Best Restaurants in Cartagena: Where to Eat in 2024
Cartagena’s food scene is a high-speed collision of Caribbean flavors, Spanish influence, and high-end modern technique. You will find everything from street-side fried snacks to world-class tasting menus. The city excels at seafood, tropical fruit, and slow-cooked meats. The heat dictates the pace: casual lunches are heavy on coconut rice and fried fish, while dinners transition into sophisticated, dimly lit courtyards. Whether you are hunting for a $2 empanada or a $150 wine-paired feast, the quality is consistently high. This is a city built for people who travel specifically to eat.
Must-try dishes in Cartagena
Before booking your table, know what to look for on the menu. These are the non-negotiables:
- Posta Negra Cartagenera: Beef eye round slow-cooked in a dark, sweet sauce made from panela (unrefined cane sugar) and cola. It is the city’s signature comfort food.
- Ceviche Costeño: Unlike the Peruvian version, local ceviche often features shrimp in a tangy tomato-based sauce with plenty of lime and garlic.
- Arroz con Coco: Sweet coconut rice. It is the standard side dish for almost every seafood meal and is often toasted until caramelized.
- Arepa de Huevo: A deep-fried corn cake filled with a whole egg and savory ground meat. It is the ultimate morning or late-night snack.
- Cazuela de Mariscos: A rich, coconut milk-based seafood chowder served bubbling in a clay pot.
- Limonada de Coco: A frozen blend of coconut cream and lime juice. It is the only way to survive the midday humidity.
Best restaurants for a splurge
When you want to see the best restaurants in Cartagena, these three lead the pack. Expect high-concept plating and exceptional service.
Celele (Getsemaní)
Celele is currently the most influential restaurant in the city. The chefs spent years researching the biodiversity of the Caribbean coast to create a menu featuring ingredients you won’t find anywhere else. The space is intimate and colorful, reflecting the Getsemaní neighborhood. Order the tasting menu to experience the full range of their flowers, fermented fruits, and forgotten local proteins.
Restaurante 1621 (Old Town)
Located inside the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara, this restaurant occupies a former 17th-century convent dining room. It specializes in French techniques applied to Colombian ingredients. The wine cellar is one of the best in South America. It is formal, quiet, and extremely polished. Go here for a multi-course dinner when you want to celebrate a milestone.
Carmen (Old Town)
Carmen offer a contemporary take on Colombian flavors across a five- or seven-course tasting menu. The setting is a lush, open-air colonial courtyard that feels worlds away from the street noise. The kitchen excels at seafood, particularly their preparations of local red snapper and lobster. The craft cocktail program is equally impressive, utilizing exotic local fruits.
Best casual restaurants and local favorites
If you are wondering where to eat in Cartagena for a reliable, high-quality meal without the stiff formal dress code, start here.
La Mulata (Old Town)
La Mulata is a local institution for a reason. The decor is quirky and tropical, and the food is consistently excellent. They serve arguably the best lunch special in the Old City, featuring fresh fish, coconut rice, and salad. It is busy, loud, and quintessentially Cartagena. Don’t leave without trying their fish soup.
Cande (Old Town)
Cande focuses heavily on "100% Cartagenero" tradition. The restaurant features live traditional dance performances and a menu that reads like a history book of the region. The interior is stunning, filled with plants and colonial architecture. It is more upscale than a typical casual spot but retains a warm, welcoming energy.
Pezeto (Old Town)
This is a modern, seafood-forward spot that focuses on freshness above all else. The ceviches are clean and innovative, and the grilled octopus is a standout. It has a bright, airy aesthetic that makes it perfect for a long lunch when you need a break from the sun. The prices are fair for the quality of the ingredients.
El Burlador de Sevilla (Old Town)
While Cartagena is focused on the Caribbean, this spot brings top-tier Spanish tapas and paella to the walled city. It is a great alternative when you need a break from coconut rice. The atmosphere is energetic, often featuring live flamenco music. It is an excellent choice for groups who want to share several small plates.
