Affordable Cartagena Food Guide (2022)

Colombian cuisine is as diverse as its landscape. The dishes and flavours around the Colombian coast are heavily influenced by African and Arabic origins, which shows by the omnipresent side of delicious coconut rice or hearty snacks like Kibbeh.

Being one of the main tourist destinations around the coast, the colonial city of Cartagena is home to some incredible restaurants. Nevertheless, Cartagena is also quite pricey and this doesn’t fall short on the gastronomic side. 

So, to not break the bank, but still eat some very delicious foods in Cartagena, we have compiled our top picks for low to medium price range restaurants.

Centro

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Cuba 1940

££

Located at the very busy Plaza San Diego, Cuba 1940 staples the probably best pork belly we have ever eaten in our lives. If you like it quieter, try to go during lunchtime, as in the evening it always gets very loud and busy with live music and people dancing between tables. Although there is also the option of outdoor dining in front of the restaurant, be aware that you will be approached by many street performance artists and peddlers during your meal. 

Our favourite dishes were the panceta pasión, a tender pork belly with passion fruit sauce on top of a delicious mash. The probably best side to these are the yuca fritas, deep-fried yuca with a lemon and garlic butter sauce. The Cuban sandwich is a quite filling classic and also the side salad is nice and refreshing. 

The share plates are around 30 000-40 000 COP (~£6.20-8.30), you will need 3 plates for 2 people, and drinks can get a bit pricey at around 10 000 COP (~£2) for juices and 25 000 COP (~£5.20) for cocktails. 

When you are in Cartagena Cuba 1940 is definitely worth the splurge. 

Plaza San Diego Calle Stuart No 7 - 46, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

La Mulata

£

Known mainly for their seafood dishes, La Mulata is a great option if you want delicious seafood for a reasonable price. If lunch or dinner, the dishes are always accompanied by a soup as a starter. We can definitely recommend the seafood rice and the filete camaronero, a fish filet topped with a garlic shrimp sauce accompanied by coconut rice. 

Pro tip: ask to seat at the back of the restaurant :)

Prices are around 30 000 COP (~£6.20) for a main and a soup, around 7 000 COP  (~£1.40) for a juice and around 20 000 COP (~£4.20) for a cocktail.

Cl. del Quero #9 58, Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Getsemani

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Bonche Burger Bar 

£

Definitely our favourite burger place on the Colombian coast, Bonche features some very classic, but also some a bit more experimental burger variations. 

Our favourites are the La Chewing chicken burger, the Vidales with bacon jam and truffle mayo as well as their cheese-stuffed burgers wrapped in tocineta, basically Colombian bacon. Also, the more experimental dishes like lasagne with ripe plantain are worth a try. 

Prices for burgers including fries are around 30 000 COP (~£6.20) and juices are around 7 000 COP (~£1.40).

Cl. 26 ## 25 - 78, Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Caffe Lunatico

££

We discovered Caffe Lunatico because of some urgent need for coffee and never regretted it. The modern restaurant with an incredible view onto Castillo San Felipe offers traditional Colombian dishes with a twist. Not only can you enjoy these delicious creations, but they also offer cooking classes. Here you can learn how to make some staples around the Colombian coast, such as Mote de queso, ceviche, coconut rice, posta negra or desserts with Colombian fruits such as tomate de arbol.

Prices are around 35 000 - 40 000 COP (~£7.30-8.40) for mains, around 8 000 COP (~£1.70) for juices and around 25 000 COP (~£5.20) for cocktails. 

Cooking classes cost around 150 000 COP (~£31).

Av. Pedregal#29-225, segundo piso, Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Stefanos Bistrot

££

If you need a bit of a break from Colombian cuisine, Stefano’s Bistro is worth a visit. Their menu also features Colombian dishes like posta negra, but we went for a squid Caesar salad, some fries and beef. The portions aren’t the biggest size, but exactly right for a lunch break.

Prices are around 25 000 - 30 000 COP (~£5.20-6.20) for a main, juices range around 7 000 COP (~£1.40).

Cl. 31 #9105 #1 a, Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Oh La La

££

This bistro is the perfect mix between French finesse and Colombian charm. We went there at some weird time, somewhere between breakfast and dinner and they could serve both of our cravings. Not only did they make some of the most incredible pancakes I ever had, they also staple quite good coffee and some of the best fruit, which they also make into jams. For everyone with a more hearty craving, their meat dishes are also incredibly delicious. 

Carolina also offers visits to Bazurto market and super fun cooking classes. Highly recommend stopping by, when you are in Cartagena.

Prices for coffee start from 5 000 COP (~£1), pancakes are 15 000 COP (~£3.15), but make sure to get the fruit platter extra, and a main is around 35 000 COP (~£7.30).

#8b-240 a 8b-, Cl. 25 #8b300, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia 

Coroncoro

£

Are you looking for traditional Colombian food for a fair price in the middle of Getsemani? Then Coroncoro is the place for you. Not one where the juices were bigger than our heads, but only the portions were almost too much for one person, and extremely tasty on top. If you are not that hungry, you can easily share one portion - maybe order a soup or a side extra. 

Prices are around 20 000 COP (~£4.20) for a main and 5 000 COP (~£1) for the biggest juice you ever had in your life. 

Manga

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Reina Arepa

£

To get to Manga you need to cross Puente Román. This neighbourhood has some more affordable hostels and also some more affordable food options. Our favourite Arepa place is definitely Reina Arepa. There is a gigantic variety of Arepas from traditional fillings with Chicharrón, seafood, Mexican, Argentinian or even Arepas with cheese and Nutella. You can also swap the Arepa for Patacones, if you are up for something new. 

Arepas are around 12 000 COP (~£2.50) and quite filling. 

Favipan, Calle 26 ###18b-19 Frente a, Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Mamalu

£

This was a very lucky find on a stroll through Manga. Mamalu is only open during lunchtime and serves set menus, where you can choose between meat, chicken or fish. Don’t be confused, when Colombians say meat, they mean beef or pork. 

The set menu comes with a soup, a classic beef broth with vegetable pieces, and the chosen main. Portions are filling and dishes are extremely flavourful. 

We paid around 22 000 COP (~£4.60) for the menu and juice. As there are no printed menus, we don’t know the individual prices.

Cl. 27 #22-161, Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia