CONNECT TO THE BEST OF CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
CARTAGENA CONNECTIONS
  • HOME
    • START HERE!
    • BOOK TOURS
    • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT CARTAGENA
    • OUR SERVICES
    • EVENTS
    • GALLERY
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PAYMENTS
    • CANCELLATION POLICY
    • POLICY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
    • CONTACT
  • DAY
    • WALKING TOURS
    • STREET FOOD TOUR
    • STREET ART TOUR
    • MERCADO BAZURTO TOUR
    • PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
    • DRINK+DANCE TOUR
    • PRIVATE TOUR
    • SHOPPING TOUR
    • COOKING CLASSES
    • SEGWAY TOUR
    • FOODIE EXPERIENCES >
      • COOKING CLASS
      • RUM EXPERIENCE
      • COFFEE
      • PROYECTO CARIBE FOOD EXPERIENCES
      • ICE CREAM EXPERIENCE
      • COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE
      • CHOCOLATE MUSEUM
      • TOBACCO EXPERIENCE
      • MEZCAL EXPERIENCE
      • GIN EXPERIENCE
  • PLAY
    • PRIVATE BOATS
    • ISLAND HOPPING
    • BEACH AND ISLANDS >
      • Bona Vida Catamaran Tours
      • Rosario Islands >
        • Bendita Beach
        • BORA BORA
        • Fragata Island House
        • Isla Grande Gente del Mar
        • Isleta - Rosario Islands
        • LUX ISLAND
      • Baru >
        • Aura Baru
        • Playa Blanca
        • Nena Beach Playa Blanca
        • Banana Beach
        • Ocean Blue
        • Isla Baru Playa Manglares
      • Tierra Bomba >
        • Blue Apple Beach House
        • Eteka Beach
        • FENIX BEACH
        • Namaste Beach
    • PRIVATE ISLANDS
    • VOLCANO & MANGROVE TOURS
    • BOAT TOURS >
      • Bona Vida Catamaran Tours
    • LA BOQUILLA TOURS
    • AVIARY
    • PALENQUE TOUR
    • HORSERIDING
    • HIKING
    • PARAGLIDING
    • YOGA
    • DANCE CLASSES
    • MOUNTAIN BIKE TOUR
    • BAY TOURS
    • CHIVA TOURS
    • DIVING
    • FISHING
    • KAYAK
    • WATERSPORTS
    • SKYDIVING
  • STAY
    • ACCOMMODATION >
      • PRIVATE ROOMS
      • PRIVATE VILLAS
      • ISLANDS >
        • TIERRA BLANCA ISLAND HOUSE
        • LAS ISLAS HOTEL
        • ISLA MATAMBA
        • BLUE APPLE BEACH HOTEL
    • COWORKING
    • LEARN SPANISH
    • VOLUNTEER
  • PAY
    • PAY US
    • SHOPPING >
      • WHAT TO BUY
      • LA SERREZUELA
    • BUY ART
    • BUY PROPERTY
  • SAY
    • THE BEST >
      • BEST BARS
      • BEST BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH
      • BEST RESTAURANTS
      • BEST FOOD TO TRY
      • BEST LIVE MUSIC
    • BARS >
      • Alquimico
      • El Baron
      • Bazurto Social Club
      • Bonche Gastrobar
      • Cafe Havana
      • Calle Adentro
      • Cuba 1940s
      • Demente Tapas Bar
      • La Jugada
      • Eivissa
      • The Clock Pub
      • Kala Beach Club
      • Media Luna Hostel
      • La Movida
      • Tertulia
      • Townhouse
    • WHAT'S ON >
      • WILD BRUNCH
      • New Years Eve
      • Film Festival
      • LGBQT
      • EVENTS JANUARY
    • RESTAURANTS >
      • Alquimico
      • El Baron
      • El Bistro
      • Carmen
      • Demente Tapas Bar
      • Don Juan
      • Malagana Cafe & Bar
      • La Mulata
    • CAFES >
      • EPOCA CAFE
    • BLOG
    • PEOPLE WE LOVE
    • PAGES WE LOVE
    • IN THE NEWS
    • FAQs
  • STRAY
    • PANAMA
    • MINCA
    • SANTA MARTA

