasion or just sampling some very good food with a great view.
See their website where they have a menu posted here.
24. Andrés Cartagena
Location: Walled City
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Not always, but strongly encouraged
Andrés Carne de Res is one of Bogotá’s most well known restaurants.
I don’t know how best to describe it to be honest. It is sort of like a Colombian version of a themed restaurant like Hard Rock Café. I use the comparison carefully though, because the food is actually good.
They are known for good steaks and a night club atmosphere later in the evening. It is kind of like fine dining in Cartagena with a party atmosphere.
So, this is the one place on this list we have not actually been I mentioned in the introduction. We have, however, been to a Andrés location in Bogotá, and I went to their original location in Chía all the way back in 2011 just after arriving in Colombia.
Their steaks are really, really good.
They are also very pricey and are big portions. I would actually probably recommend sharing one and maybe getting an appetizer. The trapero steak is the best one, super juicy and flavorful.
It’s an interesting experience going to one of these. I can’t say for sure what the one in Cartagena is like since we haven’t been, but I’m sure it’s fun and a good choice if you want a tasty steak and fun atmosphere (there is another option for a good steak in a more traditional restaurant atmosphere below).
See their website where they have a menu posted here. (Be sure you are looking at the Cartagena location).
25. Espiritú Santo
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Cheap to Moderate
Need Reservations: No, but can have a wait at lunch time
If you’re not interested in all the pomp and frills of a place like Andrés, and just want a simple, no-nonsense place serving up delicious, homestyle food for fair prices, then Espiritú Santo might go straight to the top of your list of best restaurants in Cartagena to try.
Espiritú Santo is one of the longest running places and one of the few places in the Walled City that does not charge higher end prices these days.
They offer rotating daily specials or ejectutivos for lunch as well as a larger menu. A favorite of locals, it is a popular place for lunch breaks during the week as well as taking the family during the weekend.
So, this is arguable the best lunch in Cartagena, especially for the price.
For those looking for a step up from corrientes and a chance to try some classic Cartagena dishes without splurging, it’s a great choice.
They do not have a website. ou can find some photos of menus with a Google Search but prices and dishes could have changed.
26. Yina Restaurante (formerly La Esquina de Yina)
Location: Marbella
Price Category: Cheap
Need Reservations: No
I can’t make a list of best Cartagena, Colombia restaurants without mentioning this hidden gem that has long been one of our favorites.
La Esquina de Yina was located on a little corner in Marbella. I lived about a block away and for a while I was curious about its unique look.
Finally, I decided to try it, and it quickly became a go-to spot for an easy and cheaper dinner in Cartagena for years to come living there and later just a few blocks away in Cabrero.
It’s mostly simple, street food style dishes cooked on a skillet.
The best things are the best in town mazorca con todo (sometimes also called a desgranado and basically corn tossed with meats and cheese), the burgers, and the chicken burgers, which are made with great little patty made from pulled chicken and spices.
You can also get a hotdog, chorizo dog, or a patacón con todo, and there are some more proper plated dishes on the menu too.
There are also homemade pickles, relish, hot sauce, and other toppings out for you to serve yourself. And, you can put on as many crunchy shoestring potatoes as you like yourself as well as putting on your own sauces.
The owner Yina is super nice and friendly. You’ll likely see her riding her bike around Marbella or even doing deliveries herself. Although, keep your fingers crossed she’s the one cooking as everything seems just a little better when she does it herself.
I’ll be honest when we moved away from Cabrero we stopped going or ordering all that often, but every now and then we made a point to pop in. She recently sold out of the original place and moved to a new place a block away. We have not actually been here yet (we need to get there!), but from the looks of photos it’s well put together.
While it may take some time for it to get that lived in and charming feeling of the old place, I’m happy for her. It’s a tad out of the way from the Walled City but if you happen to be staying near here or just want to try a mazorca or get a burger or other cheap eats in Cartagena and support a local small business, check her out.
