Bars & Nightlife Centro Historico

Ranked number 8 in the World's 50 Best Bars for both 2024 and 2025, and named World's Best Bar at the 2024 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, Alquímico is not just the best bar in Cartagena — it's one of the best bars on the planet, and it happens to be here. Housed in a 19th-century mansion on Calle del Colegio, the building alone stops people at the entrance: high ceilings, a grand staircase, an open central courtyard, and three floors each with their own distinct identity.

Beach Clubs Beyond the City

Blue Apple Beach is one of those “must‑visit” escapes when you’re in Cartagena. Just a quick boat ride away, it gives you the feeling of being far removed from the city without the long trek to the Rosario Islands. Spend the day however you like: grab a spot by the pool where the animators keep the party going with music and dancing, or settle into the quieter beach area for a more laid‑back vibe. The food is tasty, the drinks keep flowing, and the whole place has a stylish, social energy that feels both welcoming and fun. Day passes include transport and use of the facilities, and lunch making it an easy day trip, but if your schedule allows, staying the night is well worth it. It’s one of the best ways to escape Cartagena’s heat and see a different side of the Caribbean coast—all without spending an hour on a boat.

Restaurants Centro Historico

There's a blue chain-link fence on a street in Cartagena that you'd walk past a hundred times without a second thought. On one side: a fire station. On the other: a gas station mid-construction, the kind of half-built rebar-and-dust situation that makes you wonder if anyone's coming back to finish it. And then there's the fence itself. When we showed up there was barely a sign that anything exists beyond it. We'd actually been here before to jump on a boat, back when it was merely a dock. We had no idea.

Restaurants Getsamani

Celele has earned its place on the World’s 50 Best list, and once you sit down, it’s easy to see why. The menu reimagines Colombia’s native ingredients with precision and purpose. Each plate tells a story—where the elements come from, why they were chosen, and how they’ve been transformed into something completely new. It’s not traditional fare. Some locals even push back on it. But if you’re curious about Colombia’s culinary future, this is the place to start.

Beach Clubs Beyond the City

The boat ride is just 15 minutes, but somehow it feels like you’ve crossed an ocean. Maybe it’s the color of the water—it isn’t quite Rosario Islands turquoise, but it’s close enough that you stop caring about the difference the moment you step onto the sand. Makani feels quiet in a way Cartagena never does, like someone turned down the city’s volume knob. The staff greet you like they’ve been waiting for you all morning, and within minutes you’ve got a drink in hand and a place to settle in.

Restaurants Centro Historico

Mar y Zielo offers one of Cartagena’s most romantic dining experiences, right in the heart of the old city. Set in a beautifully restored colonial house, its candlelit stone walls and thoughtful design create an intimate, memorable atmosphere. The menu is