Alma

Elevated Colombian cuisine is served at this highly regarded restaurant that lays claim to "capturing the essence of colonial Cartagena" through its cooking. Highlighting local ingredients like coconut milk and seafood, Alma puts a delectable twist on familiar flavours and invites you to a memorable dining experience to the sounds of live music.

• Web:

  www.almacolombia.com/bar

• Address:

  Casa San Agustín, calle #36, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 605 6810050

• Opening hours:

  Daily noon–11pm

Cuzco Cocina Peruana

The Peruvian restaurant Cuzco boasts delicious food (Peruvian food is often considered the best in the region), great service and live music. Their ceviche is predictably outstanding, and the tenderness of their octopus dishes is legendary. Generous portions and fair prices for the level of quality.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/restaurantecuzco

• Address:

  Calle Santo Domingo #33-48, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 302 2137139

Espiritu Santo

With a location smack in the heart of Cartagena, Espiritu Santo (Holy Spirit) could easily be a tourist trap, but is far from it. The place is incredibly popular with locals, found here in large numbers during lunch hour. Espiritu Santo's vibe is very casual, even canteen-like, with very decent, hearty food. A standard order includes your pick of protein (fish comes recommended) with three sides, of which there are many to choose from.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/espiritusanto.cartagena

• Address:

  Calle 35 #6-69, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 660 69 48

• Opening hours:

  Daily 11:30am–3:30pm

La Cevichería

Made famous by the late Anthony Bourdain paying a visit as part of the incredibly successful "No Reservations" series, La Cevicheria did right by its new-found fame and maintained the high standards of its cuisine, remaining among the best places in town for seafood lovers. The menu isn't limited to ceviche alone. Prepare for a wait during dinner hours and opt for the indoor seating to avoid being distracted by street vendors.

• Web:

  www.lacevicheriacartagena.com

• Address:

  Next to hotel Santa Clara, Calle 39 #7-14, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 5 6798743

• Opening hours:

  Daily 1pm–10:30pm

La Mulata

La Mulata is a cute little bar and restaurant a bit off the beaten path in the walled city in Cartagena. Good selection of cocktails, appetisers (including some melt-in-your-mouth ceviche) and entrees. From time to time, you'll catch live music here. Spend your evening sipping their signature mango margarita.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/restaurantelamulata

• Address:

  Calle del Quero #9-58, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 301 493 38 71

Lunático

This Getsemaní hideout serves excellent tapas — to be paired with no less attractive drinks, both alcoholic and not. Lunático also offers entertaining cooking classes.

• Web:

  www.lunaticoexperience.com

• Address:

  Avenida del Pedregal #29-225, 2nd floor, Getsemaní, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 310 2628726

Alquímico

Alquímico is a hip bar with a rooftop terrace. Since the bar has been featured on the list of 100 best cocktails in the world, its popularity has skyrocketed. There is a line out the door beginning around 9pm on any night of the week, so get there early if you want a smooth entry. Guests are invited to explore all three floors of the venue. Each level has its own menu of inventive cocktails, sandwiches, seafood and meat plates. It is basically bar hopping without ever stepping outside!

• Web:

  www.alquimico.com

• Address:

  Calle del Colegio #34-24, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 318 845 04 33

• Opening hours:

  Daily from 6pm

Bazurto Social Club

Bazurto Social Club pulses with Cartagena’s champeta culture — a folk genre rooted in the city’s African heritage. Locals pack this Getsemaní hotspot to dance to live performances, join free classes, and sing along with gyrating performers. The air thrums with movement and shared rhythm.

• Web:

  www.bazurtosocialclub.com

• Address:

  Calle de La Sierpe, Getsemaní, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 304 2668022

Cafe Havana

"World famous Cafe Havana" — reads the signboard, a message recycled all throughout the establishment. Even the coasters sport it. What brought such acclaim to an originally one-of-many Cartagena bars is a memorable visit from none other than Hilary Clinton, the then-U.S. Secretary of State, who can be seen hitting the dance floor with a bottle of Aguila in photographs still plastered all over the web; all this while attending a political summit in Cartagena where US' isolationist policy towards Cuba was one of the primary talking points. The bar is worth a stop up regardless of the celebrity patron: it's a jovial affair with mojitos, live music, and dancing (if you can squeeze yourself onto the dance floor, that is).

