Best Restaurants in Cartagena

Welcome to Cartagena, a city bursting with history, color, and mouthwatering cuisine! Located on the northern coast of Colombia, this coastal gem is not only famous for its stunning architecture and lively atmosphere but also for its diverse and delectable food scene. We're giving you the hot spots and the best restaurant recommendations for Cartagena!

Cande - A staple and you need to go once! Located in the heart of Cartagena's historic district, Cande is a culinary gem that seamlessly blends traditional Colombian flavors with modern gastronomic techniques. There's dancers, entertainment and a great selection of food. MM's recommendations are the Seafood Platter, Shrimp Ceviche, Grilled Seasonal Fish.

Agua de León - This charming restaurant captivates diners with its upscale ambiance and an exquisite blend of local and international flavors. All the servers and staff are dressed sharply in black and although the Lobster Roll was a tad salty, everything else including the service was on point. MM's recommendations are the Octopus, ceviche and the patatas bravas.

1621 Sofitel Hotel - Situated within the luxurious Sofitel Legend Santa Clara hotel, this prestigious restaurant offers a refined and sophisticated dining experience that seamlessly blends contemporary cuisine with the city's rich history. Ask to be seated in the Jardin area (outside in the garden) and you'll be having a romantic dinner under the stars. MM's recommendations are the grilled shrimp, fish of the day and the beet salad.

CEVICHE gets it's own shout out because we're in Latin America and they do it the best here!

La Cevicheria - just go here a million times and grab everything on the menu! We're mad that we didn't get a bigger portion of the mixed coconut seafood ceviche. The only note is that the lobster ceviche wasn't as flavorful as I'm used to in North America. Bourdain gave it a visit and it lives up to its reputation.

Buena Vida Marisqueria - hands down the best coconut seafood ceviche, so good we ordered it twice!

Mistura - a few great Ceviche options and they have everything else too.

Cartagena's culinary scene is a captivating fusion of flavors, drawing inspiration from its Caribbean location, African roots, and indigenous heritage. From vibrant cevicherías to hidden gems in historic neighborhoods, this city offers a wide range of dining options to satisfy any food lover's palate.