CARTAGENA NIGHTLIFE: TOP BARS AND CLUBS

30/8/2013

6 Comments

 
Picture
Want to know where to shimmy and shake, shmooze and booze in Cartagena?
During high-season (Nov-Jan) EVERYWHERE is good.. but the rest of the time Cartagena's diminutive population means it can be a bit difficult to find a place that's pumping. And if it's Monday or Tuesday, pretty much impossible.
If you want to get your party on.. these are the most reliable picks.

BAZURTO SOCIAL CLUB
Cool and colourful decor reminiscent of the boisterous Mercado Bazurto, playing equally colourful coastal champeta music live Wednesday to Saturday. And the crab empanadas are exceptional.
If you like this you'll also like Awa Coco and Central Antillana.

LA MOVIDA

The really expensive drinks end up seeming like good value considering the quality of the people, the music and party you'll encounter here. On Friday and Saturday nights everyone invariably ends up at La Movida from midnight onwards. It's playground for Colombia's rich and beautiful but without pretension. Open 7 days [pictured above] .
If you like this you'll also like Milagrosa La Guerrera.

DEMENTE
This place is cooooool. It's a tapas bar in a restored shell of an ancient building with the bustling Plaza Trinidad on its doorstep. The music is always spot on, the vibe is chilled but chevere and the tapas is really really good. They also have beer on tap for 2mil. A great pre and post dinner locale. Oh! And can I be sexist and mention the fact that owner Nico is extremely easy on the eye?
If you like this you'll also like Via Tapia.

HAVANA
I have  my issues with Havana (I feel they deliberately try to rip off foreigners) but there's no denying the awesome salsa ambiance and amazing live music of this chunk of Cuba in Cartagena.
If you like this, you'll also like Cachao and Casa de Habana.

FRAGMA
The best option if you're looking for a proper "club". It has 3 rooms with different music styles in each - crossover, house/electro, indie.
If you like this you'll also like Mister Babilla and Tu Candela and Babar.

MALAGANA
You'll feel right at home at Malagana almost immediately thanks to the warm energy of the Ordosgoitia women (Diana, Maria Caro and their mother, Magaly) and the rest of their family. It's like my "Cheers".. where everybody knows my naaaaame. The stylish but welcoming resto-bar is decked out in beautiful artworks and photos from the talented sisters and the mosaic-tiled rooftop terrace is perfect for soaking up the romantic night-time ondas of Getsemani.
If you like this you'll also like El Balcon.

TASCA MARIA
Want to flirt with foreigners? This is the place to mingle with the host of backpackers that call Getsemani home for 3-4 nights. Wednesday nights are busiest with the outside street filled to capacity with tanned travellers warming up pre-Media Luna hostel. Often the street party is so good they'll never leave. Oh! And DJ Cheff sure knows how to work a crowd.
If you like this you'll also like Mama LLena, Media Luna Hostel, The Roof.

EL CIELO
I just love rooftop terrazas and Cartagena is sorely lacking in them. El Cielo is the venue I've chosen to host my monthly parties on the last 6 occasions. The views are incredible and the breezes are delicious.
If you like this, you'll also like Terraza del Quartel Fijo

BOURBON STREET
Always a reliable bet for a fun night. The live bands rock out Latin and world rock classics, the staff get everybody animated and the crowd is happy and enjoyable. Ignore the fact that they play THE EXACT SAME SONGS every night and get caught up in the crazy fun.
If you like this you'll also like Leon de Bavaria, HardRock Cafe, Cafe San Diego FM

PLAZA TRINIDAD
Ok.. so it's not exactly a bar, but in a town that encourages public drinking, Plaza Trinidad may as well be one. Buy your booze (rum, aguardiente, beers etc) in the corner store, find a spot on the concrete benches or stone steps of the church and people-watch to your heart's content. There's also live musical performances and fire-twirling from travelling hippies, public zumba, kids playing futbol and men playing chess to keep you amused. There's also the largest array of food-carts selling food to soak up all the imbibing: hamburgers and hotdogs that will redefine your concepts of fast food, patacones, burritos, juices, arepas etc etc
If you like this, you'll also like Plaza San Diego

.. and because I am incapable of sticking to 10 in any of these lists..

