Fine Dining in Cartagena
Whether you are looking to enjoy a meal with a view of the ocean, or experience the best of local cuisine, there are a huge number of options for fine dining in Cartagena. So many, that it can be hard to know where to begin.
If you are traveling to the city, though, here are some of the best options for fine dining. Places that don’t just have great food, but quality service, and an overall experience that sets them apart. Try one (or all!), and enjoy the very best of Cartagena’s fine dining.
1621 Restaurant
Found within Hotel Santa Clara, one of the best hotels in the area, its name refers to the founding of the restaurant in the dining room of the Clarisas sisters. Those historic surroundings are stunning, and that setting really shapes the dining experience. Service is impeccable, but it is a popular place, so always book beforehand. No online booking is available, unfortunately, but the staff speak good English, so phone reservations are a simple process.
In contrast to the historic surroundings, the food is decidedly modern. Using local ingredients for the contemporary menu, you’ll never forget you are in a Colombian restaurant, but the choice is varied. The food is of a consistent quality, and it is one of the best fine dining experiences in Cartagena.
Gran Inka Gastrobar
A Peruvian restaurant that offers some of the most flavorful dishes available in the city. It is said that Gran Inka serves the best Ceviche in Cartagena, but that is not all. The menu is full of innovative dishes that take the best of local ingredients, Peruvian tradition, and new thinking, to create dishes where the flavor is overflowing.
Seafood is a specialty, while service is second to none, helpful, and friendly. You can reserve a table through the website, and it is recommended to you as this is a popular restaurant, especially at weekends.
Ana Restaurant Bar
A restaurant that takes you on a journey from the moment you arrive. Friendly and professional staff ensure that everything runs smoothly, and you’ll feel instantly welcome and relaxed. With its blend of Asian and Caribbean cuisine, the menu is an adventure in itself. Whatever you choose from the extensive list, you can be sure it will be the highest quality. The restaurant itself offers an eclectic feel, bringing elements of the menu’s influence into the décor too.
Celele Restaurant
Another Caribbean influenced restaurant, this time one voted one of the 50 best restaurants in the world in 2021. Celele has the quality food you would expect, but so much more. Opening in December 2018, Celele is driven by its two chefs, Jaime Rodríguez Camacho and Sebastián Pinzón Giraldo. They have spent years perfecting their craft, learning about local ingredients, specialty dishes, and more, to create something unique.
The food is spectacular, and while the restaurant itself is unassuming from the outside, just a small house in the Getsemani neighborhood, inside it’s a different story. Long tables, wide arches, and live music make it a complete experience. This is one you don’t want to miss.
Carmen
You’ll find Carmen in an old colonial house in Downtown, and those grand surroundings set the tone for the entire experience. Whether indoor or outdoor dining is your preference, this is a restaurant that has it all. Warm, friendly service makes for a relaxing dining experience, and the food is just as memorable.
Contemporary dishes with a Colombian flavor, using local ingredients including Crab and Lobster, provide food of the highest quality. An extensive wine list, a unique take on cocktails, and more make this an exceptional place to enjoy quality dining.
You can enjoy almost any type of dining you like in Cartagena, and whatever your budget, there is quality food out there to find. This is not an exhaustive list of Cartagena restaurants, but represents what, we think, are the very best operating right now. We hope you enjoy our suggestions!