“Best” is a bold word... so let’s clarify. This isn’t a ranking or a competition. These are the restaurants that wowed us with inventive dishes, stuck with us thanks to their atmosphere, and left us saying you can’t leave Cartagena without eating here.
Cartagena has no shortage of great spots, but this list focuses on the showstoppers: the meals we’re still talking about, the flavors we didn’t see coming, and the places that hit that rare sweet spot between design, service, and food.
Of course, this list evolves. New restaurants open, menus change, settings shift. But for now, here are our favorite spots that hold our title Best Restaurants in Cartagena. If you can see below this is a list. If we find something new, we add to it and rearrange the order to try and keep this as up to date as possible. Our latest list (as of May 2026) now features a new #1, Casa Mar. Enjoy!
If you’re planning a full trip, our guide to the best things to do in Cartagena covers the city beyond the dining room. And for coffee between meals, our best cafés in Cartagena guide is worth a read.