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/cafehavana_cartagena

• Address:

  Corner Calle 30 & Carreta 10, Getsemaní, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 312 408 28 96

• Opening hours:

  Wed–Sat 8:30pm–4am, Sun 7pm–4am

Chiva Party Buses

Although this won't exactly be everyone's idea of a good time, younger and solo travellers looking to explore local nightlife and make new acquaintances while in Cartagena might enjoy an organised tour on board a vibrantly coloured Chiva Party Bus. While specifics will vary by tour operator, most include an open bar, a selection of Colombian snacks (typically arepas, buñuelos and empanadas), as well as live music and dance shows directly on board. Buses may stop at local attractions en route to the final drop-off point, which is commonly a popular nightclub where the party continues.

• Web:

  www.juanballena.com/collections/things-to-do-in-cartagena/products/chiva-party-bus

Demente

A buzzing Getsemaní nightlife hotspot, Demente continues to be ever-popular with both locals and visitors. With a convivial outdoor terrace in a busy little town square and scrumptious tapas-style dishes, Demente is an easy pick for a night out in Cartagena.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/dementetapasbar

• Address:

  Plaza de la Trinidad, Carrera 10 #29-29, Getsemaní, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 5 6604226

El Barón

El Barón offers plenty of outdoor seating, but you'll be drawn inside the bar — the decor is too nice to want to stay outdoors. This craft cocktail bar has many options, try the mezcal-based cocktail. Try a Puro — rum cocktail with caramelised onion and tobacco leaf. For something fresh, order a gin basil smash.

• Web:

  www.elbaron.co

• Address:

  Plaza San Pedro Claver, Carrera 4 #31-7, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 315 6463018

Ábaco Books & Coffee

One doesn't need to be a bookworm to appreciate this quaint locale's attractive concept, although being one would certainly add purpose to the visit. A cross-breed between a bookshop and cafe, Ábaco allows patrons to combine the joy of reading with that of savoring a great cup of joe, with the option of freely browsing through endless titles along ceiling-high bookshelves. There's a catch: most books are in Spanish, with only a limited selection in English.

• Web:

  www.abacolibros.com

• Address:

  Ábaco Libros y Café, Calle 36 #3-86, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 605 6786143

• Opening hours:

  Daily 8am–9pm

Cafe del Mural

Cafe del Mural excels at serving some of Cartagena's best brews, and this given tough competition in a country hailed for its beans. Stop by for a solid espresso or try one of their more extravagant takes on coffee-based beverages; for those willing to dive deeper, attending a coffee appreciation class held regularly by the owner will be a worthwhile experience.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/cafedelmural

• Address:

  Callé de San Juan #25-60, Getsemaní, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 56798193

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Sat 3pm–8pm, Sun closed

Café San Alberto

San Alberto serves brews made from beans with the highest number of awards in the country, which come from a plantation in Buenavista, Quindío. Their coffee is brewed using a variety of fascinating methods, from classic to highly modern, such as molecular cupping. The Cartagena location of San Alberto (all branches are ceremoniously referred to as "coffee temples") offers "Coffee Baptism" programs that last a couple of hours and take attendees on a journey of coffee exploration. Other tours offered vary in focus, the one focusing on high-tech brewing methods being, perhaps, the most intriguing.

• Web:

  www.cafesanalbertoint.com

• Address:

  Calle de los Santos de Piedra #3-86, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 318 796 44 57

Epoca Espresso Bar

Epoca Espresso Bar makes outstanding artisanal coffee from beans roasted in-house. Apart from the standard espresso based drinks you ought to try one of their coffee cocktails. Epoca is great for breakfast and brunch, just make sure to come early — eggs Benedict in the mornings are a crowd favourite. Check out the second floor seating, where they have cute little balconies.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/weare.epoca

• Address:

  Calle de Arzopispado, Carrera 5 #34-52, Centro Historico, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 315 8008072

Juan Valdez Café

The country's most recognised brand of coffee has multiple outlets throughout Cartagena, which is part of the reason it's been dubbed 'the Colombia's Starbucks'. Each coffee shop is a casual affair with a comprehensive coffee menu; bagged beans and various merchandise can also be purchased straight at the shops.

• Web:

  www.juanvaldez.com

• Address:

  Casa San Agustín, corner of Calle 36 & Calle de la Universidad, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 5 665 11 56

La Palettería

The quaint ice cream shop in Cartagena's historic centre is a feast for the eyes: its colourful popsicle display will have anyone spoilt for choice, left to take their (impossible) pick from an abundance of original flavours ranging from Caribbean fruit such as soursop (guanábana) to western-style Oreo cheesecake.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/lapaletteria

• Address:

  Calle 35 #03-86, El Centro, Cartagena

• Phone:

  +57 5 666 15 79