TOP BARS IN CARTAGENA
Want to know where to schmooze and booze in Cartagena?
During high-season (Nov-Feb) 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 drink on.. these are the most reliable picks. Also check out Top 10 Clubs for when you want to get a bit more rambunctious/dancey/party. Full(er) descriptions in the BAR drop-down section or click on the links.
ALQUIMICO
This incredible 3 level space makes it a pleasure to drink cocktails made with house-infused rums and get stuck into yum food. Rooftop bar gets rowdy on weekends. Cool barkeep, great music, buzzing atmosphere. For me, the best overall bar in Cartagena. Monday industry nights often end up being the biggest party of the week.
EL BARÓN
The best cocktail bar in Cartagena. This is New York standards, real-deal, attention-to-detail, world-class, drink-snob satisfying goodness with a side of tasty eats. You'll be impressed.
If you like this, you'll also like El Coro at the Sofitel Santa Clara, Carmen Bar
CUBA 1940s
A stylish slice of Cuba offering authentic cocktails and food, live salsa every night from 8.30pm and special rum and cocktail tastings with Cuban cigar pairings. I always order the spicy mojito because I'm a ginger fiend.
LA JUGADA
We love that their tropical, flamingo-flocked rooftop bar is named Daisy, we love the little nooks and secret drinking spaces, we love the excellent cocktails.
TROPICAL WAFFLES
Best name. This bar came to existence as a neighbourhood speakeasy during pandemic lockdowns and omg how much did we love them for it. From the outside, unassuming to say the least. On the inside it's like the whole of Bourbon street New Orleans crammed inside a tiny retail box. The bartenders are soooo talented and creative. The vibe is manic. It's open after hours and after lockdowns. Send a message to their instagram to get the entry code.
LA TAPERIA
Atmospheric and authentic Spanish tapas bar housed in the historic Las Bovedas. Very fair prices, good lighting, tasty tapas, and very drinkable sangria. Open from 5pm. Makes a nice stop after walking the walls at sunset.
CAPONERA
I describe this as my favourite dive bar - colourful (sometimes decidedly shady) characters and cheap drinks in an accidentally awesomely decorated space. It's also pretty consistently buzzy even on school-nights.
Upstairs is the salsa temple: Quiebracanto.
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. but the insider tip is to get a plate of Jamon Serrano or great valued ceviche. Super local, zero fancy but that's the point, right?
If you like this you'll also like Esquina del Orchidea, Tienda de las Tablitas
MOVICH HOTEL ROOFTOP
Not the best drinks, not the best service, but goddamn what a view! Having at least one sunset drink here and taking your next profile photo with the Cartagena Bay as your backdrop is practically obligatory. See also Cafe Del Mar and Sky Bar
ALMA BAR
Whether you want to feel shaken or just stirred, check out this specialist Martini Bar housed in the Hotel San Agustin. Added bonus, Andres aka El Gato (my favourite barman) is pure good vibes and has an incredible collection of colourful braces. Be warned, prices are among the highest in the city.
CARMEN
Maker of the best Negroni I've had in my life (big call- i order this everywhere), Carmen bar is a tiny 10 person space, tucked in an airconditioned cube, apart from the popular restaurant spaces. Head barkeep Lilieth is a gosh-darn National treasure and Lukas is pure distilled good-times.
TOWNHOUSE ROOFTOP/MEMBERS ONLY BASEMENT
Turning heads since its epic opening party early 2018, Townhouse is a tropical delight, perfect for poolside chilling, sunset toasts, tapas and cocktails. Currently no cost or minimum spend to plonk yourself poolside all day long and weekend boozy brunches are just what your hangover asked for.
Sun has set and you're ready for a change of scene? Make your way downstairs to the new basement bar, Members Only. The name isn't descriptive, you don't actually have to be a member. Each evening from 8pm there's a different form of fun - sometimes movie nights, trivia nights, jam nights and on weekends, book a table for the seriously impressive house band and their seriously impressive jazz/soul interpretations of classic and contemporary hits. The cocktail menu is just as killer. Start with their espresso martini and you'll be primed for your night on the tiles.
ALSO CHECK OUT...
Baruco - live music, open air bar, quality cocktails. Just don't order the cheese/proscuitto board. Worst value in Cartagena.
Mondo Exotico - Ex-pat founded Tiki Bar with great vibes. Just down the street from Alquimico (if you aren't in the mood to line up).
Bonche - friendly bar with a great outdoor space in Plaza Pozo in Getsemani
Selina - We'll include this in the party bars list, but this backpacker/nomadic traveller space is funky and fun (even if the drinks won't win any awards)
Montmarte - cute french restaurant tucked away on the second floor near plaza fernandez de madrid. Order some wine or pastis and the whole baked camembert and practice your french. The tiny balcony makes an amazing date spot.
Callejon Ancho - drinking cheap mojitos in the streets of Getsemani should be on everybody’s must-do list.