There is a website, including some photos of the snazzy new place here.
27. Epoca
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No, but there can be a wait
If I am looking for a good breakfast or brunch, it’s pretty much down to Lunnaticó, Brioche, or Epoca. Epoca does a few great dishes, including avocado toast and chicken and waffles. I usually get the build your omelette option.
They also serve great coffee in a variety of different preparations. If you’re looking to try one of the interesting systems like chemex or aeropress, this is the best place to do it.
They also have good sandwiches, some salads, and even dinner dishes on the menu as well as a basically a full bar and cocktail selection.
So, while most well known for their coffee and brunch, it’s a not a bad place for Cartagena lunch or even dinner too.
You can see their website with a menu posted here.
28. Townhouse
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate to Moderately High
Need Reservations: No but sometimes fills up on weekend evenings
Townhouse is one of the newer hotels in the Walled City.
Their rooftop bar and restaurant is a terrific place to have a drink and makes my list of the best bars in Cartagena.
However, their food is really solid too, landing it on this list of best restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia.
They serve sort of a gourmet/tapa/appetizer style bar food. Their pork nachos are some of the best nachos in town, and they have good sliders, a tasty grilled octopus, and delicious garlic shrimp bruschetta.
I’ve also been told their fried cheesecake is terrific if you want something really gluttonous!
If you’re looking for a place to have drinks and snacks with friends, or a place to get some food while out bar hopping, it’s one of the best choices. There’s often a DJ and always a cool atmosphere.
It’s also a great spot for sunset drinks and snacks or starting the evening with pregame drinks and food too.
On the weekends they do a terrific all you can eat and drink brunch too.
Their downstairs bar Prohibition has a neat, Great Gatsby vibe to it, and they also serve a lot of the same menu there if you would prefer something inside or the rooftop is full.
You can see a menu at their website.
->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!<-
29. Tabetai
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate to Moderately High
Need Reservations: Generally no but sometimes fills up
Just across the street from Townhouse, you’ll find one of the first and longest running sushi restaurants in Cartagena.
Tabetai may not have all the creative, out-there rolls that Kokoa higher on this list does, but they have all the traditional favorites. They are also really, really good. It’s also one of the few places in Cartagena that serves true sushi, not just rolls.
It’s a tiny, simple place, but is arguably the best sushi overall and a good spot for dinner in Cartagena. So, if you are looking for great sushi while in Cartagena, check them out.
They do not have their own website or have menus posted on social media.
30. Marzola
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
There’s a good chance you have seen a photo of a street view of the next place on this list of Cartagena best restaurants.
They have a neat outside wall where they have a bunch of decorations and what looks like a few tables as well as a famous sign that says “We don’t have Wifi, talk to each other” in Spanish.
The unique decor continues inside this Argentine steakhouse.
It’s a fairly no frills place. Their steaks and Argentine chorizo are good, and they offer a great parrillada you can share. They also have a decent wine selection, and their prices are fairly reasonable.
In all, it’s a good spot for lunch in Cartagena or even a casual dinner.
They do not have a website or menus posted on their social media channels.
31. Quebracho
Location: Walled City
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Not always, but not a bad idea
If you want a little fancier of a steakhouse without the party style atmosphere of Andrés, Quebracho is perfect.
Also an Argentine steakhouse, they offer a great selection of premium cuts in a nice setting.
They are one of the few restaurants in Cartagena I know of where you can get a good selection of USDA Angus and cuts like Tomahawks (expect to pay up for those).
It has an elegant but simple upscale decor. I fel like it looks like a place I’d go with my grandparents for Sunday supper. It works well for a date or special occasion or just a family or group dinner. The food is really delicious and well presented.
You can find their website, where there is a menu posted, here.
32. Distrito Burger Bar
Location: Bocagrande
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
Now that we have gotten on the subject of beef, let me turn next to my favorite delivery/fast casual burger restaurant in Cartagena.
Distrito’s original locations were far from where we lived, so I honestly had never tried them until delivery became so ubiquitous while staying at home in 2020. They have since opened another location that is one of the best restaurants in Bocagrande, making it more accessible to visitors staying in the more touristy areas.
While their burgers are not quite on the gourmet style level or Brioche, if you want more of a bar and grill style or takeout place, this is a great choice.
They also are a good delivery choice if you’d rather just chill around your hotel or AirBnB.
See the menus at their different locations here.
33. Atrium
Location: Crespo and Manga
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
Atrium is similar to Distrito.
It’s a good solid bar and grill, fast casual style Cartagena restaurant.
I think their burgers are not quite as good as Distrito’s but they are still very good. They are also a good size, will fill you up but not make you feel like you might pop if you finish it all.
They also have great pizza.
This became more or less our go-to pizza delivery spot after one opened up close by. They have some nice combinations of toppings and specialty pizzas, and their large and extra large pizzas are pretty good deals for feeding a group or having left over pizza for breakfast the next morning.
They have a handful of other things on their menu, like wings, mazorcas, and even grilled chicken and steak plates. The burgers and pizzas are really the star of the show here though.
You can see their website and menu here.
34. San Valentín
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: Generally no but sometimes there’s a wait
This non-pretentious Cartagena restaurant in the Walled City is a good lunch or dinner spot. It’s nice enough for a date but also a good spot for a more casual meal whether it be for dinner or lunch in Cartagena.
It is also a crowd pleaser with a fairly large menu with variety of dishes, from seafood to ribs, to rices, to traditional Colombian dishes like Bandeja Paisa, to traditional Cartagena favorites like a fried fish plate.
They do have a website here but there is not a complete menu posted.
35. La Langosta
Location: Cabrero
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Not always, but strongly encouraged
The next place on this list of the best Cartagena restaurants to try is actually where Susana and I had our wedding.
La Langosta is in a gorgeous mansion just outside the Walled City in Cabrero. They are probably more well known as a venue for events like weddings, but the restaurant is excellent and its one of the best dinners in Cartagena.
Being outside the wall, it usually isn’t very crowded, although it’s best to make reservations since it’s a small place and to make sure there isn’t an event. It has an exclusive feel, and is one of my favorite places for a romantic meal.
As the name would suggest, the star here is the lobster.
They offer a variety of different preparations, ranging from your simple grilled and buttered to smothered in tasty sauces and shrimp. They are always huge too, so sharing one and something else that calls your attention on the menu (everything we have tried is terrific) is a good choice.
See their website where they have a menu posted here.
36. Restaurante Bar El Muelle
Location: Bocagrande (Laguito)
Price Category: Moderate to Moderately High
Need Reservations: No
This next Cartagena best restaurant is located right on the beach and is a good place for a seafood lunch in Cartagena with some drinks.
El Muelle is located in Laguito, at the end of Bocagrande.
They have a nice deck area overlooking the beach, and you can also sit in chairs on the beach below and order. I’d probably prefer to eat in the restaurant itself, but the beach area is a great spot to have a couple drinks before or after while enjoying the beach.
Speaking of food and drinks, they have very solid seafood.
They have a number of good fish filet preparations, including the marinera smothered in shrimp and calamari, as well as good lobster, seafood rices, as well as your traditional fried fish plate. I’m a fan of their sopa de 7 mares soup too, which is loaded with different seafood.
They also do a great piña colada and coco loco, served in the coco.
In short, this is easily one of the best Bocagrande restaurants and a good spot for a fresh seafood lunch overlooking the water.
See their website and menu here.
37. Intriga Tropical
Location: Bocagrande (Laguito)
Price Category: Moderate to Moderately High
Need Reservations: No
Intriga Tropical is also located in Laguito, just past the Cartagena Hilton, and is another one of the best Cartagena restaurants in Bocagrande.
It has a great location with a deck overlooking the lake.