Best cheap eats and street food
You don’t need a reservation to find some of the best restaurants in Cartagena. The street stalls are the backbone of the city’s food culture.
Arepa de Huevo Stalls
You will find these on almost every street corner, but the vendors at Plaza de la Trinidad in Getsemaní are legendary. Watch them drop the dough into the hot oil, crack the egg inside, and reseal it in seconds. Two of these make a full, satisfying meal for a few dollars.
La Picanteria (Getsemaní)
This is a small, unassuming spot that serves incredible ceviche and seafood bowls at a fraction of the price of the big-name restaurants. The seating is limited, usually spilling out onto the sidewalk. It is fresh, spicy, and authentic. It’s the perfect spot for a quick, high-protein lunch between sightseeing stops.
San Alberto Coffee (Old Town)
While technically a cafe, their small bites and pastries are excellent. More importantly, it is the place to experience Colombia’s "Premium" coffee culture. Treat their honey-processed pours like a meal in themselves. It is the most awarded coffee in Colombia, and the shop overlooks the stunning Plaza de Santo Domingo.
Quero Arepa (Old Town)
This is a budget-friendly shop specializing in Venezuelan and Colombian style stuffed arepas. They are packed with everything from shredded beef and black beans to avocado and cheese. It is fast, filling, and one of the most reliable cheap eats within the walled city walls.
Best breakfast and brunch
If you are looking for where to eat in Cartagena to start your day, these spots offer both local and international options.
Época Espresso Bar (Old Town)
Época is the gold standard for brunch in Cartagena. They take their coffee seriously, with various brewing methods available at the table. The food menu features massive avocado toasts, eggs Benedict, and traditional Colombian breakfast platters. The vibe is reminiscent of a 1920s bistro. Expect a wait on weekends.
Caffé Lunático (Getsemaní)
This spot offers a creative brunch menu with a view of the San Felipe Castle. The menu changes frequently but often includes innovative takes on tapas and egg dishes. It is a bit more relaxed and "local" feeling than the spots in the Old Town. Their fresh fruit juices are mandatory.
Sierva María (Old Town)
This is a classic pastry and coffee shop perfect for a lighter start. They serve excellent traditional sweets and savory pastries. It is named after a character from a Gabriel García Márquez novel, fitting the romantic, literary atmosphere of the neighborhood. Grab a coffee and a pastry to go and walk the wall.
Best rooftop or view dining
Cartagena is a city of stunning sunsets. These spots offer the best views to accompany your meal.
Marea By Rausch (Convention Center)
Located right on the water with a view of the clock tower and the domes of the Old City, Marea is run by the famous Rausch brothers. The focus is on high-end seafood. Request a table on the terrace at sunset for one of the best views in the Caribbean.
Café del Mar (Old Town Walls)
While more of a lounge than a traditional restaurant, they serve solid snacks and appetizers. The real draw is the location—directly on top of the historic stone walls facing the ocean. It is the most famous sunset spot in the city. Arrive at least an hour before sunset to secure a seat.
Best food neighborhoods to wander
The Walled City (Centro and San Diego) This is where you will find the highest concentration of "best restaurants in Cartagena." San Diego is slightly quieter and home to culinary schools, while Centro is packed with high-end dining and historic architecture. Every alleyway here holds a potential hidden gem.
Getsemaní Once a gritty neighborhood, Getsemaní is now the heartbeat of the city’s nightlife and casual dining scene. Street food is king here, especially around Plaza de la Trinidad. It is the best place to find fusion restaurants and trendy cafes that cater to a younger, more bohemian crowd.
La Boquilla For a true local experience, take a taxi 20 minutes north to this fishing village. You can eat fresh catch-of-the-day right on the beach with your feet in the sand. It is unpolished, loud, and serves the most authentic seafood in the region.
Note: Restaurant hours and reservation requirements change frequently; check official websites before visiting.