DONDE PACHO
For afternoon beers or a cheeky vino, I love Donde Pacho's relaxed space. It's also one of my favourite spots to watch the futbol. Donde Pacho is actually an imported food, wine, liquor store with an outside paved terrace. You can buy wine, american candies (baby ruth? butterfingers?) and imported asian sauces etc.
If you like this you'll also like Esquina del Orchidea, Los Ultimos Mojicos

LA CAPONERA
This should actually be a lot higher up on the list because it is really one of my most favourite places. It's open every night til very late so is sometimes the only option for schoolnight shenanigans. The prices are cheap, the decor is kitschy cool and they play all the best salsa songs to get you dancing. It's also great for people watching folk on their way to and from the old town.
If you like this you'll also like Quiebra-canto and Donde Fidel

CASA DE CERVEZA
The big drawcard for this place is the location -- sitting on top one of the baluartes of the historic wall that encircles the city, looking onto the twinkling lights of the Bay. They do a novelty thing where you get this big cylinder of beer with multiple taps so you can all share it at the table. But for me, this gimmick just makes for warm beer.
If you like this you'll also like Cafe del Mar

6 Comments
jon
25/2/2014 10:39:48 am

Myself and a few Canadian buddies are looking for a good place to hit up tonight, a Tuesday.. please tell me there's somewhere worth going? Even though it's not high season? Lol be our tour guide

Reply
Mike
17/4/2014 04:42:34 am

Hi,

Do you have contact info for El Cielo bar? I am interested in hosting a party on their rooftop as well next month.

Thanks!!

Reply
Matt
16/7/2014 01:15:08 pm

I have to say...of all the research I have done to find good nightlife, this is BY FAR the best and most comprehensive coverage I have found! I only wish you had done the same thing for Medellin and Bogota! Great writing too by the way

Reply
Kristy
16/7/2014 01:58:36 pm

Oops! Just noticing a few posts on here.. sorry for my slackness! Thanks for the props Matt! There's actually been quite a few new bars open recently. . I've got some more reviews under SAY / BARS. If you do go anywhere you've seen on my site it would be great if you tell them Cartagena Connections sent you. Then maybe nectar time I'm there they'll give me a free drink.

Reply
Alexander Kloble link
2/10/2014 02:44:40 am

I can recommend La Vitrola. La Vitrola is a restaurant and bar. At the evenings there is live music and the seafood there is absolutely well prepared.

Reply
Alexandra
3/5/2018 11:36:39 am

Hi. I want to know maybe some place/s just for girls with stripers and music, we want celebrate a bachelor party.😊

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    AUTHOR

    A collection of musings, insights and experiences gathered by an energetic and enthusiastic Australian girl loving life in Cartagena, Colombia.

    Archives

    December 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    December 2018
    October 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    August 2016
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Annoying Stuff
    Beach
    Breakfast
    Cartagena
    Champeta
    Cheap
    Covid 19
    Covid-19
    Events
    Festivals
    Food
    Getsemani
    Give Back
    Halloween
    Islands
    Music
    Open-air
    Shopping
    Social Distancing
    Things To Do
    Top Picks

    RSS Feed

About us

About Cartagena Connections
About Us



OUR SERVICES

Tours in Cartagena
Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Activities in Cartagena
Package stays in Cartagena
Events in Cartagena

LOCAL INSIGHTS

Read our insider blog to learn about the best restaurants, bars, beaches and activities in Cartagena.

We're Social

Like us, follow us, brag to your friends that you're going to Cartagena!
Copyright 2013 | Cartagena Connections | Manga, Calle 26 #15-45, Edificio Espinosa, Cartagena de Indias | info@cartagenaconnections.com