Restaurants Getsemaní

Carta Ajena is inside OSH Hotel in Getsemaní and has built a reputation as one of the most consistently excellent brunch experiences in the city. The menu is creative and Caribbean-rooted, with inventive takes on familiar dishes that feel local rather than pandering to tourist tastes. Brunch runs until 3 p.m. on weekdays, making it one of the more generous windows in the city for a long, unhurried morning meal. The space is beautiful, the service is attentive, and the cocktail menu is as good as the food. Live saxophone performances add to the atmosphere on select evenings.

Restaurants Centro Historico

Casona Vida is a beautiful brunch spot in the Centro Histórico, sister restaurant to Vida Coffee Shop, set in a stunning colonial space near the Iglesia de Santo Toribio. The menu leans toward healthier, more internationally-influenced options: the kind of brunch that appeals to visitors looking for quality ingredients and thoughtful preparation rather than a purely Colombian spread. Beautiful interior, a courtyard that feels more like a garden, and live music on weekend evenings. The Zona Norte location in Las Ramblas is equally good if you're in that part of the city. The walled city location can be a little hard to find, tucked off a side street from Plaza San Diego, so Google Maps is your friend.

Restaurants Centro Historico

Crepes & Waffles is the most Colombian restaurant in Colombia, which is a remarkable thing to say about a creperie founded in a Bogotá garage in 1980. Over 82% of its employees are women, the majority of them single mothers and heads of household, many of whom face significant barriers to employment elsewhere. The company is a certified B Corporation that pays above minimum wage, provides healthcare and housing support, and sources ingredients from small farming communities. Every meal here supports something real.

Bars & Nightlife Centro Historico

Wedged into the party corridor just inside the Clock Tower entrance, between Barra 7 and Alquímico, El Pasquín de Joaco is one of those places that finds you as much as you find it. Named after Joaquín De Zubiría, a Spanish military man with a revolutionary heart who posted a war manifesto at this very location in 1810, the building carries more history than most people stopping in for a drink realize. Two floors, two different energies: the ground floor is cocktails and DJs with a more intimate feel, the second floor is a full crossover party with guest artists, light shows, and enough energy to keep you there longer than planned.

Restaurants Centro Historico

Ely Café has long been a Bocagrande favorite for those who love good coffee, fresh bites, and that effortlessly cool vibe. Now, they’ve brought the same energy to the Centro Histórico—only sleeker, more modern, and a touch more upscale. Think everything you love about Ely—brunch classics, craft drinks, warm service—just with a new downtown address and a design that feels right at home among Cartagena’s historic streets.

Restaurants Centro Historico

Ely is the kind of brunch spot you keep coming back to, not because it's flashy but because it's consistently excellent. The menu leans lighter than most spots in the city, with great salads (a genuinely rare find in Cartagena), well-prepared breakfast options, and coffee that holds up on its own. The interior has a warm library-style feel that makes it equally good for a quiet solo breakfast or a relaxed meal with friends. A great option for kids too. The walled city location is our recommendation over Bocagrande, which gets significantly more crowded on weekends. Also works well for lunch if brunch hours have passed.

Beach Clubs Beyond the City

Eteka Beach Club is the closest island escape from Cartagena. It's a quick 10‑minute boat ride from Bocagrande but couldn't feel like more of an escape. The property feels like you’ve landed on a remote, tropical island (think Bali vibes) thanks to its towering palm trees, thatched‑roof bar, and relaxed, peaceful atmosphere. This is a place to sip tropical cocktails, savor incredible food (the fried fish is legendary), and unplug for the day. A day pass includes lunch, a welcome cocktail, and the boat transfer, making it a simple and relaxing getaway. The focus here is on chill, grown‑up vibes—no kids allowed—so it’s perfect for couples or friends looking for something low‑key. While the beach doesn’t always have crystal‑clear water due to its northern Tierra Bomba location, it’s still a beautiful spot to recharge and refresh away from the city and the heat of the Caribbean.

Beach Clubs Beyond the City

Fénix Beach is a trendy and vibrant escape just 15 minutes by boat from Cartagena, departing from the Muelle de la Bodeguita. During the day, it offers a perfect mix of relaxation and fun with poolside lounging, great cocktails, and group activities set to an international music mix. At night, it turns romantic and enchanting, with the city skyline glowing across the bay. Day passes include several options and upgrades, but staying overnight is highly recommended since rooms are more affordable than other beach clubs and the nighttime vibe is beautiful. The northern location means the ocean water isn’t always crystal clear, but the overall experience makes it well worth visiting.

Bars & Nightlife Centro Historico

By day, La Garza is a charming Mediterranean-inspired café with excellent coffee and pastries. By night, the bar hidden behind it, La Garza Negra, becomes something else entirely. Pass through the removable door at the back of the café and you'll find a beautifully designed speakeasy bar that most people walking past have no idea exists. The drinks are excellent, the interior is genuinely striking, and the whole experience of finding it feels like a reward in itself. Lately they've been leaving the door open since nobody was finding it, which says everything about how hidden it still is.

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.