They have a relatively straight forward simple menu of seafood as well as some chicken dishes. Their camarones al ajillo are quite good. While it’s not particularly fancy, the view is nice and works well for a romantic dinner or for a nice family dinner or meal with friends.
Prices are also not crazy high, and there usually isn’t much of a crowd. They have decent drinks.
The only downside is it is a bit out of the way at the end of Laguito, but if you happen to be staying nearby or in Bocagrande, it’s definitely worth a visit to enjoy some decent food and a nice breeze overlooking the lake.
38. La Olla Cartagenera
Location: Bocagrande
Price Category: Moderately High to High
Need Reservations: Not always, but strongly encouraged
If you are looking for great traditional Cartagena dishes in a nice restaurant in Bocagrande, check out La Olla Cartagenera (literally translated as the Cartagenan Pot).
The serve up a lot of traditional favorites like the cazuela de mariscos (seafood stew), posta negra (a classic roasted beef dish), arroz con pollo, arroz de mariscos, camarones al ajillo, all sorts of fish filets, and lobster.
They also have a pretty large steak and chicken dish selection.
In short, there’s just about something for everyone on the menu here, and the location along the main strip on the Avenida San Martín makes this a great Cartagena restaurant for those staying in Bocagrande.
Like lots of other places on this list, the decor and atmosphere is nice enough for a romantic dinner but also not so nice you can’t come here for a casual or family meal. And with such a large menu, it’s a great chance to try some of Cartagena’s well known traditional dishes while still having something to satisfy everyone.
See their website, where they have a menu posted, here.
->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!<-
39. Boka
Location: Bocagrande
Price Category: Moderately High
Need Reservations: Not always, but strongly encouraged
As its name might suggest, Boka is another of the best restaurants in Bocagrande.
It is a good choice for a more gourmet style meal.
Their food is international-fusion with traditional Cartagena and a tad bit of Mediterranean and Arabic influence. We have been here several times and everything we have tried has been very good and flavorful. I had a great steak here once.
They also often do good drink specials.
They do not have a website or menu posted online anywhere from what I can find.
40. La Pescadería
Location: Crespo
Price Category: Moderate to Moderately High
Need Reservations: No
There’s lots of good seafood options in Cartagena, but this is a hidden gem near the airport in Crespo.
We lived near here for a while and it is one of the best restaurants around the neighborhood. They serve up all the seafood standbys you would expect like filets, fried fish, and camaraones al ajillo.
They have terrific ceviches as well.
Our favorite is the ceviche al macho. Their grilled octopus is also great as are the Peruvian arroz chaufa and creamy arroz isleño.
We used to order combos that have a ceviche and one of the rices a lot, which works perfect for a meal for two (in fact we often had left overs for another meal).
If you happen to be staying in Crespo, want to eat some great seafood before a flight, or just want to get outside the touristy zone and support a local business, check them out.
They don’t have a website but if you write them via their Instagram they will send it to you. They also often run specials.
41. Burlador
Location: Walled City
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Not always, but strongly encouraged
If you’re looking for a paella or a good tortilla española, you’ll want to visit this top Cartagena restaurant.
Located in the Walled City, Burlador Gastro Bar has a pretty decor and serves up a great menu of Spanish inspired cuisine.
We have only been here once or twice. However, we thought the food was great. There was also nice live music, adding to the atmosphere.
Do be sure to get the tortilla as an appetizer, and we thought the paella was great, but everything on the menu honestly sounded really good. It’s another place on our list of places to eat in Cartagena we’d like to get back to.
They don’t have their own website but you can see some photos of menu items on their Instagram featured stories.
42. Cuba 1940
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High
Need Reservations: Generally no, sometimes a wait
There used to be several Cuban restaurants in Cartagena. I think Cuba 1940 was always the best one, and it is the only one still open that I know of.
It has a great location just off the Plaza San Diego next to La Cevichería.
There’s a small menu here, but the food is really good, including the Cuban sandwich, which is actually pretty moderately priced although sized as an appetizer.