During high-season (Nov-Feb) 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 drink on.. these are the most reliable picks. Also check out Top 10 Clubs for when you want to get a bit more rambunctious/dancey/party. Full(er) descriptions in the BAR drop-down section or click on the links.
ALQUIMICO
This incredible 3 level space makes it a pleasure to drink cocktails made with house-infused rums and get stuck into yum food. Rooftop bar gets rowdy on weekends. Cool barkeep, great music, buzzing atmosphere. For me, the best overall bar in Cartagena. Monday industry nights often end up being the biggest party of the week.
EL BARÓN
The best cocktail bar in Cartagena. This is New York standards, real-deal, attention-to-detail, world-class, drink-snob satisfying goodness with a side of tasty eats. You'll be impressed.
If you like this, you'll also like El Coro at the Sofitel Santa Clara, Carmen Bar
CUBA 1940s
A stylish slice of Cuba offering authentic cocktails and food, live salsa every night from 8.30pm and special rum and cocktail tastings with Cuban cigar pairings. I always order the spicy mojito because I'm a ginger fiend.
LA JUGADA
We love that their tropical, flamingo-flocked rooftop bar is named Daisy, we love the little nooks and secret drinking spaces, we love the excellent cocktails.
TROPICAL WAFFLES
Best name. This bar came to existence as a neighbourhood speakeasy during pandemic lockdowns and omg how much did we love them for it. From the outside, unassuming to say the least. On the inside it's like the whole of Bourbon street New Orleans crammed inside a tiny retail box. The bartenders are soooo talented and creative. The vibe is manic. It's open after hours and after lockdowns. Send a message to their instagram to get the entry code.
LA TAPERIA
Atmospheric and authentic Spanish tapas bar housed in the historic Las Bovedas. Very fair prices, good lighting, tasty tapas, and very drinkable sangria. Open from 5pm. Makes a nice stop after walking the walls at sunset.
CAPONERA
I describe this as my favourite dive bar - colourful (sometimes decidedly shady) characters and cheap drinks in an accidentally awesomely decorated space. It's also pretty consistently buzzy even on school-nights.
Upstairs is the salsa temple: Quiebracanto.
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. but the insider tip is to get a plate of Jamon Serrano or great valued ceviche. Super local, zero fancy but that's the point, right?
If you like this you'll also like Esquina del Orchidea, Tienda de las Tablitas
MOVICH HOTEL ROOFTOP
Not the best drinks, not the best service, but goddamn what a view! Having at least one sunset drink here and taking your next profile photo with the Cartagena Bay as your backdrop is practically obligatory. See also Cafe Del Mar and Sky Bar
ALMA BAR
Whether you want to feel shaken or just stirred, check out this specialist Martini Bar housed in the Hotel San Agustin. Added bonus, Andres aka El Gato (my favourite barman) is pure good vibes and has an incredible collection of colourful braces. Be warned, prices are among the highest in the city.
CARMEN
Maker of the best Negroni I've had in my life (big call- i order this everywhere), Carmen bar is a tiny 10 person space, tucked in an airconditioned cube, apart from the popular restaurant spaces. Head barkeep Lilieth is a gosh-darn National treasure and Lukas is pure distilled good-times.
TOWNHOUSE ROOFTOP/MEMBERS ONLY BASEMENT
Turning heads since its epic opening party early 2018, Townhouse is a tropical delight, perfect for poolside chilling, sunset toasts, tapas and cocktails. Currently no cost or minimum spend to plonk yourself poolside all day long and weekend boozy brunches are just what your hangover asked for.
Sun has set and you're ready for a change of scene? Make your way downstairs to the new basement bar, Members Only. The name isn't descriptive, you don't actually have to be a member. Each evening from 8pm there's a different form of fun - sometimes movie nights, trivia nights, jam nights and on weekends, book a table for the seriously impressive house band and their seriously impressive jazz/soul interpretations of classic and contemporary hits. The cocktail menu is just as killer. Start with their espresso martini and you'll be primed for your night on the tiles.
ALSO CHECK OUT...
Baruco - live music, open air bar, quality cocktails. Just don't order the cheese/proscuitto board. Worst value in Cartagena.
Mondo Exotico - Ex-pat founded Tiki Bar with great vibes. Just down the street from Alquimico (if you aren't in the mood to line up).
Bonche - friendly bar with a great outdoor space in Plaza Pozo in Getsemani
Selina - We'll include this in the party bars list, but this backpacker/nomadic traveller space is funky and fun (even if the drinks won't win any awards)
Montmarte - cute french restaurant tucked away on the second floor near plaza fernandez de madrid. Order some wine or pastis and the whole baked camembert and practice your french. The tiny balcony makes an amazing date spot.
Callejon Ancho - drinking cheap mojitos in the streets of Getsemani should be on everybody’s must-do list.