The mojitos are also as good if not better than any in town, and there is often live music.
The decor with old style tables and chairs and lots of neat old timey photos fits with the theme of 1940s Cuba. If you’re craving some Cuban food or just want a few mojitos, this Cartagena restaurant is definitely worth the visit.
You can see a menu on their website here.
43. La Vitrola
Location: Walled City
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Yes (and well in advance)
This is one of Cartagena’s most famous and well known restaurants.
It’s not uncommon for celebrities to dine here and it was reportedly Charlie Sheen’s favorite restaurant in Cartagena.
It is often also reserved out a weeks or even longer, so you’ll want to make sure you get reservations well in advance if you want to eat here.
In fact, we had wanted to go here for a long time and were never able to get reservations when we wanted.
I often see La Vitrola called a Cuban restaurant. There’s some truth to that I guess since it has a very Cuban style feel and often has live Cuban music.
However, the food is a bit more of a mix of general Latino and Caribbean food.
It is very good. We finally successfully got reservations and went here once for my birthday.
I’m going to be honest, food was great, service was great, place is nice, and the price was what you would expect at the other higher end places on this list of best Cartagena restaurants.
However, I think there are other choices just as good on this list that aren’t as hard to get reservations at. Still, it’s a nice place and a classic restaurant that has been here forever so if you are able to go, it’s worth it.
They do not have a website or menu online from what I can find.
44. Girolata
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High
Need Reservations: Generally no
If you’re looking for great pasta or other Italian dishes in a nice place with prices that aren’t outrageous, La Girolata is a good choice.
We’ve been here a number of times for birthdays or special occasions or just when we wanted a nice dinner.
They have a good menu, a long wine list, and everything we have tried has been terrific. For straightforward, traditional Italian, it’s one of the best choices in Cartagena.
They don’t have a website or menu posted online, although they have a lot of photos that are making me hungry up on their Instagram page.
45. El Gobernador
Location: Walled City
Price Category: High
Need Reservations: Not always, but strongly encouraged
This top Cartagena restaurant is also run by the Rausch Brothers.
It’s a bit more of a traditional Cartagena fine dining experience than Marea and is located inside the gorgeous Bastión Luxury Hotel.
We have only been here once, and it was terrific.
The service was great, and the food was delicious. I had a great leg of lamb with mashed chickpeas. I don’t remember what Susana had but we had a delicious scallops and confit pork belly appetizer and a great dessert too.
The menu was small but everything looked and sounded great with thought out flavor combinations.
This is definitely a great place for a romantic dinner or special occasion. You should plan to make reservations although it may be possible to walk in too.
See their website, including a menu here.
46. Crepes and Waffles
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No, but a good idea if you want to be on the rooftop
So, this is perhaps a bit of a boring inclusion on a list of best restaurants in Cartagena, and, well, that’s sort of true.
That being said, Crepes has a large menu that should have something for everyone, works well for just about any occasion, is family friendly, and has great ice cream for dessert.
The food here is solid all around.
Most of the locations in Cartagena are just like ones you will find elsewhere in Colombia. However, the San Pedro location, near the San Pedro Claver Church has a pretty rooftop that has a special food and drink menu.
This is a great spot for a birthday, some drinks and dinner with friends, or even a more romantic evening and is why I am including it on this list of the Cartagena, Colombia best restaurants.
You can see their website here. They don’t have a full menu there, although there are some delivery menus, the actual menu can vary a bit restaurant to restaurant. It should give you a good idea though.
47. Ely Café
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
Ely started and is possibly still most well known today as a dessert bakery. Their cakes are really good (although if you are looking for a cake, I’d recommend Patricia Berón over them).
They have grown a lot and now offer a great breakfast and brunch menu. They also offer some salads and sandwiches, and even burgers, pasta, and bowls. In fact, they even serve pizza at their Bocagrande location.
They also have some neat drink and juice concoctions, both with and without alcohol.
So, this is a great spot to stop in for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner in addition to enjoying a coffee or dessert.
See the menus at different locations here.
48. Novo
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate
Need Reservations: No
Novo turned into one of my favorite places to eat in Cartagena.
They have great chicken and pork shawarma, full of flavor. They are also one of the few places in Cartagena I know of that does a good falafel. n fact, I can never decide if I want to do a falafel or meat shawarma.
You can also do a shawarma in a bowl and they have great fries.
They have sort of a Subway-esque, but much nicer, set up with a number of different vegetables you can get as well as some great sauces. Their prices are also pretty reasonable for how much food you get.
I enjoy stopping in here for something quick and tasty. It isn’t exactly traditional Colombian food, but if you are craving a falafel or something of the sort it is a good place to eat in Cartagena.
You can see a featured story with their menu on their Instagram page.
49. La Santa Guadalupe
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderately High
Need Reservations: Generally no
Santa Guadalupe has a location in the Serrezuela Mall as well as one right by the wall near Café del Mar with a nice deck that looks over the Caribbean.
This is a fairly new location that we went to recently, and we’ve eaten a few times at the mall as well.
They have a pretty large menu, are relatively authentic, and have good drinks, even having a decent selection of mezcal. Their margaritas are good too.
I do think their prices are a little high, but the food is good and there’s not a better Mexican place in the city for the time being that I know of.
See a menu at their website.
50. Mila
Location: Walled City
Price Category: Moderate to Moderately High
Need Reservations: Not a bad idea for dinner
And to close out this list of Cartagena best restaurants is the best dessert place in town.
Located in the Walled City, Mila is one of a small handful of restaurants in Cartagena that have cheesecakes. My personal favorite thing here are the brownies with big gold dollops of icing that look like a giant Hersey’s kiss.
They do have food food on their menu too. It is mostly bistro style food, but we’ve only ever come here to get dessert to be honest.
So, if you want something sweet after visiting one of these other great restaurants in Cartagena, consider heading here for dessert.
See their website with a menu here.
Some More Cartagena Restaurants to Consider Trying:
As I mentioned in the introduction there are some places we haven’t gotten around to trying that we have heard are very good.
So, here are handful more nice restaurants in Cartagena you could try:
- Celele (very creative dishes in Getsemaní)
- Persopolis (Persian food in Bocagrande, looks really good)
- Gran Inka (Run by the same management as Cuzco)
- La Garza (this used to be Zaitún which was great, not sure if it shows highly on TripAdvisor based solely off of Zaitún’s reputation but may be worth a try)
- Malagana (we have had drinks here but not food, looks very good and a neat tiny rooftop)
- La Tapería (recommended by friends we trust)
- La Vieja Guardia – Menu looks great for seafood
- Moshi – Looks really tasty
- M Cocina Arabe
- Pepe Anca – Recommended for steaks
50 Great Cartagena Restaurants Conclusion
So, there you have it, 50 great Cartagena, Colombia restaurants I recommend, plus 10 more to try!
Now I guess you’ll need to look into a post trip diet, not to mention when you’ll be planning your return trip to try all the best restaurants in Cartagena you didn’t get to try this time around!
In all seriousness, I hope you found this useful, and that you have a terrific time (and eats lots of delicious food) when you come to Cartagena!
Cheers and Happy Exploring Eating!
Did you like this article?
Check out these others you may like:
Best Dishes to Try in Cartagena
Best Places for Sunset Drinks in Cartagena
Best Boutique Hotels
Cartagena Safety Tips
Best Cartagena Street Food
Planning a trip to Cartagena?
Be sure to check out the rest of the site to help you plan!
In particular, you might want to check out my complete guide to planning a trip to Cartagena, my guide to the best areas to stay, my list of over 75 things to do, my picks for the best Cartagena tours, the best day trips from Cartagena, my suggested packing list, my guide to the Rosario Islands, and my guide to all the beaches of Cartagena.
->Click here to get a free planning checklist for your trip to Cartagena!<-